The ACC Excellence Awards recognize North American companies, foundations, associations and individuals across the coal industry that have played a significant role in improving their local communities, who have benefited energy-based education programs and who have excelled in their efforts to develop and transmit public information on coal and the energy industry.

The American Coal Council is pleased to recognize the hard work and dedication of six companies at the Spring Coal Forum, held May 21-23, 2007 in Memphis, TN.

The May 22^nd Excellence Awards luncheon recognizes the efforts of coal and energy industry organizations that have played a significant role in improving their local communities, benefited energy-based education across the country and excelled in their efforts to develop and transmit public information on coal and the energy industry.

ACC Excellence Awards were presented to winners in the following categories:

• Excellence in the Advancement of Energy Education
  
  TXU Power
  Award Winner: TXU - "Energized Approach to Education."
  TXU is a Texas-based energy utility that has invested itself in educating the community about coal-based energy.
  
  Click here to see TXU's submission to the awards program, "An Energized Approach to Education.
  
  Note: TXU bettered their position this year. In the 2005 program, TXUs submission was awarded honorable mention. Congratulations and thanks for your continued interest in the program!
  
  
  
  CaterpillarHonorable Mention: Caterpillar, Inc. noted in its submission that, it has a vested interest in mining and in how their customers are perceived by the public. They recognized that the public perception of mining is that it is dirty, dangerous, and leaves the earth ruined.
  
  Their team recognized that a grass roots plan to educate the public about why mining is necessary, careers in mining, and environmental issues associated with mining and sustainable development was badly needed. They determined that the best place to start was with children. After obtaining support from Caterpillar, local mines and mining organizations, and the Regional Office of Education, they developed a hands-on curriculum to teach about modern mining. Through the application of that curriculum, they have trained 25 local teachers and are starting seven more in 2008. The curriculum materials have reached more than 2600 students through classroom instruction and career days, as well as many educators through appearances at educational conferences.
  
  
  
  CEDAR, Inc.Honorable Mention: CEDAR, Inc. is a volunteer-based, not-for-profit corporation formed in July 1993 as a partnership between the coal industry, business community, and academia. This partnership was formed through the joint efforts of the North Carolina Coal Institute and Coal Operators and Associates of Pikeville, KY, with the purpose of improving the image of the coal industry. CEDAR educates the leaders of tomorrow, by helping to increase their knowledge and understanding of the many benefits provided to our daily lives by the coal industry. CEDAR targets its efforts toward all students (K-12) in seven eastern Kentucky counties.
  
  You can learn more about CEDAR's efforts, their teacher's aid programs, scholarship program, and Coal Fair by on their website - www.cedarinc.org

• Excellence in the Advancement Public Service or Community Development
  
  Arch Coal, Inc.Award Winner: Arch Coal ~ Mountain Laurel Complex A West Virginia-based company that has gone the extra mile in ensuring local communities and the local environment were involved in decision making. Their submission also described how Arch helped to provide Sharples, W.Va. with essential services like extending water services and relocating and upgrading a one mile section of State Route 17 during construction of their site.
  
  The Award Program judges made specific note of the fact that this submission had a clear link to the local community and that the company had provided specific deliverables (the water lines and extended highway) to the community.
  
  Click on the Arch Coal logo to visit the company web site.
  
  Great River Energy
  Honorable Mention: Great River Energy is a Minnesota-based electric utility, with operations in North Dakota. In their submission, they described how they had worked to expand communications with two adjacent communities through direct financial support and donations, participation in civic activities and through the development of a monthly community roundtable meeting. The roundtables have allowed the communities and company to partner in job creation, marketing & public relations, as well as economic development efforts.
  
  
  
  Click on the Great River Energy logo to vist their web site.
  
  TXU Power
  Honorable Mention: TXU - "A Heritage of Giving."
  As noted above, TXU is a Texas-based energy utility. TXU has invested itself in the communities in which it operates and has a history of solid corporate social responsibility.
  
  Click here to see TXU's submission to the awards program, "Heritage of Giving.

The ACC is the pre-eminent voice of the American coal industry. As part of that role, we promote public awareness of organizations that have been unusually effective in educating the public on the impact and importance of the coal industry. Whether through direct public service, the creation of educational programs, or the development of public information, the ACC Excellence Awards recognize the hard work and dedication of those who are improving public knowledge and perception of the coal industry. We offer our congratulations to the dedicated, hard-working people at Wisconsin Energy, Peabody, National Energy Foundation, TXU, Coal-Mac, and Thunder Basin Coal.

The ACC also would like to encourage our readers to watch the ACC web site, as we will be releasing information on the 2006 Excellence Awards in the upcoming quarter. For more information on the ACC Excellence Awards program, you can visit the ACC web site (www.americancoalcouncil.org), or contact

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