American Coal Mag Issue 1, 2009In this issue of American Coal, we take a hard look at the many myths and misperceptions that have been pushed into the media over the past few years. The anti-coal forces have been working over time to ensure that our choices, freedoms, and options are removed.

They claim to be worried about climate change, but then ignore the reality of improving efficiencies and new technologies that have dramatically improved the environmental record of coal. They ignore the affordability and abundance of coal-based energy and choose instead to focus on dramatic and frightening predictions of environmental collapse. They tag coal ash with misleading terms like "toxic" when research shows that it no more "toxic" than the soil in your backyard. They redefine widely understood terms like "clean" to confuse and frighten the people living on main street USA. They ignore the fact that coal acts as a foundation for the provision of clean and affordable energy throughout the developing world, saving (literally) millions of lives as it does. We outline the politcal influence, power grabs, and dirty deeds of the anti-coal forces throughout the pages of this edition. At the same time, we (once again) demonstrate coal's affordability, abundance, and rapidly improving environmental record.

While all of the myths and misperceptions are being foisted on the media and public, the coal industry has been steadily improving its record of environmental performance, affordability and efficiency. We've historically addressed the public's concerns and we continue to do so.

It's time, therefore, to push back against the myths, misperceptions, personal attacks, and outright lies. It's time to clean up the confusion over coal.

We invite you download a copy of this edition of American Coal magazine (pdf format 12.5 MB) and the Membership Directory (pdf format 1.4 MB) to learn more about coal's actual record. If you are interested in receiving a hard copy of the magazine, or contact the ACC by e-mail or phone 602.769.3872.