Sour grapes for enviros Posted by Joe Lucas on 12/11/2008 11:03:10 AM

Last week, a group of environmental special interest groups launched an ad attacking clean coal technology.  Some of the environmental activists who frequent our site (why they visit, I'm not sure since they seem to already have their minds made up on this topic) seem to believe that commercial represents the greatest contribution to cinematography since Gone with the Wind. 

This week, we've had a fun little Web feature with the Clean Coal Carolers, and these same activists have found some negative things to say. 

 Here's the problem:  These folks were in no way prepared to have the clean coal message so strongly embraced during the 2008 election.  You'll recall that both Barack Obama and John McCain (who was not known to be a strong supporter of the coal industry) continuously talked about how the use of coal promotes energy independence. And both talked about their commitment to investing in new advanced clean coal technologies to help meet the challenge of reducing CO₂.

Since the election, President-elect Obama has shown no sign of backing off the commitments he made on the campaign trail. 

As for us, we're going to continue to talk about promoting energy independence, keeping energy costs affordable and investing in the technologies that will make coal an even cleaner energy option for America.

Exclusive conversation with CNN expert Posted by Joe Lucas on 11/12/2008 11:35:34 PM

CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider, named one of the 50 most influential Washington journalists by Washingtonian Magazine, is among the best at breaking down polls and offering historical perspective.

In an exclusive conversation with Behind The Plug, Schneider talked with us about the important role that coal played in the battleground states in the 2008 presidential campaign. (Most swing states rely heavily on coal.)

Here's a snippet of our conversation:

Carrying On the Clean Coal Conversation Posted by Joe Lucas on 11/04/2008 12:52:11 PM

While the election is in its final stretch, it's clear that the clean coal conversation is just getting started. Just take a look at the clean coal supporters at a Sunday rally for Sen. John McCain:

You can keep the clean coal conversation going by joining Americans for Balanced Energy Choices.

Clean Coal Stop: Colorado Posted by Joe Lucas on 11/04/2008 12:36:19 PM

The election may be winding down, but our street teams are still out in full force, spreading our commitment to clean coal.

Yesterday, the Colorado team visited the capitol where they visited the Colorado House of Representatives.

They also snapped a few photos at Gov. Sarah Palin's rally, where she and her husband Todd signed a few clean coal hats!

Palin: $2 Billion Needed for Annual Clean Coal R&D Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/29/2008 01:02:15 PM

Gov. Sarah Palin called for an investment of $2 billion per year for clean coal research and development during her speech in Toledo, OH this morning. The $2 billion annual R&D investment is also supported by Republican presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain.

As we grow ever closer to November 4, we're happy to see that the candidates' support of clean coal hasn't waned.

Read more about Gov. Palin's speech on energy security over at The Caucus

Sarah Palin to Speak on Energy Policy Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/28/2008 02:22:59 PM

Sarah Palin will make her second policy speech tomorrow in Toledo, Ohio. According to New York Times blog, The Caucus, Palin will focus on energy security.

Energy security is an important subject here at America's Power, and we can't wait to hear what she says. Stay tuned.

Related:
National Security: What's Coal Got to do with It?

Joe Biden Supports Clean Coal Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/27/2008 11:13:10 AM

Towards the end of last week, Sen. Joe Biden put a finer point on his support of clean coal by signing one of our clean coal hats. The senator also posed with one of our Virginia street team members at a rally in Suffolk this past Saturday.

With just nine days left in the campaign, we still don't know who will be running the country, but we know what will: American coal

Related:
Where the Candidates Stand on Clean Coal

The First Anniversary of America's Power Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/22/2008 02:24:12 PM

Exactly one year ago, we launched the America's Power campaign.

Our campaign is all about being a source of information for Americans regarding the security of their energy future, as well as the progress we’re making here in the U.S. and around the world in advanced technologies to reduce emissions and protect the environment.

We see that clean coal will play an essential role in meeting America’s future energy needs. I think what we’ve been seeing in the current presidential campaign—as Senators Obama and McCain (along with the other candidates running for office) talk up the future of clean coal—is indicative of a much larger conversation that is going on all across the country.

More and more, people seem to understand that increasing our reliance on America’s coal reserves to meet growing energy demand not only helps promote energy security and keeps energy costs low, but that it doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment.

For the last 35 years, we’ve increased the use of American coal to meet growing energy needs, kept energy costs affordable and used new technologies to reduce emissions. We can do that going forward—including the capture and storage of CO2 as a means of addressing climate change concerns.

And we’re just getting started. We will continue to further the discussion on the role clean coal will play in building America’s energy future.

Street Teams in Ohio! Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/08/2008 02:24:32 PM

While some of us have been traveling around to the presidential debate sites, our street teams have been in full force in other parts of the country. Here are some photos from team members in Ohio:

We stopped in to visit the Ohio Democratic (above) and Republican (below) HQs.

Our teams also spent some time with the students at Capital University in Columbus, OH. Here's a group of students sporting our clean coal t-shirts.

Do you have photos or stories to share from our tour through Ohio? Share them on the ACCCE Facebook page or through our Flickr group, Clean Coal Electricity.

Both Biden & Palin support clean coal Posted by Joe Lucas on 10/02/2008 11:04:39 PM

Pretty much every network aired the vice presidential debate tonight. But I watched on CNN, which showed the real-time results of a focus group of undecided voters in Ohio.

One of the highest positive reactions in the focus group came when Joe Biden reaffirmed his commitment to investments in clean coal technology. The Delaware senator explained that he wants the United States to become world leaders so that we can export the clean technology to China and India, which are use coal users.

Responding to confusion over a comment he had made at a rope line last week, here's what he said: "My record, for 25 years, has supported clean-coal technology. A comment made at a rope line was taken out of context. I was talking about exporting that technology to China so when they burn their dirty coal it won’t be as dirty, it will be clean.”

In the meantime, we know Sarah Palin supports clean coal technology, meaning both candidates on stage tonight know that American coal is abundant, affordable and increasingly clean.

Hello from Mississippi! Posted by Joe Lucas on 09/26/2008 02:39:45 PM

Check out our Clean Coal ad on the CNN Express Yourself bus!

We’ve been on the Ole Miss campus all afternoon talking about our commitment to clean coal as a source of affordable, reliable American energy. 

The campus is abuzz as we close in on the first presidential debate tonight at 8P (CST). Tune into hear what the candidates have to say about national security, and check back here for more updates from the road.

Where the Candidates Stand on Clean Coal Posted by Joe Lucas on 09/24/2008 01:18:42 PM

Recently, the law firm VanNess Feldman put a finer point on John McCain and Barack Obama’s clean coal proposals, lining them up side by side. The comparison uses language taken directly from the campaign websites.

Take a look:

McCain

• Aim to provide $2 billion annually to advance clean coal technology
• Commit significant federal resources to researching, developing and advancing clean coal technologies

Obama

• Provide incentives to ramp up private investments in commercial-scale, zero-carbon coal plants
• Guide the Department of Energy into partnerships with private companies to develop 5 commercial-scale coal plants  equipped with CCS technology

Which candidate do you feel will do the most to help America utilize our most abundant and affordable energy resource? We’ll be watching closely in the weeks to come to see how the candidates’ energy plans shake out.

On the ground in Denver Posted by Joe Lucas on 08/24/2008 09:27:55 PM

Excitement is in the air. All this week, the America’s Power campaign will be coming to you from Denver, the site of the Democratic National Convention. Next week, we’ll be in the Twin Cities for the Republican National Convention.

You don’t have to be in Denver or the Twin Cities to understand that energy has emerged as one of the key issues of the 2008 election. As I travel across the country, I see political ads in just about every state where candidates from both parties are talking about energy issues. People are talking about how energy prices affect our everyday lives. They are talking about the need for policies that promote energy independence. And people are discussing the link between energy production and the environment.

This is a discussion we welcome, because let’s face it -– this is what we’ve been talking about for a long time.

We're at the political conventions to talk about how America’s domestic coal reserves provide a low-cost energy source that can help us become more energy independent. And as always, we’ll be talking about how investments in technologies continue to make American coal an even cleaner energy option for both America and the world (given that other countries will also be increasing their use of coal to meet growing energy needs).

I invite you to follow along with us as this policy dialogue unfolds over the next few weeks.

We welcome your comments on what is shaping up to be the more important topic in this year’s election: securing America’s energy future.

Our role at the conventions Posted by Joe Lucas on 08/19/2008 02:12:01 PM

With the DNC and RNC conventions coming up, ACCCE is prepared to play a big role. We’ll be on the ground in both locations, reminding delegates about the important role coal can play in our clean energy future.

With that in mind, the Politico has an interesting story today about groups sponsoring the upcoming DNC and RNC conventions.

They interviewed me, and here’s what they wrote:

“We started this conversation with policymakers and the American public in 2000,” said Joe Lucas, the coalition’s vice president of communications. “We’ve significantly turned up the volume on that conversation in the last year.”

And the coalition figured, what better place to go to continue that conversation than at the conventions?

In billboards and other ads, the coalition will argue that the coal-based electricity industry can help keep jobs at home, reduce costs for consumers and — with more research — find its own tidy spot in an environmentally cleaner energy future.

“Clean coal means the next president won’t have to choose between the economy and the environment,” concluded Lucas, adding that both Barack Obama and John McCain already see coal in the nation’s future energy industry.

This will be the coalition’s first appearance at the two political conventions. But Denver is clearly the group’s best shot at a breakthrough moment.

The Candidates on Coal Posted by Joe Lucas on 08/06/2008 11:07:12 AM

Energy is the theme on the campaign trail this week.

While McCain was stumping in the Midwest and touring a nuclear plant, Obama on Monday declared this week as “Energy Week,” and announced his energy plan. Both candidates’ have voiced their support for clean coal technology, and their respective energy plans include funding for more research and development.

And while everyone is focusing on oil and offshore drilling, we would point out that America has more coal than oil. Converting to hybrid plug-in cars and powering them with electricity from clean coal is a path to energy independence. The next president will have to be firmly committed to provide the resources needed to get us there.

We believe, as many experts do, that $2 billion a year is needed to fund carbon capture and storage research. Once carbon capture and storage is deployed, our coal-generating plants will be close to emissions free.

That means we can use an abundant American resource for affordable electricity – and use it more cleanly than ever before, and rely less on foreign energy sources.

But what are you hearing in the candidates’ plans that you like or don’t like? Are they giving enough attention and focus to our most abundant energy resource and the technology we need to use it more cleanly?.

What would you say to them?

The Train Keeps On Rollin’ Posted by Joe Lucas on 04/23/2008 05:32:00 PM

Note: While ACCCE does not endorse any of the presidential candidates, we are stopping by as many campaign events as we can to spread the message of our commitment to clean.

 

Well, with the competitive presidential primary season still not over (for the Democrats), we’re packing up our Clean Coal Vans and heading off to Indiana and North Carolina.

It’s been an amazing year already — who knew when we dispatched our first van in Iowa early in January that we’d be headed into May with one political party without a nominee? We have learned a lot from our many campaign stops, including the fact that no matter who ultimately becomes the next president of the United States, each remaining candidate has acknowledged a clear understanding of the role clean coal technologies will play in our energy future.

So if you’re a reader of Behind The Plug and live in either of the next two primary states, keep your eyes open for our vans and your mind open for discussions that may force you to discard your preconceived notions about role that clean coal technologies will play in your energy future.

                               

Debate prep Posted by Joe Lucas on 04/14/2008 04:31:00 PM

                                    

According to this Reuters article, ABC's Charles Gibson has been cramming for the past several days in preparation for hosing Wednesday’s presidential debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

The story says he’s been studying up on carbon sequestration. "It's a subject I don't know a whole lot about, and it probably won't come up," Gibson said. "But I don't know beans about carbon sequestration, so I read up on it."

Good for Gibson!

And for the record, I hope it does come up at the debate. I’d like to hear the candidates talk about it.

                               

On the campaign trail in Athens and Lancaster, Ohio Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/28/2008 05:01:00 PM

                                    

                                                                      

Note: While ABEC does not endorse any of the presidential candidates, we are stopping by as many campaign events as we can to spread the message of our commitment to clean.

Our third day in Ohio was extremely successful — and still extremely cold. We started the day in Athens, where former President Clinton was speaking on behalf of his wife Hillary.

The event grew a crowd of about 500-700 people. The line started extremely early and we were able to spend over an hour and a half canvassing the crowd. Our shirts, hats, and pens were a huge hit as was our discussions about clean coal.

We handed out over 150 shirts, 100 hats, over 400 pens and tons of campaign print material. We heard many different stories of people whose fathers or brothers or that they themselves worked in the mines. While their stories varied, one thing was consistent—they all supported clean coal.

We were also able to touch base with some of the local media. We dropped by Athens News before the event and were able to speak with their reporter at the event. We also stopped by the Athens Messenger and WOUB radio to talk about the clean coal mission.

                               

Our Clean Coal Team Visits The Ohio River Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/25/2008 05:00:00 PM

                                    

                                                                      

Louisville’s Polar Bear Plunge is a strange tradition. It’s an annual fundraiser for Special Olympics in which a couple thousand people committed to charity - or in much more need of actually being committed! - jump into the Ohio River.

Luckily for the cold participants, we provided them with a handy "Clean Coal" t-shirt to wear when they popped out of the water.

We handed out about 1,300 t-shirts in two hours at this event

                                                                      

                               

Hello from Colorado! Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/25/2008 04:59:00 PM

                                    

Here's what we've been doing in Colorado the last few days: We went to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and talked to airmen, cadets and their family about the benefits of clean coal. Everyone we spoke with was very receptive of our message and concerned about the national security benefits of supporting American coal.

From there we left for the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, where Executive Director David Carroll was excited to see us and said he is considering incorporating a new exhibit to promote clean coal. He asked us for a bundle of literature and shirts to pass out to tour groups that come daily. It is rewarding to speak to someone who is so passionate about the cause and educating the public!
Our next stop was Pike Peak Community College, where we spoke with over 20 students, including a writer for the school paper The Potty Mouth, who offered to distribute our materials to the school’s Ramport Range, Downtown Studio and Centennial satellite campuses.

Next, we visited students at the Colorado State University campus at Pueblo. We also talked to people at the courthouse and City Hall.

Thanks, Colorado, for participating in the dialog about America’s energy future!

                               

Dispatch from Cleveland, Ohio Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/25/2008 04:33:00 PM

Posted by:  Joe Lucas    

                                                               

                                    

                                                                     

Note: While ABEC does not endorse any of the presidential candidates, we are stopping by as many campaign events as we can to spread the message of our commitment to clean.

We came to Barack Obama’s rally at the Cleveland Convention Center and capitalized on the Obama fervor by handing out clean coal materials to his long line of supporters.

All of the attendees were extremely receptive and eagerly took our handouts, t-shirts and hats — we gave out over 400 shirts.

                               

Clean Coal Hits The Open Road Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/22/2008 04:32:00 PM

                                    

Where do I even begin?

In advance of our activities in Ohio, our America’s Power vans have been working their way to the Buckeye State, spreading the message about American coal along the way.

Some of us spent Tuesday in Wichita, Kansas, where we handed out packets to the city’s Chamber of Commerce and chatted up the editorial staff at the Wichita Eagle and Wichita Business Journal.

                                                                      

Meanwhile, one of our vans was in Salt Lake City, where we talked to a local news reporter in front of the state capitol building (see above photo). We also visited with students at the University of Utah, including the staff at the school newspaper, The Chronicle.

From there, we stopped in Brighton, Colo., to meet with a reporter at the Brighton Blade. Then we headed to Commerce City, Colo., to meet with Norm Union of the Commerce City Beacon. He asked us for a shirt, and we left him with information on clean coal.

In Denver, we handed out information to about 60 people in front of the capitol building and the Denver Mint. We also stopped by the Colorado State University campus and handed out t-shirts and talked to about 80 students. We also visited with Jared from the student radio station.

While all of this was happening, we had another America’s Power van working its way through Virginia. It stopped in Richmond before traveling 200 miles to Roanoke, making stops in Waynesboro and Stauton.

                                                                      

 

Reporters were interested in the van (see above), and we did an interview with Kathy Still of the Bristol Herald Courier and Velden Hill of WWVA-TV, the local NBC affiliate. The TV interview will air tonight.

By the way, near Wytheville, Va., the interstate highway system presented us with what appears to be a geographic impossibility. Whether through a polar anomaly or an actual rip in the space-time continuum, we suddenly found ourselves traveling both north and south at the same time. Take a look:

                                                                      

                               

Dispatch from Topeka, Kansas Posted by Joe Lucas on 02/15/2008 05:02:00 PM

                                                               

                                    

                                                                      

Our team arrived in Topeka to educate citizens and the state Legislature about energy policy prior to an important state Senate vote on clean coal. We drove the clean coal van around the capitol and talked to groups entering into the Senate chamber as well as people who were visiting the capitol building — about 60 people in all.

We even outfitted some of our newfound supporters with “clean coal” t-shirts.

Following our activities, the Senate approved the clean coal bill 33-7.

The state House is set to vote on the legislation next week, so we’ll be sure to stay active.

                               

No need to be shy when touting clean coal technology Posted by Joe Lucas on 01/09/2008 03:37:00 PM

                                    

As you know, we’ve been stopping by as many campaign events as we can to help voters tell presidential candidates to make clean coal a part of their energy platforms.

Candidates should feel proud to voice their support for clean coal technology. There is a strong constituency supporting them when they talk about addressing America’s energy future with a fuel source that is affordable and domestically abundant. After all, the United States has more coal than any other fuel.

Politically, it’s smart to side with clean coal. It helps candidates when they talk about keeping energy costs low. It will help them on the stump to speak out in favor of clean coal technology

But it’s also the right thing to do. If candidates — Democratic or Republican — care about ensuring that our country is not dependent on energy supplies from volatile regions of the world, then they should support efforts to make coal as clean as possible.

Remember: If we don’t develop the technology here, it won’t make its way to China, India and other places in the developing world that will continue to use massive amounts of coal no matter what we do in the United States. And if we want to solve a global issue such as climate change, China and India must be part of the solution.

                               

Santa's visit to South Carolina Posted by Joe Lucas on 12/20/2007 03:06:00 PM

                                    

Note: While ABEC does not endorse any of the presidential candidates, we are stopping by as many campaign events as we can to spread the message of our commitment to clean.

Fresh from Capitol Hill, Santa flew into Columbia, S.C., to make special deliveries to presidential candidate headquarters.

Spreading the message that clean American coal in your stocking is a good thing if you're concerned about the cost of electricity, energy security and protecting the environment, Santa was well received as he handed out Christmas stockings to staffers and volunteers.

                                                                      

                               

Mr. Claus Goes to Washington Posted by Joe Lucas on 12/19/2007 03:04:00 PM

Don’t you just love it when things work out the way you want them to? This morning we armed 30 Santas with stockings full of coal and sent them to Capitol Hill to pay a visit to busy congressional staffers who have apparently been very good this year!

The Santa posse hit all the congressional office buildings, plus the Union Station and Capitol South Metro stops with our message that coal for Christmas is actually a GOOD thing. We hope that this event will make people understand that coal is affordable, reliable and a good gift for both the economy AND the environment.

We were a little worried about how our Santas would be received, but they were a big hit. Everyone loved the stockings and coal-shaped chocolate that Santa handed out from his sack and many people decided the skip the lines at the mall this season and have their pictures taken with Santa right there on the street.

Not being the type of person to stay in one place too long (he does travel the entire world in one night) our Santas also dropped by presidential campaign offices in South Carolina, Nevada and Iowa to spread our holiday message of energy independence!

Perhaps Santa handed some coal to you himself. Or perhaps you saw the coverage in The Hill newspaper

We’re happy Santa could take some time out of his busy schedule to drive a point. Energy security and the environment are important things to many Americans, and by continuing to invest in technologies to further improve the environmental capability of our nation’s most abundant energy resource helps to satisfy the wishes of a lot of folks who have been good all year long.

Thanks again Santa, and happy holidays to everyone.

                                                                      

                                                                      

                                                                      

Clean Coal Van making the rounds in Iowa Posted by Joe Lucas on 12/14/2007 02:51:00 PM

Note: While ABEC does not endorse any of the presidential candidates, we are stopping by as many campaign events as we can to spread the message of our commitment to clean.

Here is a dispatch from the Iowa Power Van, which dropped by the Republican debate in Des Moines on Wednesday.

We're making good strides in getting the candidates to talk about how clean coal should play a part in America's energy future.

In the last few days, ABEC members attended Iowa events with John Edwards, Mike Huckabee, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Winter weather has hit Iowa, but it is not slowing the pace of campaigning.

The clean coal van continues to log miles in the snow and ice and has become a recognizable element at campaign events. It even made an appearance at Friday's annual Iowa Farm Bureau Dinner where Fred Thompson was the guest speaker.

ABEC members also voiced support for sensible energy policies in a news release that was distributed to daily and weekly papers in the state.

Clean coal turnout at campaign event Posted by Joe Lucas on 12/10/2007 02:32:00 PM

                                    

Note: While ABEC does not endorse any of the presidential candidates, we are stopping by as many campaign events as we can to spread the message of our commitment to clean.

South Carolina's largest political rally in decades featured Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey today, and America's Power Van and our volunteers were on hand with the crowd of nearly 30,000.

A steady stream of voters from across South Carolina visited the Power Van near the entrance to Williams-Brice Stadium. While understandably eager to get inside to see Obama and Oprah, thousands of those in attendance took the time to stop and learn more about our commitment to continued reduction of regulated emissions, the development of technology to capture and storage greenhouse gases, providing reliable, affordable electricity and protecting America's security.

In addition to speaking with the throng of state and national media on hand, we distributed several thousand brochures, flyers, t-shirts and other materials to those in attendance.