I received a copy of a letter over the weekend that was addressed to me (still haven’t received my copy of it but a friend sent it along) from Kraig Naasz, President & CEO of the National Mining Association. The letter is below along with links to the two attachments he sent with the letter.
Mr. Naasz took offense with a recent opinion piece I published in The Hill newspaper – and although he didn’t mention it specifically he attached a recent advertisement by American Clean Skies Foundation featuring former CIA Director James Woolsey. Since this space is about Clearing the Air I thought it appropriate to post his letter along with my response.
My point in writing the article in The Hill was not to be offensive to any others point of view, but to simply state my own informed opinion as a former elected official about the expenditure of funds on energy research. I certainly believe coal will be part of our fuel supply for the foreseeable future and we need to research how to make it cleaner.
We present the facts so that you, dear reader, can make the decision for yourself.
HERE IS THE LETTER FROM MR. NAASZ:
From: NMA President [mailto:nmapresident@nma.org]
Sent: Thu 2/14/2008 6:49 PM
Subject: ACSF Ad
NMA LOGO
KRAIG R. NAASZ
President & CEO
February 14, 2008
Denise Bode
American Clean Skies Foundation
750 1st Street, N.E.
Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20002
Dear Ms. Bode:
Your most recent advertorial in The Hill ("When to Hold 'Em, When to Fold 'Em", Feb. 12) is highly objectionable.
First, as a diatribe against coal utilization and research, it marks a disturbing departure from the understanding we tacitly share in the energy sector to avoid denigrating competing fuels. Doing so enrages policymakers, distracts attention from our common goal of increasing supplies of every fuel to meet America's growing energy needs and invites public rebuttals from competing fuel producers. The interests of natural gas producers will not be enhanced in such an environment.
Second, your advertorial is seriously misleading. Whatever reasons may have prompted the Department of Energy to renege on its commitment to the FutureGen project, rising costs is not a compelling one. Escalating costs of manpower and materials that have affected virtually every power project over this period were easily foreseen. Much of the cost overruns would have been voluntarily absorbed by FutureGen Alliance members. To further criticize the administration for supporting an array of clean coal technology programs designed to reduce emissions from coal-based power plants that provide half the nation's electricity is simply perverse. It further misses the point that these programs enjoy widespread congressional support because they have produced dramatic results.
Third, and perhaps most misleading, is your assertion that "natural gas is the answer." It is certainly not the answer if the question is how to lessen the nation's dependence on foreign energy or how to provide American consumers with affordable electricity.
If American Clean Skies Foundation and Chesapeake Energy persist in denigrating coal use, you should expect coal producers and our congressional allies to make every effort to correct the record that is being distorted.
I would strongly encourage you to make your case on the positive merits of your product rather than disparaging others, and invite you to contact me directly to discuss this unfortunate matter.
Sincerely yours,
Kraig R. Naasz
President & CEO
National Mining Association
Enclosures
cc: Frank Bowman, Nuclear Energy Institute
Red Cavaney, American Petroleum Institute
Evan Gaddis, National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Jack Gerard, American Chemistry Council
Ed Hamberger, Association of American Railroads
Donna Harman, American Forest and Paper Association
Skip Horvath, Natural Gas Supply Association
Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Bill Kovacs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Thomas Kuhn, Edison Electric Institute
Dave McCurdy, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc.
David Parker, American Gas Association
Barry Russell, Independent Petroleum Association of America
Donald Santa, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
Rick Shelby, American Gas Association
Jay Timmons, National Association of Manufacturers
HERE IS MY RESPONSE:
Denise Bode
Chief Executive Officer
750 1st Street N.E., Suite 1100
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone 202-682-6294
Fax 202-682-3050
dbode@cleanskies.org
ACSF LOGO
February 18, 2008
Mr. Kraig R. Naasz
National Mining Association
101 Constitution Ave., NW
Suite 500 East
Washington, DC 20001
Mr. Naasz:
I have received from third parties a copy of a letter with two
attachments from you addressed to me, with courtesy copies to
seventeen Washington association executives regarding my opinion
piece in The Hill newspaper on Tuesday, February 12th.
First, neither I, nor American Clean Skies Foundation is party to an
“understanding” that is “tacitly shared” among “competing fuel
producers.” We have no knowledge of any such understanding.
American Clean Skies Foundation is not an industry trade association
but an educational foundation dedicated to promoting clean energy
particularly natural gas and energy efficiency.
Second, my column was not a “diatribe against coal utilization and
research.” It was an endorsement of DOE’s decision to cancel the
FutureGen project. I favor promising research to provide all electric
generation fuels that are abundant, affordable, clean and American.
The Secretary of Energy determined that the FutureGen project fell far
short of that mark.
Third, you assert that my column was “seriously misleading” because
it cited cost overruns and superior alternative research opportunities
as a principal shortcoming of FutureGen. As for the cost increases, I
am simply recognizing Secretary Bodman’s stated purpose for
canceling the project. I note that the project costs rose from $1 billion
to $1.8 billion and that Ben Gemen’s February 15 Greenwire article
stated:
“But DOE officials said their retooled approach is a superior
way to deploy use of greenhouse controls into the
marketplace and a better use of funds because the agency
would be paying for only the carbon control technologies,
rather than the capital costs of the power plants.”
Fourth, you assert it was “most misleading” for me to say that natural
gas is the answer, “if the question is how to lessen the nation’s
dependence of foreign energy or how to provide American consumers
with affordable electricity.” I disagree. With a 120-year supply of
natural gas in North America, it is an affordable, abundant, clean
American fuel. Further, you forgot one-third of the question. We at
American Clean Skies feel that environmental costs are part of the
consideration. I respectfully submit that natural gas is the answer
precisely because it is clean, abundant, affordable, and American.
Natural gas is a perfect complement to wind, solar and other carbon-
light alternative energy sources for use in clean electric generation
facilities.
Fifth, you reportedly attached to your letter a copy of former CIA
Director James Woolsey’s statement that appeared in February 13,
2007 American Clean Skies advertisement’s in several prominent
newspapers. We are proud to have sponsored publication of his views
regarding the national security importance of America reducing its
energy dependence on foreign powers hostile to American interests.
Finally, I would be pleased to make your acquaintance for the purpose
of discussing energy and environmental policy.
Warm regards,
Denise A. Bode
CEO
American Clean Skies Foundation
cc: Frank Bowman, Nuclear Energy Institute
James Roberts, Foundation Coal
Red Cavaney, American Petroleum Institute
Evan Gaddis, National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Jack Gerard, American Chemistry Council
Ed Hamberger, Association of American Railroads
Donna Harman, American Forest and Paper Association
Skip Horvath, Natural Gas Supply Association
Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Bill Kovacs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Thomas Kuhn, Edison Electric Institute
Dave McCurdy, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Inc.
David Parker, American Gas Association
Barry Russell, Independent Petroleum Association of America
Donald Santa, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America
John Shaw, Portland Cement Association
Rick Shelby, American Gas Association
Jay Timmons, National Association of Manufacturers
HERE ARE LINKS TO MY ARTICLE IN THE HILL AND THE ACSF ADVERTISEMENT FEATURING JAMES WOOLSEY:
The Hill Article
James Woolsey Advertisement