The environmental group Greenpeace posed as a pro-coal organization to become a sponsor of the 2008 McCloskey Coal USA conference and deliver an anti-coal message at the gathering, officials said on Friday.

When The McCloskey Group figured out that the Institute for Energy Solutions was really Greenpeace, they decided to let the group retain its booth make brief remarks. Greenpeace spokesman Carroll Muffett blasted coal as a polluting fuel and accused coal executives of failing to protect the public. “It’s a lot of value for the money,” said Muffett of the $8,500 co-sponsorship fee that allowed the Greenpeace front group be an official sponsor.