This is according to Veteran Richard Allen Smith, a member of the group VoteVets and Operation Free, in response to an e-mail sent out by ACCCE, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, which reads
“Greetings!
With Veterans Day around the corner, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on all the military personnel who are involved in ensuring our country is protected.
Energy security is one issue that has become increasingly important to our veterans. In fact, national veterans groups Votevets and Operation Free are urging the government to become more energy independent and less reliant on foreign oil.
We can do this by using the abundant domestic fuels we already have. With more than 250 billion tons of recoverable coal reserves, the United States has more coal than the Middle East has oil.
We need to start putting our coal to use – and technologies such as hybrid-electric cars and cleaner, more efficient power plants are making it easier for us to do that.
How do you feel about the issue? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We hope to hear from you!
Cheers,
The ACCCE Team”
This e-mail is of course misrepresenting what VoteVets and Operation Free advocate for. As Smith writes, the groups are not advocating for increased coal use…
“ACCCE got one thing right. Veterans do have a unique perspective to offer on national security as it relates to climate change and clean energy. Producers of non-renewable energy are lobbying against clean energy legislation and are implying that we’re campaigning for their energy plan. The fact that they are attempting to hitch on to our wagon (albeit falsely) shows the level of credibility we have in this debate. ACCCE, a coalition of carbon polluters, understands that the work their members do is part of the problem.
VoteVets and Operation FREE are not, have not and will never advocate the continued use of carbon based fuels. Such an action would be completely counter to the work we do, as so called “clean coal” only pushes us closer to inevitable catastrophic climate change and threatens our national security. For the ACCCE to hijack America’s Veterans who are working to ensure secure, clean American energy alternatives while simultaneously claiming to honor us on Veterans Day is an act of despicable hubris.”
I don’t think many are surprised that ACCCE is willing to stoop so low in order to protect their own interests, but this gaffe certainly doesn’t help their side.
Cross-posted from: The Dernogalizer
