How many acronyms does it take to trick politicians and the media into thinking coal is really a clean energy choice? Well, let’s just go through them, shall we?
ABEC stands for Americans for Balanced Energy Choices, a coal industry campaign that has spent more than $40 million to promote “clean coal” technologies on the campaign trail. Their members include your friendly neighborhood coal companies like Peabody Coal, Arch Coal, Duke Energy as well as rail companies like Burlington Northern Santa Fe. ABEC ran an “astroturf” campaign in New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania extolling the virtues of coal to presidential campaign staff, volunteers, supporters, and even the candidates themselves. ABEC has sponsored nearly every televised presidential debate and is now…gone forever, partly due to the work of grassroots climate campaigners, big enviros and a group called ABECC.
ABECC is an NRDC-sponsored parody, focused on exposing the coal industry’s disinformation campaign. The tag line, Coal Power: Warming America, Warming the Planet, and the design parodying ABEC’s own website, americaspower.org, make the Alliance for Burning Every Chunk of Coal a pointed voice in an increasingly volatile debate. With more than 65 victories against proposed coal plants around the country, ABECC, climate and community activists are a serious roadblock in the way of the coal industry.
In fact, organizers have done such a good job tarnishing the image of “clean coal” and ABEC, that the coal industry, and front group CEED (who funded the ABEC campaign) have invented yet another acronym, ACCCE. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity is expected to use many of the same tactics as ABEC, attack green collar jobs, invade the blogosphere and the airwaves and spend much more money touting the technology of the day after tomorrow, “clean coal.” Expect to see ACCCE representatives in a community near you, spreading misinformation and trying to buy votes and candidates.
Maybe it’s time to say WTF to these guys and send them on their way.
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You know what they say: “A rose by any other name…”
What do these guys do? Sit around drinking mint juleps on their country clubs and say “hey, this acronym ABEC is getting boring… let’s pick a new one! Call your manservent and have him run down to Kinkos and print off some new letterhead, order a new website and let’s call ourselves ACCCE starting tomorrow.”
If there’s any doubt that ACCCE is the same coal-lovin’, politics-meddling industry front group, just look at who their director is: Stephen Miller, former director of ABEC. Wonder if he got himself a raise, now that he’s working for a “new” organization…
Give me a break!
Hey, let’s start a new contest! Who can come up with the best parody acronym for ACCCE?
ABEC became ABECC, Americans for Burning every last Chunk of Coal. What will ACCCE become?
Best submission will win lifelong pride and honor (or something equally intangible), although I can make sure your idea gets to NRDC, who is not doubt working furiously on another parody website to keep ACCCE in check.
All Coal Creates Climate Epidemics
Another Clever Clean Coal Ecdysis
American Coalition of Corporate Coal Ecclesiastics
American Coalition of Corporate Coal Eco-washers
It figures that you guys would have a cynical response to yesterday’s announcement versus focusing on the substance. First, if there was any attempt to hide anything, why does the press release clearly state that ACCCE will, in part, involve the ongoing work previously done by CEED and ABEC?
Also, why are you also glossing over the fact that over 40 companies from the coal-based electricity sector have pledged to support a mandatory carbon management program that meets the goals of achieving emissions reductions, preserving fuel diversity and energy security, and protecting consumers from increased energy costs?
Are you saying that you don’t think energy costs should be affordable? Are you saying that protecting energy security should not be a priority? Do you believe (contrary to EVERY credible forecast out there) that we won’t need coal to meet future energy needs here in the US or around the world?
We’ve made a commitment to a plan to achieve further emissions reductions and do so in a way that meets growing energy demands and keeps energy costs affordable for the consumer. If you have different ideas, let’s hear them.
I don’t think it would be giving NRDC too much credit to suggest that the parody site may be one of the reasons for ACCCE’s name change. Although I’d be curious to know if anyone has the inside scoop on the name trading. Here’s yesterday’s official press release from ACCCE on the coalition formation: http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080417/20080417006084.html?.v=1
Says ACCCE CEO Stephen Miller in the release:
“Protecting the environment is a shared responsibility for individuals, businesses and government alike. At the same time, many Americans are also deeply concerned about the growing reliance on imported energy and increasing energy costs,” said Miller. “Coal is an abundant energy resource found right here at home, and it is also affordable. Shielding American consumers – especially working families and people living on fixed incomes – from unnecessary energy price increases must be a national priority.”
Right. As if you really care about working families, Mr. Miller. How dare you pretend.
How about –
About to Choke in a Carbon Constrained Economy
I really wanted to use “Assholes for Bogus Energy Choices” for ABEC. Should have jumped on that one sooner… Oh well, they are on the run, the public isn’t buying their lies, even the media seems to enjoy exposing ABEC’s deceit.
Apparently Clueless Corporate Coal Executives?
You think we’re trying to “trick” the media? It seems like you are the one trying to deceive people.
I don’t know how to be any clearer about who we are and where our money comes from! We say so near the top of the press release we sent out announcing the launch of our new organization!
For that matter, you glossed over the REAL news about the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity:
For the first time, we have over 40 coal-related companies agreeing to federal regulation of carbon dioxide, provided our 12 principles are met.
And for the cynical among you, those principles are available for anyone to see.
(See the PDF link on this page: http://www.cleancoalusa.org/docs/beyond/ )
David, first of all, thank you for clearly declaring your allegiance to ACCCE (Americans for the Criminally negligent Combustion of Coal and destruction of the Environment?). I appreciate that. Honestly.
Now on to the supposed “real” news that “for the first time, we have over 40 coal-related companies agreeing to federal regulation of carbon dioxide, provided our 12 principles are met.” (emphasis added there on a subordinate clause that is truly the dominant one in that sentence.
For a close look at these 12 “principles” of the coal industry, check out this post by my friend Adam Siegel and this spot on comment summarizing ACCCE’s 4-page statement of principles by fellow Oregon climate activist Jim Edelson (who goes by OregonJ at DailyKos):
“The coal industry supports carbon regulations if no limits are placed on building new coal-fired power plants without CCS, that no liability for the failure of any sequestration plan be placed on the polluter, that no state be able to limit GHG emissions, and that, until that day when (if ever) the coal folks come up with a CCS widget, that there be unlimited CO2 emissions from the burning of coal that can be offset by somebody else’s actions. Oh, I almost forgot one principle, the coal industry wants about $200 billion taxpayer dollars to figure out this CCS thing.”
Did Jim miss anything David?
American Coalition of Corporate Coal Enthusiasts?
I think Andrew wins bonus points for using the word “Ecdysis”!
For those of you, like me, who needed to look that one up in the dictionary…
Ecdysis (noun): the process of shedding the old skin (in the case of reptiles) or casting off the outer cuticle (in the case of insects and other anthropods)
Jenny’s About to Choke in a Carbon Constrained Economy may be my fav though! I’m forwarding on our current entries to NRDC!