A Brief Talk With ACCCE

Watching the CNN election returns tonight I notice one of the sponsors is the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE). This is the nudge I need to finish up a post that has been in draft form for a few weeks now.

Just before the presidential primary here in Pennsylvania I was invited to sit in on a conference call with, among others, Joe Lucas of Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC). In part this was to announce the launch of ACCCE, “a new group supporting the robust utilization of coal to provide affordable, reliable electricity.” The goal of the ABEC is to make available information on the coal industry and new and developing technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, and ultra low emissions. According to their statistics, coal provides over 56 percent of the Keystone State’s electricity. Their URL for Pennsylvania info is http://pennsylvaniaspower.org. The site has a map showing where clean coal research is happening in Pennsylvania

Mr. Lucas is nothing if not dedicated to his cause. He said coal produces 50% of the electricity the US uses each day and that it is 70% cleaner today than it was a decade ago. However, when asked if coal today was “clean” he said it was a relative term, just as a mother and child might differ on whether or not a room was clean.

ACCCE has released it’s guidelines for federal carbon management legislation. None mention worker safety. I asked on the call if unions were involved in the development of these 12 points. The answer was no, as only board member companies contributed and although they are open to compromise they will go forward with or without union support. None of the presidential candidates has responded to their legislative guidelines at the time of the call.

Mr. Lucas mentioned some relevant bills moving through congress and when I asked for details, a list of bills on climate change was sent.

Other Sources

Sourcewatch article on ACCCE

For a glimpse of current coal mining in Greene County, Pennsylvania see “In the black,” by Jane M. Von Bergen, Inquirer 5/11/08.