This article originally provided by The Daily Texan

February 21, 2008

An even dirtier debate

Wolf Blitzer has asked the presidential candidates 460 questions since Jan. 2007. If you were to guess, how many would you think were about climate change? How does six sound?

Why so few? Maybe because Americans for Balanced Energy Choices, a front group for the coal industry, has been putting up big money to sponsor some of the debates. That's why you see all their "clean coal" ads during breaks, dropping more unqualified platitudes than the candidates.

There is no clean coal. We do not know if the technologies being developed will work, what they will cost or if they will be commercially viable. If America ties itself to the pocket strings of last century's energy barons, we'll miss our chance to develop the technologies and jobs of tomorrow that will keep our nation a world leader and an economic superpower.

There's a debate going on outside the broadcast debates about America's energy future. CNN hasn't been participating, but if you want to be part of a balanced debate, we've asked David Novack to pre-screen his movie in Austin before the premiere. "Burning the Future" exposes the dirty side of "clean" coal and is a must-watch for anyone who's been subjected to the "clean coal" ads. Join us today in RLM 4.102 at 5 p.m.

Trevor Lovell
Business senior
Co-founder of ReEnergize Texas

Calvin Sloan
Government sophomore
President of Peak Oil