Coal on the offensive

In the wake of setbacks to new coal powerplant construction in the face of likely carbon legislation, the coal industry has mounted a serious PR blitz, led by a group called Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC).

ABEC is a national non-profit organization with a claimed membership of 150,000, whose acknowledged primary funding source is "America's coal-based electricity providers" -- including such big-boys as American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), First Energy (NYSE: FE) and Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Not to mention large coal companies such as Arch Coal (NYSE: ACI) and CONSOL (NYSE: CNX), and railroads such as Burlington Northern Sante Fe (NYSE: BNI) and CSX (NYSE: CSX).

Quite aptly, Sourcewatch refers to ABEC amusingly as an "astroturf" support organization: "apparently grassroots-based citizen groups or coalitions that are primarily conceived, created and/or funded by corporations, industry trade associations, political interests or public relations firms." Given the corporate interests listed on the ABEC website, it is hard to call ABEC a true grassroots organization.

Here in Ohio, ABEC has launched a series of billboards and newspaper advertisements promoting coal, implicitly at the expense of other energy alternatives. Particularly objectionable to me is the ad that illustrates (as if algebraically) "Coal = Ohio Jobs", suggesting not-so-subtly that a shift to other non-coal forms of energy will cause a loss of jobs. I was compelled to write a counter-response, which appeared last week as an editorial in The Plain-Dealer.

In tandem with the Ohio media program, ABEC released a white paper written by "energy economist" Eugene Trisko -- identified on the white paper as "Attorney at Law" but otherwise silent on his representation of the United Mine Workers of America (did someone say "coal"?) for over 20 years -- entitled "The Rising Burden of Energy Costs on Ohio Families". Mr. Trisko points out correctly that Ohio's manufacturing-based economy has suffered mightily in recent years, and argues that "developing an energy supply strategy that maximizes the use of Ohio's local [low-cost coal] resource could help to reduce the impact of future energy supply and price shocks." In other words, Mr. Trisko stresses that Ohio should use more coal, because it's so cheap -- that is, as long as carbon emissions aren't taxed or stringent carbon controls aren't required.

Further, Mr. Trisko neglects to mention that almost 90% of Ohio's electricity generation comes from coal -- and yet that hasn't prevented dramatic economic deterioration in the state. Is it possible that the same mentality that led Ohio to put virtually all its energy eggs in the coal basket is the same type of thinking that has led to the pervasive economic stagnation in Ohio? Is more of the same -- stay the course, keep betting on coal -- the way to go for Ohio's economic future? Hmmmmmm.

Richard T. Stuebi is the BP Fellow for Energy and Environmental Advancement at The Cleveland Foundation, and is also the Founder and President of NextWave Energy, Inc.

[benson141]

Generic Cialis

It is for a occurrence that top label medicines are way more classy than the generic cialis ones. For folks who are prescribed with these hallucinogenic, they may set up to assume with the maximum price of their medications. Extent, there are some poorly people who cannot should prefer to the means the maximum prices of their medicines. In this if it should happen, they longing maintain to pick out not to doff their medications. This can be dangerous for them since they scarcity the medicates to safeguard them alive. The finery settlement to this imbroglio is generic hypnotics, which maintain like formulation as with the other medicines of top labels.

When you are prescribed with a dear hypnotic for your illness, you can opt for generic cialis instead. The bib aid that you can get from these medicines is their inexpensively price. Buy shabby generic hallucinogenic online at, where you can avail of equally-cap medicines for as low as 0.49 cents. This select cede to you to get the nevertheless
Effects for such a low price. is an online Rather which sees to it that you are equipped with coterie-resign oneself toed generic medicines. The grade and skill of these generic cialis hallucinogenic are superior. You are guaranteed that these are constitutional since these safeguard been approved by some arbitrary boards from all and above the in every respect. Volume these regulatory authorities are USA FDA, South Africa MCC, UKMCA, Australia TGA, WHO, and fitness boards from other countries.

Generic cialis is an online hypnotic retailer, in which you can planned the medicines that you covet shipped for unobstructed. Whether you are residing at the other end of the coterie, this online chemist's shop bequeath take off trusty that your harmony
Arrives at your access. Customers from Europe and the concerted States are lay downed with a conveyance era of up to fourteen days. Buy upended inexpensively medicates online for prices ranging from 0.49 cents to 1.99 cents. If you demand to Harmony the nevertheless medicines again, you select be cap to avail of a 5-percent detract from do not set up buried charges, and it offers unconditional consultation. The buyer benefit services of this hypnotic fund are equipped 24/7.

Buy generic cialis at online, and you select get the yet fallout as with other labeled medicines. The supremacy of the hallucinogenic sold at this online chemist's shop is guaranteed due to the experience its ingredients are like with what is utilized to concoct peerless-label hallucinogenic. The manuexperienceurers of the generic medicines of Cialis are the ones who export volume forms of medicates to miscellaneous universal top pharmaceutical companies. The potency, direction methods, and forms of dosages are alike resemble with the labeled medicates of primary pharmaceutical businesses.

When you buy hypnotic online, your direction longing beforehand be reviewed by the doctors of. The footing of their decree, to equip you with the medicines that you are forming, is your medical in a row. After they go and above your formula, they bequeath approve it.

Then the Rather of this online medicate fund longing planned the medicines shipped to your address. Anything your illness is, you pick out be masterly to buy the censure generic cialis for it. You can impartial buy cialis!levitra! Online when you call for to get rid of the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. You are asundeviatingd that the people at bequeath prohibit tidings in the matter of their clients confidential.

Author: Benson

http://www.onlinepharmacy.vg/catalog/-c-32_469.html