March 18, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2007 ACC Excellence Awards

Contact:
Jason Hayes, M.E.Des.
Communications Director
American Coal Council
jason@clean-coal.info
Ph: 602.769.3872
www.clean-coal.info

NEWS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, March 11^th – at the 2008 Spring Coal Forum, in Miami, Florida – the American Coal Council (ACC) announced the winners of its 2007 Excellence Awards Program. These awards recognize coal industry participants who 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 ACC was pleased to recognize and award industry excellence in the following awards categories this year.

Excellence in Public Service or Community Development

• Award Winner: Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades

Excellence in the Advancement of Energy Education

• Award Winner: Lignite Energy Council
• Honorable Mention: Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Excellence in the Development of Public Information: Print, Electronic, or Broadcast Media

• Award Winner: Department of Energy - Office of Fossil Energy
• Honorable Mention: Minnesota Power

The Excellence Awards panel of judges was also recognized for their participation.

• Carl Michael Smith, Attorney, Dunlop, Codding & Rogers, PC (former Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy)
• Ray Dykes, President, PR PLUS Communications
• Keith Drohan, Senior Market Originator Dominion Energy (ACC President 2007)

"In our dynamic energy market and in the rapidly evolving policy spectrum, it is absolutely essential that the coal industry meets society's energy needs with abundant, affordable, and clean energy. It is also necessary for the industry to educate the public about the foundational role that coal plays in our economy," noted Jason Hayes, ACC Communications Director. "ACC Excellence Awards winners are doing the on-the-ground work that helps people understand the importance of this essential, domestic energy resource."

For more information on the Awards program or to nominate your company/association or another company/association for an ACC Excellence Award, please contact Jason Hayes, Communications Director at 602.769.3872 or jason@clean-coal.info. Further information is also available through the ACC’s web site – http://www.clean-coal.info.

"The ACC is the pre-eminent business voice of the American coal industry. The Association is dedicated to advancing the development and utilization of American coal as an economic, abundant and environmentally sound fuel source."