American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity

Last updated

American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity
AbbreviationACCCE
FormationNovember 6, 1992;30 years ago (1992-11-06) [1]
Type 501(c)(6) [2] advocacy group
Headquarters Washington, D.C.
Region served
United States
President and CEO
Michelle Bloodworth [3]
Revenue (2015)
$18,421,939 [4]
Website www.americaspower.org [2]

The 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. [5] The organization seeks to influence public opinion and legislation in favor of coal-generated electricity in the United States, placing emphasis on the development and deployment of clean coal technologies.

Contents

Since carbon capture and sequestration —which ACCCE and its member companies advocate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal burning—has yet to be tested on a large scale, some have questioned whether this approach is feasible or realistic. [6]

In 2009, ACCCE faced a Congressional investigation when it was discovered that a lobbying firm hired by ACCCE had sent forged letters to lawmakers. The letters, purporting to come from a variety of minority-focused non-profit groups, were in fact forged by a lobbying firm hired by ACCCE. [7]

History

The ACCCE began operations in 2008, the result of a combination of two organizations: the Center for Energy and Economic Development (CEED) and Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC). CEED had been founded in 1992 and since then had been involved in a wide range of climate and energy policies related to coal-based electricity. ABEC, formed in 2000, had focused on consumer based advocacy programs concerning the use of coal-based electricity. [8] In 2008 these two groups were combined to form ACCCE, with the goal of focusing on both legislative and public advocacy efforts. The main programs include the America's Power campaign, launched in 2007 by ABEC, which had a significant presence during the 2008 [8] and 2012 [9] elections, as well as legislative efforts during the United States House of Representatives debate over the Waxman-Markey cap and trade legislation. [8]

Mike Duncan became President and CEO of ACCCE in 2012. [10] By 2017, Duncan had been succeeded in that position by Paul Bailey, [11] who had previously been named one of the top lobbyists by The Hill , where he was described as ACCCE's "point man for policy... essential in crafting the ACCCE's response" to the positions taken by the Obama administration. [12] Another notable ACCCE lobbyist, Jaime Harrison, was a Democratic political operative, who worked on behalf of ACCCE from 2009 to 2012. Harrison thereafter chaired the South Carolina Democratic Party, and in January 2017 made a bid for DNC chair, which he ended on February 23 with his endorsement of eventual winner Tom Perez. [13] Harrison later accepted an appointment from Perez as Associate Chairman and Counselor of the Democratic National Committee.

In June 2017, Paul Bailey joined Republican leaders including Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell in welcoming the announcement by President Donald Trump of the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. [14] Bailey stated that "[t]he previous administration volunteered to meet one of the most stringent goals of any country in the world, while many other countries do far less to reduce their emissions", [14] [15] and contended that "[m]eeting President Obama's goal would have led to more regulations, higher energy prices, and dependence on less reliable energy sources". [14] The organization maintains headquarters in Washington, D.C. [16]

Working methods

Legislative

In addressing comprehensive climate change legislation that would place a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and allow for trading of emission allowances, the position of ACCCE has primarily involved advocating for the development and use of clean coal technologies, while also including provisions concerning the allocating of carbon emission allowances. ACCCE has as also expressed support for a ceiling on emission allowances prices. At the time in 2008 when the U.S. Senate was considering the Lieberman-Warner bill (bill number S. 2191) – which would create a cap and trade system – ACCCE changed its prior stance towards climate-change legislation, noting that it "would support mandatory limits on carbon dioxide as long as legislation met a set of principles that encouraged 'robust utilization of coal.'" [17]

The group also employed legislative efforts surrounding the 2009 debate over the Waxman-Markey cap and trade legislation (bill number H.R. 2454), to which it argued that regulations relating to carbon emissions in the proposed legislation would have led to increased energy costs and reduction in employment – potentially placing additional strain on the economy during the late 2000s recession. ACCCE provided proposals to Members of Congress for changes in this legislation, and approved of some changes that were adopted; though the group did not support the final version of the bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on account of concerns that there were not enough measures taken to control energy rates. [8]

Advocacy-based

In addition to legislative methods employed by ACCCE, the organization has engaged in consumer-focused advocacy efforts in response to perceived environmental effects surrounding clean coal, [8] consisting of direct to consumer advertising, as well as a group of approximately 225,000 volunteers (referred to as "America's Power Army," according to their website [18] ) involved in "visiting town hall meetings, fairs and other functions attended by members of Congress (to) ask questions about energy policy." [19]

Initiatives of this form became the subject of news coverage surrounding the 2008 United States presidential election, as the organization's presence at the Democratic National Convention, Republican National Convention, presidential debates and other events has been described [8] [20] as having impacted both Senators John McCain and Barack Obama's positions in regards to investment in clean coal. [20] In the last debate held prior to the election in 2008, Senator Obama noted his support of clean coal technology, when prompted by Senator McCain to explain a time in which he had backed a position not favored by the leaders of the Democratic Party. [20]

The organization actively countered President Obama's climate change agenda, arguing in 2013 that the industry had "made strides toward making coal more environmentally friendly", with ten new clean-coal technology plants having built between 2011 and mid-2013, and five more in development or scheduled to begin operations at that time. [21] Duncan asserted that regulations propounded by the Environmental Protection Agency had contributed to nearly 290 coal plant closures that year, [21] [22] with more likely to come if additional regulations were enacted, and that absent the additional burdens imposed on the industry by such interference, [23] the coal industry would continue developing cleaner technologies. [21] ACCCE supported the FutureGen capture and sequestration project, [24] first announced by President George W. Bush in 2003. The project was funded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, but the Department of Energy suspended the project in February, 2015.

ACCCE's legislative positions and advocacy-based actions have been met with opposing viewpoints from advocacy groups such as the Sierra Club [25] and Greenpeace, [17] which have questioned the viability of developing environmentally sustainable clean coal within an adequate time frame and budget – representing their perspective that funding of such projects should be sourced exclusively from within the coal industry. [6]

Climate change denial

Since 2009 the Coalition has – according to The Atlantic – "pushed outright denial of climate science". For example in a 2014 report it said that human-caused climate change was a "hypothesis" and a "debate" and claimed that carbon pollution would be beneficial instead of negative and that its benefits could be up to 400 times as high as its costs. Higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels would be a benefit and more carbon dioxide had no "discernable influence" on how much sea-level would rise. [26]

A 2009 article by Josh Harkinson of Mother Jones magazine said ACCCE was among the most prominent organizations in promoting climate disinformation, grouping it with entities including ExxonMobil, the American Petroleum Institute, The Heartland Institute, and the Institute for Energy Research, as "members of the chorus claiming that global warming is a joke and that CO2 emissions are actually good for you". [27]

Forgery controversy

During the 2009 debate over the Waxman/Markey bill, Bonner & Associates, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm subcontracted by ACCCE though the Hawthorne Group to drum up "grassroots support" for this effort, sent a number of fraudulent letters to lawmakers on behalf of ACCCE. The letters were forged to appear to come from various minority-focused non-profit groups, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Association of University Women. [28]

When the forgery was exposed, and faced with a proposed Congressional investigation, ACCCE apologized to the community groups and to the members of Congress involved. ACCCE disavowed the tactic and blamed the forgeries on their subcontractor, [7] who in turn blamed a temporary worker, acting alone. [28] The Washington Post described the situation as a "saga of modern Washington, in which an 'American coalition' [the ACCCE] claiming 200,000 supporters still relies on a subcontractor to gin up favorable letters." [28]

An investigation of ACCCE by U.S. Representative Edward Markey, launched in response to the forgeries, disclosed an additional set of fraudulent letters sent to lawmakers to lobby against the environmental legislation. [5] In response to the investigation, the ACCCE pledged to take "all possible steps" to verify the authenticity of letters sent by Bonner & Associates on its behalf, and stated that it was cooperating with Markey's investigation. The investigation concluded in October 2009 with Jack Bonner, chairman of Bonner & Associates, taking “full responsibility” for the forged letters. Bonner and Associates was never paid by ACCCE for their work on the legislation. [29]

Members

As of 2017, ACCCE is supported by 31 member organizations: [30]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Climate Coalition</span> Lobbyist group against reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

The Global Climate Coalition (GCC) (1989–2001) was an international lobbyist group of businesses that opposed action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and engaged in climate change denial, publicly challenging the science behind global warming. The GCC was the largest industry group active in climate policy and the most prominent industry advocate in international climate negotiations. The GCC was involved in opposition to the Kyoto Protocol, and played a role in blocking ratification by the United States. The coalition knew it could not deny the scientific consensus, but sought to sow doubt over the scientific consensus on climate change and create manufactured controversy.

Southern Company is an American gas and electric utility holding company based in the southern United States. It is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with executive offices also located in Birmingham, Alabama. The company is the second largest utility company in the U.S. in terms of customer base, as of 2021. Through its subsidiaries it serves 9 million gas and electric utility customers in 6 states. Southern Company's regulated regional electric utilities serve a 120,000-square-mile (310,000 km2) territory with 27,000 miles (43,000 km) of distribution lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coal pollution mitigation</span> Attempts to mitigate the health and environmental impact of coal

Coal Pollution Mitigation, sometimes also known as Clean Coal, is a series of systems and technologies that seek to mitigate health and environmental impact of coal; in particular air pollution from coal-fired power stations, and from coal burnt by heavy industry. Clean Coal primarily focuses on removing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), the most important gasses which cause acid rain; and particulates which cause visible air pollution, illness, and premature deaths. It also reduces fly ash and reduces emissions of radioactive materials. Mercury emissions can be reduced up to 95%. Capturing carbon dioxide emissions from coal is also being pursued.

FreedomWorks is a conservative and libertarian advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. FreedomWorks trains volunteers, assists in campaigns, and encourages them to mobilize, interacting with both fellow citizens and their political representatives. It was widely associated with the Tea Party movement before firmly aligning with Donald Trump. The Koch brothers were once a source of the organization's funding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental Law and Policy Center</span>

The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) is a Midwest-based non-profit environmental advocacy group, with offices in Chicago, Columbus (OH), Des Moines (IA), Duluth (MN), Jamestown (ND), Madison (WI), Sioux Falls (SD), and Washington, D.C. ELPC's mission is to advance environmental progress and economic development together throughout the Midwest through projects that advance clean energy, clean air, clean water and clean transportation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by the United States</span> Climate changing gases from the North American country

The United States produced 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020, the second largest in the world after greenhouse gas emissions by China and among the countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions per person. In 2019 China is estimated to have emitted 27% of world GHG, followed by the United States with 11%, then India with 6.6%. In total the United States has emitted a quarter of world GHG, more than any other country. Annual emissions are over 15 tons per person and, amongst the top eight emitters, is the highest country by greenhouse gas emissions per person. However, the IEA estimates that the richest decile in the US emits over 55 tonnes of CO2 per capita each year. Because coal-fired power stations are gradually shutting down, in the 2010s emissions from electricity generation fell to second place behind transportation which is now the largest single source. In 2020, 27% of the GHG emissions of the United States were from transportation, 25% from electricity, 24% from industry, 13% from commercial and residential buildings and 11% from agriculture. In 2021, the electric power sector was the second largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 25% of the U.S. total. These greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to climate change in the United States, as well as worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appalachian Voices</span>

Appalachian Voices is an American environmental organization. Their stated environmental concerns include eliminating air pollution, ending mountaintop removal, cleaning up coal ash pollution and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.

New Energy for America was a plan led by Barack Obama and Joe Biden beginning in 2008 to invest in renewable energy sources, reduce reliance on foreign oil, address global warming issues, and create jobs for Americans. The main objective of the New Energy for America plan was to implement clean energy sources in the United States to switch from nonrenewable resources to renewable resources. The plan led by the Obama Administration aimed to implement short-term solutions to provide immediate relief from pain at the pump, and mid- to- long-term solutions to provide a New Energy for America plan. The goals of the clean energy plan hoped to: invest in renewable technologies that will boost domestic manufacturing and increase homegrown energy, invest in training for workers of clean technologies, strengthen the middle class, and help the economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by Australia</span> Release of gases from Australia which contribute to global warming

Greenhouse gas emissions by Australia totalled 533 million tonnes CO2-equivalent based on greenhouse gas national inventory report data for 2019; representing per capita CO2e emissions of 21 tons, three times the global average. Coal was responsible for 30% of emissions. The national Greenhouse Gas Inventory estimates for the year to March 2021 were 494.2 million tonnes, which is 27.8 million tonnes, or 5.3%, lower than the previous year. It is 20.8% lower than in 2005. According to the government, the result reflects the decrease in transport emissions due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, reduced fugitive emissions, and reductions in emissions from electricity; however, there were increased greenhouse gas emissions from the land and agriculture sectors.

The milestones for carbon capture and storage show the lack of commercial scale development and implementation of CCS over the years since the first carbon tax was imposed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Shift Network</span> Youth environmental justice organisation

Power Shift Network is a North American non-profit organization made up of a network of youth-led social and environmental justice organizations working together to build the youth clean energy and climate movement. It runs campaigns in the United States and Canada to build grassroots power and advocate for tangible changes on climate change and social justice at local, state, national and international levels in North America. The organization changed its name from Energy Action Coalition in July 2016 in order to reflect its new leadership and it shift from a coalition to a network structure. The Power Shift Network's members, which include other non-profit organizations and student groups focused on environmental justice, social justice, and climate change, focus their organizing and campaigns on campuses, communities, corporate practices, and politics. The Power Shift Network is part of the Global Youth Climate Movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Clean Energy and Security Act</span> Proposed United States climate and energy legislation (Waxman-Markey); never passed

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) was an energy bill in the 111th United States Congress that would have established a variant of an emissions trading plan similar to the European Union Emission Trading Scheme. The bill was approved by the House of Representatives on June 26, 2009, by a vote of 219–212. With no prospect of overcoming a threatened Republican filibuster, the bill was never brought to the floor of the Senate for discussion or a vote. The House passage of the bill was the "first time either house of Congress had approved a bill meant to curb the heat-trapping gases scientists have linked to climate change."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change policy of the United States</span> Overview of the climate change policy of the United States of America

The climate change policy of the United States has major impacts on global climate change and global climate change mitigation. This is because the United States is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world after China, and is among the countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions per person in the world. In total, the United States has emitted over 400 billion metric tons of greenhouse gasses, more than any country in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environment America</span> U.S. federation of state-based environmental advocacy groups

Environment America is a federation of state-based environmental advocacy organizations in the United States. The organization researches and advocates for environmental policies through lobbying, litigation, and the mobilization of public support. Environment America advocates new laws and policies to address climate change, air pollution and water pollution, and is a proponent of clean energy, while opposing offshore drilling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy policy of the Barack Obama administration</span>

The energy policy of the Obama administration was defined by an "all-of-the-above" approach which offered federal support for renewable energy deployment, increased domestic oil and gas extraction, and export of crude oil and natural gas. His presidency's first term was shaped by the failure of his signature climate legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, to pass, and then climate and energy disasters including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 and then Hurricane Sandy, which took place during the 2012 election. In his second term, Obama lifted the ban on crude oil exports and approved liquified natural gas exports; his planned regulatory approach to reducing greenhouse pollution in the electricity sector, the Clean Power Plan, was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heather Zichal</span>

Heather Renée Zichal(last name pronounced with long 'i') is an American executive, consultant, and political advisor who specializes in climate change and environmental policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clean Energy Act 2011</span>

The Clean Energy Act 2011 was an Act of the Australian Parliament, the main Act in a package of legislation that established an Australian emissions trading scheme (ETS), to be preceded by a three-year period of fixed carbon pricing in Australia designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as part of efforts to combat global warming.

A carbon pricing scheme in Australia was introduced by the Gillard Labor minority government in 2011 as the Clean Energy Act 2011 which came into effect on 1 July 2012. Emissions from companies subject to the scheme dropped 7% upon its introduction. As a result of being in place for such a short time, and because the then Opposition leader Tony Abbott indicated he intended to repeal "the carbon tax", regulated organizations responded rather weakly, with very few investments in emissions reductions being made. The scheme was repealed on 17 July 2014, backdated to 1 July 2014. In its place the Abbott government set up the Emission Reduction Fund in December 2014. Emissions thereafter resumed their growth evident before the tax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clean Power Plan</span> United States energy plan from President Obama

The Clean Power Plan was an Obama administration policy aimed at combating anthropogenic climate change that was first proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in June 2014. The final version of the plan was unveiled by President Obama on August 3, 2015. Each state was assigned an individual goal for reducing carbon emissions, which could be accomplished how they saw fit, but with the possibility of the EPA stepping in if the state refused to submit a plan. If every state met its target, the plan was projected to reduce carbon emissions from electricity generation 32% by 2030, relative to 2005 levels, as well as achieving various health benefits due to reduced air pollution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Washington Initiative 1631</span>

The Washington Carbon Emissions Fee and Revenue Allocation Initiative, also known as Initiative 1631 or the Protect Washington Act was a ballot initiative that appeared on ballots in the State of Washington in the November 2018 election. The initiative proposed to reduce pollution by levying a fee on greenhouse gas emissions generated within the state of Washington, and using that revenue to support air quality and energy projects, as well as water quality and forest health initiatives. The measure failed with 56.3% of voters rejecting it. As of 2018, more had been spent in campaigning for and against the initiative than on any other ballot measure in Washington history.

References

  1. ↑ ACCCE 2008 IRS Form 990 Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (pdf) -page 31
  2. 1 2 ACCCE 2008 IRS Form 990 Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (pdf) -page 1
  3. ↑ "Staff Bios". Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  4. ↑ "AMERICAN COALITION FOR CLEAN COAL ELECTRICITY Form 990 2015". ProPublica. May 9, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  5. 1 2 Power, Stephen (August 18, 2009). "You've got (bogus) mail". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  6. 1 2 Ball, Jeffrey (March 20, 2009). "Coal Hard Facts: Cleaning It Won't Be Dirt Cheap". The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on November 11, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  7. 1 2 Kaplun, Alex (August 4, 2009). "Coal Industry Group Linked to a Dozen Forged Cap-And-Trade Letters". The New York Times. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lavelle, Marianne (April 20, 2009). "The 'Clean Coal' Lobbying Blitz". The Center for Public Integrity. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  9. ↑ Harder, Amy (October 2, 2012). "Coal Lobby Launches Ad Ahead of Debate". Influence Alley. National Journal Magazine. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  10. ↑ Wartman, Scott (July 9, 2012). "GOP Leader Mike Duncan Takes Over Clean Coal Group". NKY.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  11. ↑ Bravender, Robin (January 4, 2017). "From 'The Possum' to EPA boss". E&E News.
  12. ↑ Ruyle, Megan (October 22, 2014). "Top Lobbyists 2014: Associations". The Hill .
  13. ↑ Kujawa, Dawn (February 23, 2017). "SC's Harrison drops bid for DNC chair". The State. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 "Trump climate deal pullout: The global reaction". BBC. June 2, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Business dismay over climate deal pull-out". Sky News.
  16. ↑ Heil, Emily (December 19, 2011). "Enviros, Clean-Coal Advocates Make Strange Bedfellows". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  17. 1 2 Lavelle, Marianne (May 25, 2009). "Think again about clean coal". Energy Publisher. Archived from the original on September 7, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  18. ↑ "About us". America's Power Army. Archived from the original on March 2, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  19. ↑ Mulkern, Anne C. (August 6, 2009). "'Citizen Army' Carries Coal's Climate Message to Hinterlands". The New York Times . Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  20. 1 2 3 Power, Stephen (October 20, 2008). "Big Coal Campaigning to Keep Its Industry on Candidates' Minds". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  21. 1 2 3 "Obama orders new rules on coal-fired plants, sets condition for Keystone pipeline". Fox News. June 25, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Republicans use 'war on coal' charge to tarnish Dems ahead of elections". Fox News. July 1, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Coal-state Dems chisel away at Obama climate plan". Fox News. June 29, 2013.
  24. ↑ Lucas, Joe (November 21, 2008). "No matter what you've heard, FutureGen is alive". Behind the Plug (blog). AmericasPower.org. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  25. ↑ Berman, Ari (March 26, 2009). "The Dirt on Clean Coal". The Nation (April 13, 2009). Archived from the original on September 30, 2010. Retrieved October 26, 2010.
  26. ↑ Robinson Meyer: A Major but Little-Known Supporter of Climate Denial: Freight Railroads . The Atlantic, 13th December 2019.
  27. ↑ Harkinson, Josh (December 4, 2009). "The Dirty Dozen of Climate Change Denial". Mother Jones . Retrieved August 17, 2015. Here's a guide to the dozen loudest components of the climate disinformation machine...Meet the 12 loudest members of the chorus claiming that global warming is a joke and that CO2 emissions are actually good for you...In April 2008, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity emerged to support "public policies that advance environmental improvement, economic prosperity, and energy security." In other words, supporting policies that encourage Americans to burn more coal or—as ACCCE always puts it—"clean coal."
  28. 1 2 3 Farenthold, David (August 5, 2009). "Coal Group Reveals 6 More Forged Lobbying Letters". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
  29. ↑ Kaplun, Alex (October 29, 2009). "Lobbyist Apologizes to House Climate Panel for Forged-Letter 'Scheme'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Members". American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. Archived from the original on August 1, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.