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Sheep graze on a solar field in Garrard County owned by Silicon Ranch Corp. (Silicon Ranch)

KY communities consider solar zoning ordinances

As Fayette County considers approving industrial-scale solar operations on farmland, more communities in the Commonwealth are considering special …

Local grocery stores like Long's Pic Pac in Pineville, Kentucky, run on a razor-thin profit margin, making them among the least profitable industries in the U.S. (Mountain Association)

What an extra $15,000 a year means for a rural Kentucky grocer

This article was produced by Resource Rural.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Resource Rural-Public N…

The number of Kentuckians who had their power disconnected increased by 228% in 2022, compared to a 29% increase nationwide, according to a new study by the Energy and Policy Institute and Center for Biological Diversity. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Utility disconnections in extreme weather harm communities

Housing advocates said they are seeing more Kentuckians affected by electricity shut-offs. In 2022, the number of Kentuckians who had their power …

Efficiency and conservation measures can help to directly lower consumers' energy bills and potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Advocates: Kentucky Power needs a more robust energy-efficiency proposal

Kentucky Power, one of eastern Kentucky's largest utilities, has a new energy efficiency and conservation proposal for its customers. The state's …

Solar farms are leasing land at prices ranging from $400 to $1,200 an acre. These rents are higher than the current cash rents Kentucky farmers are receiving for cropland and tobacco, according to one University of Kentucky study. (Adobe Stock)

East Kentucky Power Cooperative invests in two large solar farms

Two new solar farms will soon be under construction in the Lexington and Lebanon areas to bring affordable and clean energy to eastern Kentuckians…

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated a total of $16 billion to address legacy pollution, including $11.3 billion in abandoned mine land funding over 15 years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky receives $74 million for abandoned mine land cleanup

Kentucky will receive $74 million to clean up legacy pollution in regions decimated by decades of coal mining. The money is part of $725 million in …

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed modern-day coal miners are at greater risk of respiratory disease than their predecessors, likely driven by inhalation of silica coal mine dust. (AI-generated Adobe Stock)

Advocates: New silica dust rule 'missed opportunities' to curb black lung

After the Biden administration released a new rule setting standards to limit exposure to silica dust, advocates in Kentucky and around Appalachia …

At least two thirds of plastics plants examined in a new Environmental Integrity Project report (32 of 50) that have been built or expanded over the last decade have received tax breaks or subsidies from state and local governments worth a total of nearly $9 billion. (Adobe Stock)

KY plastics plant ranks in nation's top ten emitters of chlorine

A western Kentucky plastics plant is among the top 10 emitters of chlorine air pollution, according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity …

In 2023, operators plan to retire 15.6 gigawatts (GW) of electric-generating capacity in the United States, mostly gas-fired (6.2 GW) and coal-fired (8.9 GW) power plants, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY bill would limit renewables, keep aging power plants longer

Kentucky House lawmakers are considering a bill that could make it harder to close aging coal-fired power plants. At the Kentucky Resources Council…

The group Appalachian Voices has partnered with 16 community groups and two universities to deploy around 80 monitoring devices to track air quality in communities throughout Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA clean air rules to help strengthen air monitoring in KY

Groups working to improve air quality in Appalachia are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to strengthen ambient air quality st…

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in Nov. 2023, nationwide utility companies saw a 2% average revenue increase per kilowatt-hour compared to the previous year. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky Power rate hike: What eastern KY residents, businesses should know

Many eastern Kenuckians will see their monthly energy bills increase by around $8 per month, after a ruling last month by the state's utility …

Electric cooperatives distribute profits back to the individual consumers who paid the money on their monthly service bills, or are put back into operational costs. (Adobe Stock)

Rural electric co-ops in Kentucky poised to receive federal funds

Rural electric co-ops in Kentucky have submitted more than 60 proposed projects to a federal grant program called Empowering Rural America, which is …

Appalachia is home to 26.3 million people and covers 206,000 square miles, encompassing 423 counties in 13 states, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. (Adobe Stock)

In Eastern KY, a vision for sustainable manufacturing

Manufacturers in Kentucky employ around 13% of the state's workforce, and advocates said the state's Appalachian region could bolster its economy by …

Global natural gas markets remain tight as uncertainty persists around demand and further supply cuts by Russia, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY utility regulators' 'mixed' decision on LG&E proposal

Critics say the latest decision from state regulators on Louisville Gas and Electric's proposal to build two new gas plants and cycle out two aging co…

Natural-gas emissions from stationary sources led to more deaths than coal in at least 19 states, according to research from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (Adobe Stock)

Utility Proposes Building Two New $1.4B Natural-Gas Plants in Kentucky

Kentucky's major utilities, Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities, are asking the state's Public Service Commission to approve a plan to …

Aggressive door-to-door solar sales tactics are a telltale sign of a solar scam, according to Solar United Neighbors. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Groups Urge KY Residents to Beware of Solar Scams

After a company known as Solar Titan USA was recently banned from doing business in Kentucky, advocacy groups are working to raise awareness of the …

Overall, 86% of Americans say they have heard about cryptocurrencies, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center survey, but only 16% say they've used or traded any. (Adobe Stock)

Foreign Cryptomining Companies Eye Eastern KY for Cheap Power

Foreign-owned crytomining companies are staking out Eastern Kentucky for cheap electricity, and the state's major utilities want to give them …

Rural electric co-ops returned more than $1.5 billion in capital credits to their consumer-members in 2020, according to the <a href=

National Rural Electric Coop Association. (Adobe Stock)">

Call for KY’s Rural Electric Co-ops: Increase Energy Efficiency

Kentucky's two dozen rural electric co-ops could do more to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy, according to a recent ranking of …

Kentucky's energy rates jumped by more than 16% between June 2021 and July 2022, according to data released by Vault Electricity. (Adobe Stock)

More Kentuckians Behind on Utility Bills as Rates Soar

One out of six American families is behind on their utility bills, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Part of the …

Research from 2015 revealed a federal estimate of more than 48,000 abandoned coal mine sites across the nation, but exact numbers remain unclear. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Possible Link Between Flood Risk, Abandoned Mine Land Brings Urgency to Reclamation Efforts

The impact of abandoned mine land on flood risk is receiving new scrutiny after devastating floods in the eastern part of the state left 40 people dea…

Inflation, extreme heat, and supply issues related to gas and coal are driving an increase in residential utility rates, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky Utilities' Long-Term Plans Focus of PSC Hearing

Next week, the Kentucky Public Service Commission takes public comments in person on a long-term plan by the state's major utilities. The hearing is …

According to the U.S. Energy Information Association, in 2021 electricity prices rose at their fastest rate since 2008. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Friday Deadline to Submit Public Comments on LG&E and KU 15-Year Plan

Kentucky's Public Service Commission is evaluating the state's two largest utilities' long-term plans for energy investment, infrastructure and …

Experts Urge Kentuckians to Watch Out for Solar Scams

Out-of-state solar companies are using aggressive marketing tactics in Kentucky to lure potential customers, and experts say anyone interested in …

In 2021, the nation's energy index, a measure of average price changes over time, rose by more than 29%, <a href=

according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)">

Critics: Utility-Rate Bill Would Hurt KY Residential & Business Customers

Backers of a bill in the Kentucky Legislature say it would streamline regulatory procedures to allow utilities to more easily adjust rates, but …

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Kentuckians have installed enough solar-energy capacity to power more than 6,000 homes. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Solar-Power Advocates: KY Net-Metering Decision "Fair, Equitable"

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky's Public Service Commission has rejected a proposal by two utilities that would have drastically reduced the value of solar …

Kentucky has a backlog of more than 1,000 abandoned mine land sites that qualify for federal assistance for cleanup. (Adobe Stock)

Looming Uncertainty Over Future of Abandoned Mine Land Cleanup

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- Congress has allowed the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program to expire, and advocates said nationwide on both state and tribal …

It's estimated the United States is saddled with around $11.4 billion in costs to clean up abandoned coal mine sites nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Spurs Renewed Abandoned-Mine Cleanup Efforts

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- This week, state officials announced the start of several new grant-funded, abandoned-mine land projects in Eastern Kentucky…

Last fall, Kentucky Power proposed higher electric rates for more than 165,000 customers across 20 counties. (Adobe Stock)

KY Community Groups Push Back on Energy Rate Hikes

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Community groups are banding together to push back against increasingly frequent rate hikes proposed by Kentucky utility companies…

Every year, the Kentucky Public Service Commission receives hundreds of applications from utility companies to increase rates and change services. (Adobe Stock)

Eastern KY Residents May Face Higher Utility Bills

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- Eastern Kentuckians soon may see their monthly utility bills go up by more than twenty dollars, if a proposed rate increase by …

Louisville is the first Kentucky city to commit to reaching 100% renewable energy for its city operations by 2040. (Adobe Stock)

Louisville 160th City to Pass 100% Renewable-Energy Resolution

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Louisville Metro Council has voted to commit to reaching 100% renewable energy use for city operations within the next two …

In 2018, Kentucky ranked 46th among the states for solar industry growth, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (Adobe Stock)

KY Public Service Commission Gets Hundreds of Comments on Solar Value

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Today, solar-energy advocates from across the state are hand-delivering hundreds of citizen comments to the Kentucky Public …

Member-owned co-ops power 56% of the nation's landmass, according to the National Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Electric Cooperatives: Part of KY's Clean Energy Future

FRANKFORT, Ky. - This month is National Cooperative Month, and Kentucky's 26 electric co-ops supply power to 1.5 million Commonwealth residents in …

Protesters rally to protect Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Bullitt County from a proposed natural-gas pipeline. (Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest)

Natural-Gas Pipeline Threatens Bullitt Co. Forest

Updated at 10am on 10/3/2019 to include: LG&E is requesting a land easement of 4,000 feet for the project, that would cross property on Bernheim …

A number of public officials have come out in support of the laid-off Blackjewel miners, who are blocking coal shipments over their bounced paychecks. (Facebook)

KY Blackjewel Miners Pledge to Hold Out until Others are Paid

CUMBERLAND, Ky. – Pressure is building for Blackjewel miners in eastern Kentucky to get their back wages. But the laid-off miners blocking …

Kentuckians will discuss how the Green New Deal could benefit the state's economy at a public meeting this weekend in Frankfort. (Adobe Stock)

Frankfort Green New Deal Meeting to Focus on Jobs

FRANKFORT, Ky. - More than 300 people are to gather in Frankfort this Saturday to talk about what the Green New Deal could mean for Kentucky…

According to a new report, 91 percent of U.S. coal-fired power plants are contaminating nearby groundwater with unsafe levels of toxic pollutants. (Jellybeens4/Twenty20)

KY Groundwater Pollution from Coal Ash Among Worst in U.S.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A power plant outside of Louisville ranks among the top 10 most polluted in the country for groundwater contamination by coal …

More than 250,000 Americans worked in the solar industry as of 2017, according to the National Solar Jobs Census. (@edemarco5/Twenty20)

Backed by Utilities, Bill Would Discourage KY Rooftop Solar

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky House is set to vote on legislation that would allow utility companies to change how they credit homeowners for the …

Airborne micro-particles from surface mining are believed to be linked to a variety of health problems. (@F51C/Twenty20)

Congress Questions Cancellation of Surface Mining Health Study

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Democratic lawmakers are probing the reasons why a National Academy of Sciences study on the health effects of surface coal …

More than 40 members of Congress have joined young people calling for a Select Committee for the Green New Deal. (Linh Do/Flickr)

KY Youth Make Climate Change a 2019 Priority

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Sunrise Movement, a youth movement calling for action on climate change, is set to make big moves in 2019. At the end of …

Environmental groups say investments in electric vehicle technology can help reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and clean up the air in Kentucky. (Twenty20.com)

VW Settlement Funds: Groups Say EV Way to Go

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky is expected to get millions of dollars as part of the Volkswagen emissions settlement, and environmental groups are …

The Environmental Protection Agency says its new Affordable Clean Energy rule would have the net effect of reducing carbon emissions from current levels by letting states set their own limits. (Pixabay)

EPA Admits New Coal Rules Endanger Health

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Calling the Clean Power Plan "overly prescriptive and burdensome," the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday released its …

Supporters of the Renewable Fuel Standard say it has decreased dependence on fossil fuels, but the EPA admits it has also led to environmental degradation. (Spencer Thomas/Flickr)

EPA Ethanol Report: A "Red Flag" for the Environment

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The U.S. government has acknowledged that the Renewable Fuel Standard is harming the environment. The latest Environmental …

Thousands of oil-covered birds had to be rehabilitated after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. (MacKenzie/US Fish & Wildlife Service)

Groups Press Feds to Uphold Bird Protections

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Migratory Bird Treaty Act turns 100 this week, leading conservation groups to dub 2018 the "Year of the Bird" – and …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

Acidic water runoff from coal mine land in eastern Kentucky. (Ilovemountains.org/Flickr)

KY Groups Ask McConnell for Swift Action on Mine Reclamation

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky's coal country could get new life under legislation on Capitol Hill. A group of concerned citizens and organizations …

Kentucky ranks 40th nationally for solar installed, which includes about 3,000 homes. (Jon Callas/Flickr)

Clean Energy Backers: Solar's Viability in KY in Peril

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Kentucky House committee is debating controversial legislation that opponents say will kill the viability of solar in the …

Utility programs that offer rebates for the purchase of energy efficient appliances are popular among Kentucky electric customers. (Andy Melton/Flickr)

Some Kentuckians Could Lose Energy-Efficiency Programs

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Programs that help some Kentuckians save money on their utility bills could go by the wayside. Louisville Gas and Electric…

Some Eastern Kentuckians say they've had enough of Kentucky Power's rate increases. (Pixabay)

Last Chance to Be Vocal About KY Power's Rate Increase

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Time is running out to comment on Kentucky Power's plan to raise electric bills by 15 percent. The third in a series of …

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KY: Energy Policy