 According to the National Development and Reform Commission of China , 366 grams of coal would produce 1 kWh of electricity during 2006 . At full power , Three Gorges reduces coal consumption by 31 million tonnes per year , avoiding 100 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions , millions of tonnes of dust , one million tonnes of sulfur dioxide , 370 @,@ 000 tonnes of nitric oxide , 10 @,@ 000 tonnes of carbon monoxide , and a significant amount of mercury . Hydropower saves the energy needed to mine , wash , and transport the coal from northern China . 
