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KFTC members stood up for clean air and public health in large numbers at hearing!

by Carissa Lenfert — last modified December-15-2010 04:50 PM
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Last night dozens of KFTC members, joined with our great allies from all over the state, spoke up for clean air and public health at a hearing in Winchester, KY.  The hearing was sponsored by the Kentucky Division of Air Quality and was in regards to an air permit application for a proposed coal-burning power plant in Clark County.  The plant is being proposed to be built by East Kentucky Power Cooperative and would provide power to 16 rural electric co-ops around the state.

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"I am a ratepayer/member of Bluegrass Energy, which gets its power from EKPC...As my co-op's power producer, I fear that EKPC is putting me and other members at dire financial risk by pursuing a coal-fired power plant design that is certain to result in higher additional environmental costs versus any other power generation choice it might make," said Madison County KFTC member Steve Wilkins during the public comments section of the hearing.

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41 KFTC members and allies spoke out against the dirty air permit application.  Each of the speakers talked about why they believe in clean air, their vision for the future of Kentucky, and the good local jobs that will be possible if EKPC chooses to go down an alternative path of clean, renewable energy.

When asked why she came out, Jefferson County KFTC member Martha Flack said before the hearing, "I think it is really important that we start looking at alternative sources of energy so that we can do a better job protecting the environment and our health... I just dont want to see another coal-fire power plant go up."

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Thanks to everyone who traveled far and wide -- especially our great KFTC members in the Eastern part of the sate -- to stand up for clean air, public health, and a better vision for Kentucky!

If you haven't yet sent in comments, there is still time to do so.  Please visit this link to send your comments to the Division of Air Quality.  The more Kentuckians speaking out for a cleaner, better way -- the more powerful we are! 

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Here are a few links to some of the news stories about the hearing and our work!

We will be posting more videos and pictures soon.  Stay tuned!

Smith 1 Hearing

Posted by Donna Aros at February-05-2010 03:29 PM
I attended the hearing in Winchester last night-- not to speak, but just to give witness, and to support others from KFTC who would testify. I decided to sit near people who looked like locals. I didn't know it at the time, they were just Nick and Pam to me as we visited a bit--but I ended up sitting between Nick Comer from EHPC, and the magistrate from the part of Clark Co where the plant is proposed. They were VERY surprised at the turnout. And though they did not say so in words, I believe they were impressed at the extensive research findings that were presented. I commented that it is a complex issue, but was confident that the best decision would be made. Very interesting evening.

Smith 1

Posted by thomas conley at February-24-2010 11:37 AM
I attended the meeting and thought is was good that the people came out on this topic. There were some things that were not mentioned that I would like to pass on. No one person came and gave a presentation on renewable energy for us. It was all emession numbers. No one person talked about one of the reasons if not the main reason to build Smith 1 is to replace the Dale plant down at Ford, ky. That plant has no room to build any type of scrubber to clean the burn off from the plant. It is 60 years old. No one person spoke of Kentucky not having sustainable wind for the purpose of electric. I am pro-green but lets look at both sides of thiis. Show me the green road!

Alternative to Smith plant

Posted by Carissa at February-24-2010 11:57 AM
Thomas, thanks for coming out to the hearing and sharing your thoughts about all of the comments. From what I have heard from EKPC, they are not intending for Smith 1 to replace the Dale plant -- they plant to run both.

Also, visit www.kftc.org/our-work/stop-smith to find a study that looks at EKPC diversified its energy source (a combination of hydro-power, wind-power, and weatherization and energy efficiency efforts) it could meet the power of what Smith 1 would generate -- the trick is to use several sources of renewable energy and energy efficiency, not just one.

We are trying to find the "green road", and would love if EKPC would work with us more on it -- we are all in this together!