"The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity claims to be shocked, shocked that forged anti-climate-bill letters were sent to members of Congress by one of its subcontractors, saying it was 'an isolated incident.' But it seems ACCCE also engaged in some fishy behavior last year during debate over a Senate climate bill.
Grist contributor Sue Sturgis of the Institute for Southern Studies reported in May 2008 that a representative for ACCCE, then known as Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC), was caught misrepresenting the group in a phone call that aimed to drum up opposition to the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act. In a call to an activist at the North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, an ABEC representative lied about the fact that the group represents and lobbies on behalf of the electric utility industry.
Shortly thereafter, ACCCE senior communications director Steve Gates issued a statement attributing the misrepresentation of their group to 'one new staff member—who is no longer working on this project.'"
Kate Sheppard reports for Grist August 6, 2009.
See Also:
"A Brief History of Sleaze" (Mother Jones)
"Lobby Firm Behind Climate Forgeries Helped Kill Higher CAFE Standards" (DC.Streetsblog.org)
"Letter Scandal Puts Lobbying Back on the Defensive" (Politico)
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