Members of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) visited Mingo county Aug. 25 to raise awareness regarding climate change legislation and increases in energy costs for West Virginians.

The coalition, based out of Alexandria, Va., is funded by coal producers, freight railroads, barge and trucking companies, and the manufacturers that supply them and has over 200,000 members nationally, one thousand of whom are in West Virginia.

“We want to make sure coal is continued to be used as an energy source, but we’re all for renewable energy sources like solar power or wind,” stated Michael Brown, team lead of the group visiting West Virginian towns.

“We support the production of clean coal and coal emissions have been reduced by 77 percent in the last 35 years. It can continue to be used for the next 200 years at the current rate of production without having to rely on foreign energy sources.”

ACCCE does not support the current energy bill, stating on their flyer “a good climate change bill should reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect consumers from unaffordable increases in energy costs.”

“ACCCE is about collaborating rather than a compromise,” said Brown.

The group will continue to make their way through West Virginia until Aug. 28.

More information about ACCCE can be found at www.americaspower.org or by calling 1-877-358-6699.