2007 Excellence Award Winners

2007 ACC Excellence Awards

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 was very pleased to recognize the hard work and dedication of five companies at the Spring Coal Forum, held March 10-12, 2008 in Miami, Florida at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa.

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

Excellence in Public Service or Community Development
The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades
Award Winner: Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades

"In this country, every able-bodied, healthy, young man who has learned a good mechanical trade, and is truthful, honest, frugal, temperate, and industrious, is certain to succeed in life, and to become a useful and respected member of society."
~ Isaiah Williamson, School Founder

Williamson students are trained in the operation, maintenance, and testing of boilers, turbines, … electric generators, switch gear, … as well as the theory of nuclear, fossil fuel, hydroelectric and other systems of power generation. Given the fact that the utility industry currently needs many new, well-trained employees, Williamson is offering a timely and important service to the country.

Williamson distinguishes itself from other schools by ensuring that each of its students attends the school on a full scholarship that covers tuition, room, board, and textbooks. Furthermore, they offer this amazing opportunity to their students without accepting government funding.

Excellence in the Advancement of Energy Education
Lignite Energy Council
Award Winner: Lignite Energy Council

A North Dakota-based industry association formed to promote the use and understanding of the region's lignite industry, the Lignite Energy Council has worked in its area to ensure that educators are well prepared to teach their students about how lignite is mined and used in energy production.

Our judging committee made a special point of noting how well organized and thorough Council staff was when preparing the teacher's workshops, field trips, and supporting materials. By reaching out to over 2,200 local teachers, the Council's education programs have potentially influenced the education of over 60,000 students.
Seminole Electric Cooperative
Honorable Mention: Seminole Electric Cooperative

The Seminole Electric Company, Inc. (SECI) is a Florida-based electricity generation and transmission cooperative that has committed itself to providing bias-balanced information and opportunities to Florida's educators.

SECI employees offer an 8^th grade energy education program to science teachers in the Putnam County area. This program is based on the state's science curriculum and aims to help educators and students meet state educational requirements, as well as communicate to the public who SECI is, how they work to provide the state with affordable and abundant energy, and what efforts they are making to ensure their plants operate in an efficient and clean manner. In the four years that SECI has offered their program, SECI has reached 3,400 students with positive messages on electric cooperatives and clean coal power options.

Excellence in the Development of Public Information: Print, Electronic, or Broadcast Media
DOE - Office of Fossil Energy
Award Winner: Department of Energy - Office of Fossil Energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) is a very well known entity in the energy industry, providing abundant information, statistics, and educational materials on energy. As their awards application submission noted, the DOE has traditionally done a thorough job of reaching the energy industry with their information and publications. However they noticed that there was a lack of good information being shared with the general public -- i.e.: "the average taxpayer, the retiree, the homeowner ..., the student ..., and the numerous groups whose collective judgement becomes public opinion" -- on what it takes to power the country.

Therefore, FE established an in depth educational program to help educate the general public on the benefits of keeping coal in America's energy mix and how their tax investments have been used to develop advanced technologies that benefit their every day lives. Fossil Energy now ensures that the broader public receives information through the FE website, news alerts, a traveling exhibit, as well as educational and information packets on FEs clean coal program.
Minnesota Power
Honorable Mention: Minnesota Power

Minnesota Power is a Minnesota-based utility that provides retail electricity service to over 141,000 customers and 16 municipalities with its coal-fueled and hydroelectric generating facilities.

In 2007, Minnesota Power began an emissions reduction program at its coal-fueled generation plants that would see NO_x, SO_x, and mercury emissions reduced by up to 90 percent. As a means of ensuring the public was aware of the work that was being done, Minnesota Power created the Tomorrow in Motion Today campaign. Through print, radio, and television ads, as well as supplmentary online information, Minnesota Power ensured their customers and the broader public had access to ample information on the emissions equipment upgrades and the utility's commitment to ensuring an abundant supply of affordable and clean electricity.

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 the Williamson Free School, the Lignite Energy Council, Seminole Electric Cooperative, the Department of Energy - Office of Fossil Energy, and Minnesota Power.

The ACC also would like to thank everyone else who took the time to submit an application, we recognize the hard work and dedication that you put into your jobs and your communities. We encourage our readers to watch the ACC web site, as we will be releasing information on the 2008 Excellence Awards in the upcoming quarter. For more information on the ACC Excellence Awards program, you can visit the Excellence Awards section on the ACC website, or please contact:

Jason Hayes, Communications Director
The American Coal Council
Ph: 202.756.4540
Mobile: 602.769.3872
E-mail: jason@clean-coal.info