Tell your senator you stand for clean coal technology

The U.S. Senate is considering an economic stimulus package that includes $4.6 billion for clean coal technology projects. This amount is consistent with President Obama's commitment to CCT to continue environmental progress. This $4.6 billion is important because:

*It contributes to energy independence, allowing us to use coal that is right here in America

*It stimulates the economy and could create almost 7 million job-years of employment and over $1 trillion in sales

*It will help fight climate change and aid other environmental goals by promoting technologies to reduce carbon dioxide and major air pollutants

ACCCE supports the $4.6 billion for clean coal technology projects in the Senate proposal and wants to make sure that it stays in the final version of a bill. At the same time, we oppose an amendment by Sen. Coburn of Oklahoma that would do away with funding for developing near-zero emissions power plants.

If you feel - as we do - that it is important to adequately fund advanced clean coal technology projects to create jobs, fight climate change and meet other environmental objectives, please take a moment to write to your senators right now. We expect that the Senate will vote on this measure by the end of the week.

Comments

[Jon Isham]

The coal industry has an opportunity to reach out to social justice leaders. Let's see: how do you feel about continued Mountain Top Removal in Appalachia? Do you think hould Coal River Mountain be decimated?

[Tricia]

Clean coal is not a reality! I think it is offensive how you have used President Obama's words and image to promote your dirty product. We need TRULY clean technology that we have TODAY like wind and solar power! It's clean, safe infinate, and free... but I guess the coal industry couldn't make a profit on that.

No thanks to clean coal. The consumers are not duped by your small-minded marketing campaign. Anyone that can read between the lines can see that clean coal technology is a last ditch effort for the coal industry to save itself before it becomes obsolete.

Hahaha.

Sincerely,

Tricia Grashaw

[Megan from ACCCE]

Tricia:

In regard to the ad, let me remind you that President Obama and presidential nominee John McCain were both outspoken clean coal supporters on the campaign trail. There are myriad resources I could point you to if you wanted to learn more about the president’s stance on coal, but I’ll start with his energy fact sheet and excerpts from speeches and interviews. Furthermore, we've received no indication from the Obama team that they're uncomfortable with the ad.

ACCCE is in favor of a balanced energy mix, which includes using renewables like wind and solar. However, the current problem with renewables is that they can’t supply the country with baseload power, which is the always-on electricity that keeps our cities running. Furthermore, many reputable sources, including the U.S. Energy Information Administration, predict that coal usage will rise in conjunction with our energy demand through 2030.

Look, there’s no silver buckshot when it comes to energy—all of our energy sources have their challenges. But we’re doing our part to ensure that coal—which accounts for nearly 50 percent of the nation’s electricity—positively contributes to our clean, secure energy future.

[Nichole]

I am a strong supporter of clean coal technology. I was very disappointed to learn in the course of research over the years that we've had cleaner options for burning coal since the late 70s and early 80s. It is partisan bickering in Washington that has kept it from us.

Clean coal technology is imperative to our country's energy independence and in protecting our environment. Yes, renewables are a great idea. However, renewables are still in their infancy and simply can't provide the energy we need yet. Some "renewable" forms take as much, if not more, energy to build and implement, than they are capable of producing in their operating life. Until renewables are further developed, clean coal is one of our best options.

[Megan at ACCCE]

Nichole,

Thanks for your comment! We agree that the nation needs a balanced energy portfolio, and that includes renewables. But as you rightly point out, right now, coal is still our best source of baseload power. We've used clean coal technologies to make our coal-based generating fleet 77 percent cleaner in terms of emissions currently regulated under existing Clean Air Act programs per unit of energy produced. We're confident we can make the same improvements where CO2 is concerned.