The Dirty Lie Of "Clean Coal"

Over the past few months, a new phrase has entered the English language: "clean coal."

Ol' GW mentioned "clean coal" in his most recent State of the Union Address. In a recent speech, Hillary Clinton stated that future energy generation should come from "clean coal and renewables." Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of Australia, has used "clean coal" as a way to "marry his green credentials with his concern for jobs."

With all this talk and publicity, "clean coal" must really be something great, right? It must be the energy source that will save us from global warming. It must be our future.

Well, that is what the coal industry would like you to believe. "Clean coal" is actually the linchpin of a well orchestrated and well funded public relations campaign sponsored by the coal industry.

In 2000, the coal industry formed a group called Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC). This group's mission is to develop "astroturf" support for mining companies, coal transporters, and coal-based electricity producers. If you are unfamiliar with astroturfing," it is a widespread public relations practice primarily used by politicians and corporations in which a seemingly "independent" front group is formed to create the appearance of a spontaneous, grassroots citizen action. The group is to real grassroots activism as "astroturf" is to real grass.

In 2001, ABEC ran one television advertisement promoting "clean coal" over 900 times in the Washington, D.C. market. In 2002, ABEC sponsored three television advertisements in that same market which ran over 800 times. Also in 2002, ABEC underwrote a program on National Public Radio (NPR) that promoted coal as America's future.

Recently, ABEC has increased their public relations budget from $8 million in 2007 to $30 million in 2008.

In 2007, ABEC sponsored the CNN/YouTube Republican Presidential Debate.