Texas Coal Showdown Spawns Multiple Front Groups

"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.