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SW: →Coal industry Astroturf: FACES of coal
====Head of ACCCE testifies before Congress====
On October 29, 2009, ACCCE president and CEO Joe Miller testified before the House Energy Independence and Global Warming Committee about the forged letters sent by subcontractor Bonner & Associates. In his testimony, Miller claimed that his organization had never opposed the [[Waxman-Markey Climate Bill]]. However, an official June 2009 press release specifically stated, "ACCCE cannot support this bill, as it is written, because the legislation still does not adequately protect consumers and the domestic economy or ensure that the American people can continue to enjoy the benefits of affordable, reliable electricity, which has been so important to our nation."<ref name="del">Arthur Delaney, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/29/pro-coal-lobby-boss-claim_n_338794.html "Pro-Coal Lobby Boss Claims Never To Have Opposed Climate Bill," Huffington Post, October 29, 2009.</ref> Miller also said that ACCCE has only lobbied Congress since April 2008, despite extensive records of the group's lobbying efforts for many years prior. The comments sparked accusations that Miller lied under oath and suggestions that the Justice Department may open a criminal perjury probe.<ref>Zachary Roth, [http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/could_coal_lobby_chief_be_probed_for_perjury.php "Could Coal Lobby Chief Be Probed For Perjury?,"] TPMMuckraker, October 29, 2009.</ref><ref name="del"/>
===FACES of Coal===
FACES of Coal, which stands for Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security, is a coal industry [[front group]]. The group, which is affiliated with [[West Virginia Coal Association]] front group [[Friends of Coal]],<ref name="wvns">[http://www.wvnstv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=64992 "FACES of Coal Plans to Highlight Industry’s Importance,"] WVNS-TV, August 20, 2009.</ref> launched in August 2009. The group is attempting to gain support for the coal industry as climate change legislation works its way through Congress.<ref name="sax">Michelle Saxton, [http://www.dailymail.com/Business/200908190948 "Another pro-coal group enters the energy debate,] ''Charleston Daily Mail,'' August 20, 2009.</ref>
FACES of Coal claims its membership includes 70 different coal and non-coal organizations, businesses, and individuals, including representatives of the tourism industry and state and county governments.<ref name="sax"/> However, its website provides no list of members.<ref>[http://www.facesofcoal.org FACES of Coal,] accessed August 2009.</ref> The group describes itself as "an alliance of people from all walks of life"<ref name="abt"/> and a "grassroots movement" to communicate the importance of coal in the U.S. to legislators and the general public.<ref>[http://www.facesofcoal.org/?p=574 "FACES of Coal Campaign Launches in Charleston,"] FACES of Coal, August 19, 2009.</ref> However, the "faces" featured on the group’s website -- including a woman working at a flower shop, a boy playing golf with his father, a family walking with a baby by a white picket fence, a fireman, and a grandmother waving an American flag -- turned out to be royalty-free stock photos from a company called iStockphoto.<ref>Kate Sheppard, [http://www.grist.org/article/2009-08-20-who-are-the-faces-behind-faces-for-coal/ "Who are the faces behind FACES of Coal?,"] Grist, August 20, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.appvoices.org/index.php?/frontporch/blogposts/farces_of_coals_fake_supporters/ "FACES of Coal are iStockPhotos?!,"] Appalachian Voices Front Porch Blog, August 26, 2009.</ref>
==[[Astroturf blogging]]==
