Is Clean Line Energy Partners, a private company, using a publicly funded university to garner support for its project?

http://www.asuherald.com/news/view.php/850051/A-State-students-involved-in-clean-energ


This is not something that is unexpected, unfortunately. It has been proven that CLEP has already used these tactics in Missouri. Emails were uncovered between Clean Line representatives and students offering gifts such as a pizza party in return for support and signature gathering by students. They also offered to bring props from their Houston office to aid the students. They even went so far as to ask one of the students to sponsor a response to an article on Clean Line's behalf. Evidence, here:

https://www.facebook.com/download/1408165172802666/CleanLineEmail.pdf 

In this case, it appears like Clean Line pulled the classic "bait and switch." Here's why I say this:

"On Sept. 18, Sarah Bray, director of communications for Clean Line Energy, spoke to communications students in Carol Langston and Myleea Hill’s classes about how college education relates to what employment after graduation.

“I spent some time with (the students) and walked them through all of the different ways we communicate around our projects,” Bray said. “We talked about direct mail, video, meetings and press conferences we hold, and (I) tried to apply what they are learning in their classes to what I do in my everyday job.”

Sounds good, right? Clean Line is just coming to give a presentation to communications students about how they use communications tactics to explain their project, right? Then, it appears the "presentation" morphed into something more:

“We also wanted to talk to students about the project we are working on and how we use these different communication tactics to get the word out about how it will affect people,” Bray said. 

Hardy said the project would create five thousand jobs in the construction and manufacturing necessary for the wind farms and transmission. Another 500 jobs will be created for the operation and maintenance of the transmission line.

I am going to leave the gross over-exaggeration of the jobs this project would create for another day. 

“Our overall goal is to deliver a new source of low cost clean energy to states that have a demand for energy but don’t have the existing resources to do so. Arkansas is one of those states,” Hardy said. “In order to accomplish that we want to engage people in talking about what the role of wind energy is, the number of jobs it will create and how our project really benefits the public in terms of a clean energy and reliable, domestic source.” 

Bray said they are looking for students who advocate and support renewable energy and want to get involved in the project. “We want students who will help us mobilize other students and be a part of the hearing that will happen in March of 2015,” she said. 

A draft of the project will be released by the U.S. Department of Energy in December, and the March hearing will be held to discuss the draft further. Students and other supporters are invited to attend the hearing and show support to bring renewable energy into Arkansas. 

Bray said students can go online and write a support letter at supportcleanenergyarkansas.com. “We enjoyed spending time with the students at Arkansas State University, and we would love for students to get involved and show their support.” 

“We invited everyone to learn more about our project and hope we can be a part of the clean energy future that is developing in Arkansas,” Hardy said.

Is Clean Line planning to attempt to stack the Department of Energy hearings here in Arkansas with students from local universities in an attempt to drown out landowners as they did in Missouri Public Services hearings? They used the tactic there, so why not here?

I ask this question: Is it appropriate for a private, for-profit company to give a presentation to a publicly funded university, Arkansas State University - Jonesboro, to garner support without having representatives from the opposition giving their side of the story? We don't think so. 

Since this line was included in the article:

Clean energy is a hot topic for Arkansas and surrounding states, and A-State students and faculty had the opportunity to join the fight when Clean Line Energy directors came to share information about their project.

Does Arkansas State University - Jonesboro wish to publicly endorse this project? If they do, we would like to know! If a member of faculty or staff of ASU would like to clarify their official stance on this project, please email us:

blockcleanlinepope@gmail.com