ACCCE Urges Iowa Governor and Legislature to Consider Affordability and Reliability in Energy Policies

A Statement from Cullen West, Communications Director

DES MOINES, IOWA – Cullen West, Communications Director for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), today issued this statement regarding Governor Chet Culver’s Condition of the State address:

“As Governor Chet Culver and the Iowa Legislature enter a new Legislative Session, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity encourages them to consider reasonable, commonsense energy policies at a time of great economic uncertainty.

“Recognition of the importance of all sources of electricity is vital in avoiding shifting the energy cost burden to Iowans already struggling in this economy. With nearly 80% of the state’s electricity generated from coal, we can ill afford to ignore this consistently reliable and least expensive energy source.

“Iowa’s leaders have continually expressed the goal to seek energy independence, which represents an unprecedented opportunity to nourish this political will into a partnership with the private sector resulting in research and investments in new clean coal technologies. Generating electricity from coal has never been cleaner, and with the market force of government’s investments leading the way an even cleaner Iowa is within reach.

“Iowa is not alone yet can set an example with such reasoned and bold leadership. We enter a new era of federal energy policy with a new President and Congress. With it comes the opportunity to consider federal solutions to managing greenhouse gas emissions. Such collaborative efforts toward smarter energy policies have the potential to reach our collective goals of energy independence and a cleaner nation while keeping energy affordable and reliable for all.”

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The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in producing electricity from coal. Because coal is America’s most abundant energy resource, ACCCE supports energy policies that balance coal’s vital role in meeting our country’s growing need for affordable and reliable electricity with the need to protect the environment. ACCCE also advocates for the development and deployment of advanced clean coal technologies that will produce electricity with near-zero emissions. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, ACCCE has more than 40 members that represent more than $190 billion in annual revenues and employ more than 360,000 Americans. For more information, visit www.cleancoalusa.org or www.americaspower.org.