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'''American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity''' ('''ACCCE''', formerly '''ABEC''' or '''Americans for Balanced Energy Choices''') is a [[United States|U.S.]] [[non-profit]] [[advocacy group]] representing major American coal producers, utility companies, and railroads.<ref name="wsj">{{cite news | work = [[Wall Street Journal]] | title = You’ve got (bogus) mail | first = Stephen | last = Power | url = http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/08/18/youve-got-bogus-mail/ | accessdate = August 19, 2009 | date = August 18, 2009}}</ref> The ACCCE was described by the ''[[New York Times]]'' as "the coal industry's most most influential Washington advocacy group."<ref name="nyt">{{cite news | work = [[New York Times]] | first = Alex | last = Kaplun | title = Left Wants to Keep Spotlight on Coal Group's Forged Letters | http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/08/12/12greenwire-left-wants-to-keep-spotlight-on-coal-groups-for-4761.html | date = August 12, 2009 | accessdate = August 19, 2009}}</ref> The group's campaign against [[greenhouse gas]] restrictions came under scrutiny when it was discovered that a [[public relations]] firm hired by ACCCE had sent over a dozen [[forgery|forged letters]] to lawmakers. The forged letters purported to be from groups such as the [[National Association for the Advancement of Colored People]] (NAACP) and the [[American Association of University Women]], and claimed that these groups were concerned about the proposed environmental legislation.<ref name="wash-post">{{cite news | work = [[Washington Post]] | title = Congress Discovers Another Forged Advocacy Letter | url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/08/congress_discovers_another_for.html | first = David | last = Fahrenthold | date = August 18, 2009 | accessdate = August 19, 2009}}</ref> An investigation by [[Congressman]] [[Edward Markey]] turned up additional forged letters,<ref name="wsj"/> and the issue of energy-industry [[astroturfing]] gained political visibility as a result.<ref name="nyt"/> |
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'''American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity''' ('''ACCCE''', formerly '''ABEC''' or '''Americans for Balanced Energy Choices''') is a [[United States|U.S.]] non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in producing electricity from coal. ACCCE was initially funded by America's coal [[Electricity generation|electricity]] industry. |
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ACCCE supports energy policies that favor coal's usage in America's electricity market. ACCCE also advocates for the development and deployment of [[clean coal]] technologies that they claim will produce electricity with near-zero emissions. |
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'''America's Power''' is an ACCCE campaign, created to raise awareness of coal-based electricity and to try and gain support for [[clean coal]] technologies, including [[carbon capture and storage]]. |
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ACCCE is headquartered in Alexandria, VA, and is made up of more than 40 members. These member companies represent more than $190 billion in annual revenues and employ more than 360,000 people. |
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== Members == |
== Members == |
Revision as of 05:17, 20 August 2009
American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE, formerly ABEC or Americans for Balanced Energy Choices) is a U.S. non-profit advocacy group representing major American coal producers, utility companies, and railroads.[1] The ACCCE was described by the New York Times as "the coal industry's most most influential Washington advocacy group."[2] The group's campaign against greenhouse gas restrictions came under scrutiny when it was discovered that a public relations firm hired by ACCCE had sent over a dozen forged letters to lawmakers. The forged letters purported to be from groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Association of University Women, and claimed that these groups were concerned about the proposed environmental legislation.[3] An investigation by Congressman Edward Markey turned up additional forged letters,[1] and the issue of energy-industry astroturfing gained political visibility as a result.[2]
Members
ACCCE is supported by 48 member organizations, including Peabody Energy, Southern Company, Duke Energy, American Electric Power and CSX Transportation.[4]
Criticism
The coal industry has come under fire from environmental groups, including the Reality Coalition, formed by the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, and other groups, who claim that clean coal does not exist, despite ACCCE's marketing campaign making claims to the contrary.
Involvement in Astroturfing
A Washington DC lobbying firm, Bonner & Associates, sent fake letters to lawmakers on behalf of ACCCE. The letters were forged to appear to come from various minority non-profit groups. ACCCE hired public affairs consultants Hawthorn Group who then hired Bonner to lobby against a climate change bill. ACCCE disavowed the tactic and said they would consider a lawsuit against the responsible parties. Bonner & Associates reported that the employment of the temporary worker responsible has been terminated. The Sierra Club has asked the United States Department of Justice to investigate Bonner & Associates for wire fraud. The practice of disguising lobbying efforts as grass roots movements is known as astroturfing.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b Power, Stephen (August 18, 2009). "You've got (bogus) mail". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ a b Kaplun, Alex (August 12, 2009). "Left Wants to Keep Spotlight on Coal Group's Forged Letters". New York Times.
{{cite news}}
:|access-date=
requires|url=
(help); Text "http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/08/12/12greenwire-left-wants-to-keep-spotlight-on-coal-groups-for-4761.html" ignored (help) - ^ Fahrenthold, David (August 18, 2009). "Congress Discovers Another Forged Advocacy Letter". Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ http://www.americaspower.org/Who-We-Are/ABEC-Supporters
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/us/politics/05charity.html
External links
- http://www.cleancoalusa.org (ACCCE homepage)
- http://www.americaspower.org (America's Power homepage)
- http://behindtheplug.americaspower.org (Blog: Behind the Plug)