ACCCE Applauds Texas Public Utility Commission's Approval Of Arkansas Clean Coal Plant

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July 07, 2008 --"(PressReleasePoint)".-- The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in producing electricity from coal.

“The Texas Public Utility Commission took a strong step forward in preserving access to secure, reliable and affordable electricity for citizens of Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana,” said Joe Lucas, vice president of communications for ACCCE. “With energy costs skyrocketing, the ability to use more affordable fuel sources such as coal to generate electricity will go a long way in keeping prices stable and the economy humming.

“The proposed Turk plant will be the first coal plant in the country to utilize advanced ultra-supercritical generation technology, which produces more electricity using less coal and helps reduce emissions,” continued Lucas. “As new clean coal projects continue to be approved and built, the coal-based utility sector moves even closer to the shared goal of electricity generation with near-zero emissions, including carbon capture and storage.”

The Commission approved the plant by a 2-1 margin at a public hearing in Austin on July 3. SWEPCO previously received similar approvals from both Arkansas and Louisiana. Regulators agree that the plant is needed to help SWEPCO meet demand for electricity and keep a balanced energy portfolio. Construction on the plant is pending based on approval from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality.

About ACCCE

The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in producing electricity from coal. Because coal is America’s most abundant energy resource, ACCCE supports energy policies that balance coal’s vital role in meeting our country’s growing need for affordable and reliable electricity with the need to protect the environment. ACCCE also advocates for the development and deployment of advanced clean coal technologies that will produce electricity with near-zero emissions. ACCCE is headquartered in Alexandria, Va. and can be found on the Web at www.cleancoalusa.org or www.americaspower.org.