Texas Coal Showdown Spawns Multiple Front Groups

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"The politics of Texas power and pollution have moved suddenly into the living rooms of millions of Texans," over "electric companies' plans to build 16 coal-burning plants using conventional technology that pollutes more than a newer coal system." In addition to lobbying, interested parties are launching ad campaigns and websites and forming new "pressure groups." Campaigning for the coal plants are: Texans for Affordable and Reliable Power, which receives funding from the Dallas-based energy company TXU and includes "mayors, officials and business leaders in towns with TXU plants"; and Texas Business for Clean, Affordable, Reliable Energy, which was founded by the Texas Association of Business. At least six groups are opposing the coal plants: Texas Business for Clean Air, which includes nearly 100 "local or state business leaders"; Texas Clean Air Cities Coalition, which includes the mayors of Dallas and Houston; Texas Clean Sky Coalition, which launched a $1 million ad campaign is funded "by unknown parties," though "natural-gas companies are involved"; Clean Coalition, which was founded by a Dallas developer; Stop the Coal Plant, a joint effort of Public Citizen and Sustainable Energy & Economic Development; and Robertson County: Our Land, Our Lives, which was founded by local citizens.