Mar. 12, Feature - As the election turns to Pennsylvania, the fourth largest coal producing state in the country, so called clean coal could become part of the dialogue on the campaign trail, especially in western Pennsylvania, the coal mining part of the state. Both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama support clean coal as part of an energy portfolio, as does likely Republican nominee John McCain.

As Senator of Illinois, Senator Obama was a major proponent of coal. As a Presidential candidate, he has moved away from his ardent support but still supports funding for so called clean coal research and development.

Senator Clinton also supports it.

The coal industry has fallen on hard times. Plans for nearly 60 new coal plants were canceled last year, due to environmental, economic, health or other concerns. If Congress acts to restrict greenhouse gas emissions, the industry's woes will become much worse. Coal-fired power plants are responsible for one-third of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions -- as much as is generated by all vehicles, including cars, trucks, ships and planes.

In response, the coal industry has launched a massive advertising, lobbying and public relations campaign, tied to the presidential elections. A coal industry front group, Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC), has co-sponsored six presidential debates. ABEC is also spending tens of millions of dollars on advertising around state caucuses and primaries.

ABEC is touting coal as "America's power" and promising reduced emissions through "clean coal" technologies. All the major party candidates say they support "clean coal," but environmentalists are questioning whether those technologies will work or are worth the financial investment.