Coal's biggest trade group is expanding its media outreach efforts by hiring two new public relations firms, including one with ties to key Republicans and former President George W. Bush.

The growth was planned last spring, said Lisa Camooso Miller, spokeswoman for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. HDMK will contact national media, while Howard Consulting Group will work with regional reporters.

Both firms will join ACCCE staff "to sort of tell the story about what we're doing in our industry," Miller said.

HDMK won out over about a dozen firms, Miller said. It is run by Terry Holt, former spokesman to House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio); Trent Duffy, Bush's deputy press secretary; Jim Morrell, former deputy chief of staff for the House Republican Conference and before that a Bush spokesman; and Chad Kolton, former press secretary at the Bush White House's Office of Management and Budget.

Frank Howard Jr., is president and CEO of Howard Consulting Group. Before starting his firm, Howard worked as managing director and senior vice president of National Grassroots & Communication Inc.