The organization believes that the use of coal -- America's most abundant energy resource -- is essential to providing affordable, reliable electricity for millions of American consumers and a growing domestic economy. ACCCE also supports enhanced public and private sector efforts to develop and deploy new, advanced clean coal technologies that protect and improve the environment.

The formation of ACCCE represents a consolidation of the work previously done by predecessor groups -- the Center for Energy and Economic Development (CEED) and Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) -- as well as an expanded mission for the new organization. CEED, founded in 1992, has been engaged in a wide range of energy and environmental policies related to coal-based electricity issues at the regional, state, and local levels.

The mission of ABEC (formed in 2000) has been to educate the American public with respect to the benefits of coal's use for meeting domestic electricity demand, including the America's Power campaign, which ACCCE will sponsor going forward. Additionally, ACCCE will take on an expanded mission by joining other national associations and member companies to lobby federal policymakers on policies designed to slow, stop, and ultimately reverse the growth of manmade greenhouse gas emissions.

At the heart of ACCCE's advocacy are important facts that policymakers, media, and individuals must recognize if America is to meet its economic and energy policies and its environmental goals:

- Coal fuels over half of America's electricity; the U.S. has more coal reserves than any other nation; and coal's domestic abundance and low-cost (less than 1/3 the cost of other fuels) provide enormous advantages in enhancing American energy security.

- The U.S. has made tremendous environmental improvements in the way coal is used to generate electricity. The use of coal for electricity generation has more than tripled since 1970, while criteria emissions controlled under the federal Clean Air Act have been reduced by nearly 50 percent. The industry is committed to reducing emissions even further -- including the eventual widespread capture and storage of manmade greenhouse gas emissions.

- Clean coal technologies are essential in addressing climate concerns. Technologies to improve power plant efficiencies and to capture and safely store carbon dioxide emissions present an effective means by which the nation can achieve significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector. With proper investments in technology, these emissions reductions can be achieved without causing serious economic dislocations or making the U.S. more reliant on imported forms of energy.

Stephen L. Miller, ACCCE President and CEO, noted that prudent public policies must acknowledge the need to meet growing U.S. electricity demand and to re-ignite the slumping domestic economy, while focusing on continued environmental improvement.

"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," said Miller.

Miller emphatically answered questions about whether coal can remain a viable fuel option for the future in a carbon-constrained world. "Coal will remain a fuel of the future because there has never been an environmental challenge facing the coal-based electricity sector for which technology did not provide the ultimate solution," said Miller.

"Those who are most familiar with the current state of research and development know that deploying technologies to avoid, reduce, capture, and store manmade greenhouse gases will not be an exception to this rule," Miller added.

Today's announcement goes well beyond detailing the organizational changes involved in the formation of ACCCE and bolsters the industry's commitment to support common sense federal policies that address concerns about climate change. Miller emphasized that, in its outreach to policymakers and the American people, ACCCE will also endorse an integrated U.S. climate strategy that:

- Promotes rapid and widespread research, development, deployment, and commercialization of innovative, advanced clean coal and other technologies -- including carbon capture, transportation, safe storage, and terrestrial carbon sequestration -- that are vital to the success of prudent climate change policies.

- Recognizes any policy addressing climate change is inextricably linked to broader U.S. energy security, economic development, and environmental interests and goals.

- Acknowledges climate is a global issue requiring leadership by the United States and actions by all nations in a spirit of shared responsibility to devise and carry out practical, cost-effective measures by government, business, and citizens to slow, stop, and then reverse the growth of manmade greenhouse gas emissions;

- Values coal's vital role in America's energy future and recognizes the importance of energy efficiency and conservation, as well as a diverse suite of other domestic energy sources to generate electricity including nuclear, natural gas, and renewables.

Miller further stated that ACCCE supports the timely adoption of federal carbon management legislation -- and recognizes that a mandatory cap-and-trade program is one option for such legislation -- so long as the legislation appropriately addresses 12 principles that the organization has adopted.

"We can meet the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the utility sector and still keep energy costs affordable for consumers if we adequately fund public and private partnerships for developing and deploying advanced carbon capture and storage technologies and employ reasonable cost-containment measures in the federal program," Miller said.

Miller stated that the ACCCE members and staff recognize both the challenge and the opportunity facing the organization in the years ahead. "I believe our members created ACCCE at just the right time. Our nation faces great challenges in ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable, reliable electricity. And we recognize the complexity of instituting a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that is fair and equitable, while meeting the environmental, energy security, and economic needs of the American consumer.

But, in times like these, our nation has always stepped up to the challenge -- and we will do so again. ACCCE looks forward to being a progressive influence in forging new public policies that will provide real solutions to the environmental and energy policy challenges we face as a nation and around the globe," he said.

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