New Zealand has announced its biggest-ever emissions-cutting project, switching from coal to renewable electricity at the country's main steel plant, a move the government says is equivalent to taking 300,000 cars off the road. The government will spend $140 million to halve the amount of coal used at the Glenbrook steel mill to recycle scrap steel, replacing that electricity with an electric furnace. The plant will contribute $160 million to the cost of the project. Currently, the steel company accounts for 2 % of New Zealand's total emissions through the intensive burning of coal to melt iron-rich sand into steel products. The new project will install a $300 million electric arc furnace to melt scrap steel. This electricity will be provided by renewable energy through New Zealand's national grid, which is primarily powered by wind, hydro and geothermal energy.(Tess McClure)