Americans invited to participate in balanced energy strategy

With an eye toward the future, representatives of America's coal-based electricity industry, together with a group of concerned community leaders, have launched a campaign to seek the public's involvement in establishing a balanced energy strategy for the 21st century. Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) will promote an ongoing educational dialogue with the American people on the need to balance the nation's growing demand for electricity with the obligation to protect the environment.

"Electricity plays an increasing role in America's energy mix," said Gerald M. Anderson, President of DTE Energy Resources. "In examining US energy policy, more emphasis has been placed on reducing our dependence on imported oil, and far too little consideration has been given to the technologies and strategies that will meet the growing demand for energy in an environmentally sound, economical manner in the years ahead."
Between 1970 and 1998, the US population grew by 32 %, and total consumption of electricity increased 133 %, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA projects that electricity consumption in 2020 is expected to be 34 % higher than 1998 levels.
"As we have seen over the last 30 years," said Steven E. Leer, President and CEO or Arch Coal of St. Louis, "there is no denying that the increased availability and widespread use of electro-technologies, especially computers and the internet, have improved the quality of life and boosted American productivity."
"It is important to talk directly with American people to address the lack of knowledge about coal-based electricity generation," said Steve Miller, President of ABEC. "Recent events like increased gasoline costs and heating oil shortages have shown how a lack of balanced energy policy can hurt American consumers, and this is why the American public is willing to participate in this dialogue."

Public opinion surveys show that the majority of Americans are unaware that over 50 % of the electricity consumed in the US comes from coal, our most abundant domestic energy resource.
"Any discussion of America's future energy policy must first begin with a full understanding of the energy sources that are currently providing the power we use," said James Jura, CEO and general manager of Associated Electric Co-operative of Springfield, MO. "Our industry has a remarkable story to tell about its contribution to improving US productivity and quality of life. It is time that we put that positive message before the American people."
Without this public dialogue, the sponsors of this effort fear that electricity from coal will be removed from the US energy mix by way of government regulation. Because they recognise the importance of this debate to all Americans, the coal-based electricity industry has provided the primary initial funding for the campaign.
"The freight railroad industry is proud to be part of this effort to increase awareness of the importance of coal in our daily lives," said Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads. "The railroads play a pivotal role in fuelling our booming economy by transporting this essential, affordable and abundant resource which is key to a balanced national energy policy."
"Reliable, low-cost electricity from coal allows Americans to enjoy a high standard of living while meeting the need for a cleaner environment and a strong economy," said Ir. F. Engelhardt, Chairman and CEO of Peabody Group. "This campaign explains the now-hidden truths about electricity from coal: it is essential, affordable and increasingly clean."

In its initial phase, the campaign will focus on those three main points:
Electricity from Coal is:
Essential - Electricity has enriched the quality of life in America, and more than half of our power comes from coal.
Affordable - Electricity from coal brings value to consumers because it provides power at about half the cost of other fossil fuels, and is less costly and more reliable than intermittent power sources. Twenty-two of the 25 US power plants with the lowest operating costs use coal to generate affordable electricity for their customers.
Increasingly Clean - Thanks to over $ 50 bn invested in new technology, the US has experienced dramatic improvements in air quality since 1970 while the use of coal for generating electricity has nearly tripled during that same period.
In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency projects that emissions of criteria air pollutants in the coal-based electricity industry will be 33 % less in 2000 than they were in 1970, even with the increased usage. That is nearly a 70 % improvement in the environmental efficiency over the past 30 years. With over 250 years of coal reserves remaining in the US, this is an industry that is looking to the future, not the past.

"We are tremendously proud of the coal-based electricity industry's record of providing affordable and reliable power to the American people while also playing an important role in protecting the environment," said Gary Goldberg, President and CEO of Kennecott Energy Company of Gillette, WY. "Still, this is only part of the story. Our industry will continue to promote further improvements in environmental quality."
"Thus far, technology has provided the biggest boost in achieving our environmental goals," said Roy M. Palk, President of East Kentucky Power Co-operative of Winchester, KY, "and we will continue to make investments in that area. This will ensure that America has a reliable and affordable source of electricity necessary to fuel our growing economy and sustain our quality of life, while not retreating from our commitment to protect the environment."