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The interim joint committee on local government will host a "discussion on solar energy" tomorrow, October 26th, in Frankfort at 10 am in the Capitol Annex room 171.

Join us to support Matt Partymiller and Denis Oudard of Solar Energy Solutions (which did the solar install left) and the Kentucky Solar Energy Society, both member groups of the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance, of which KFTC is a member group.

The committee is co-chaired by Senator Damon Thayer and Representative Steve Riggs. Both are interested to learn about the opportunity Kentucky has to advance solar energy and how local governments can take action.

Re-posted from the Louisville Eccentric Observer.

Activists point to higher bills, job creation in urging legislators to support clean energy
By Anne Marshall

Earlier this month, the Kentucky Public Service Commission’s public hearing unfolded much like a game of dominoes. Held at Louisville’s Johnson Traditional Middle School, members of the scant crowd leaned into the microphone, one after another, their pleas all generally falling into line: Don’t raise our bills, protect low-income families who can’t afford ever-blooming energy costs, and get serious about alternative energy.

Clean energy advocates hope the combination of rising rates, along with the potential for job creation, will steer legislators towards passing the Clean Energy Opportunity Act, a bill that’s gone nowhere in the past two legislative sessions. It mandates that a portion of Kentucky’s energy come from renewable sources, rather than solely from coal. An admittedly uphill battle in a mountaintop removal state.

“I think it will look nearly impossible until the day before it passes,” says Wallace McMullen, conservation chair with Louisville’s chapter of the Sierra Club.

The Sept. 6 hearing was part of a series as the Public Service Commission decides whether LG&E and Kentucky Utilities should be allowed to tack on an environmental surcharge to bills. That could raise residential electric bills in Louisville by up to 19 percent over the next four years. (The Sierra Club and Metropolitan Housing Coalition will go before the Public Service Commission in November as interveners in the surcharge case. The Sierra Club questions the analysis behind the fee. The Housing Coalition is concerned with how the higher bills may inevitably hit the poor the hardest.)

The charge would eventually drop off once the utilities have covered the estimated $2.5 billion needed to improve existing coal-fired power plants not meeting Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. One such upgrade would include the addition of “scrubbers” that will catch emissions before they escape into the air. Joan Lindop, with the Greater Louisville Sierra Club, likens this to billions on Band-Aids.

“If they scrub more emissions out, that’s more that’s going into a coal ash pile,” she says. “We’re really not wanting to encourage them to spend that money on old plants when it could be used for renewables.”

And so for the third year, advocates are gearing up to push legislation they say would spark production and demand of solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal power.

In 2010, the Clean Energy Opportunity Act (HB 239) was assigned to the state House of Representatives’ Natural Resources and Environment Committee, headed by global-warming denier Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence. It did not get a hearing. In 2011, the bill was strategically rerouted outside of Gooch’s committee and into the Tourism Development and Energy Committee led by Rep. Leslie Combs, D-Pikeville. That resulted in measured progress: A discussion hearing. No vote.

This year’s proposed legislation will look much like the one from last year, with two critical pieces. The first includes a renewable and efficiency portfolio standard, a policy already adopted by 29 other states. It would require utilities to generate 12.5 percent of retail sales from renewable energy by 2021, with at least 1 percent from solar.

This is a rather conservative standard when compared to several other states demanding that well over 20 percent of energy eventually be derived from renewable sources.

The other proposed policy calls for a “feed-in tariff,” which works as a contract, establishing a fixed premium price for energy produced in Kentucky, be it from large-scale operations or individual homeowners.

Mike Hynes, president of the Housing Partnership Inc., a developer of affordable housing in Louisville, wrote a letter to the Public Service Commission in support of this idea. Hynes recently installed solar panels on one of the Housing Partnership’s properties, but was careful to only invest in panels that would generate 75 percent of their energy needs.

If Hynes outfitted the building with enough panels to exceed 100 percent of their desired energy, LG&E would give him a credit to go toward future bills, rather than pay him for that energy.
“Basically, that builds up in perpetuity. In my mind, that creates an incentive not to produce enough electricity as one could for their household,” he says. “With a rebate program, that’s an incentive to create systems that are larger than what you can use."

Several regional utility companies including Duke Energy, Georgia Power and Florida Power and Light have tariff programs that pay per kilowatt-hour, then turn around and put that energy back into the grid.

Tom FitzGerald, with the Kentucky Resources Council, says the timing is right for renewables.
“The unit cost of solar and wind is coming down,” says FitzGerald, adding that while coal may appear to be the cheapest source of fuel, that’s not including environmental costs and restrictions.

“Over the course of time, you start having to fold in extra costs because externalities have to be accounted for.”

Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, will sponsor the renewable energy bill again this year. She says supporters are tailoring their arguments for the legislation in light of another sore subject — jobs.

“When you’re looking at business and manufacturing folks coming to Kentucky, they want constancy in the market,” she says. “Coal is cheap now, but it’s going up.”

The Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance reports that neighboring states with clean energy standards are experiencing a boom in manufacturing and construction employment. For example, after Ohio passed legislation in 2008, about 1,500 solar-related jobs were created.

While no one expects the Clean Energy Opportunity Act to garner much attention until election hoopla ceases, advocates believe this year the support just might be there. They point to this week’s Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment in Lexington, where various panels discussed the issue.

“What we have to consider is coal is always going to be No. 1 for the foreseeable 15 to 20 years,” Marzian says. “But if we don’t start looking at different tools … we’re going to be left holding the bag.”

It's been too long since we've shared an update from the Bowling Green and Friends Chapter!  Take a look at some of the great work members have been doing over there...

• Over the summer members have been meeting with the local city commissioners about fair housing and the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA) an act that outlines the legal duties of landlords and tenants. Kentucky state law allows cities and counties to adopt it as law.  Nineteen communities have adopted URLTA (including Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky communities, Barbourville, and Somerset), but even through more than half of Bowling Green residents are renters, Bowling Green has not yet adopted URLTA.  Members are working hard to change that.

• The Bowling Green Housing Coalition is humming right along. Along with recently meeting with two of Bowling Green's city commissioners, the Coalition is planning a Unity Festival for October 15th at The Foundry at 511 W. 11th, which is also where the chapter meets.  It's a great collective effort!

• Members have been spreading the word about KFTC, with good, intentional reaching out to friends and neighbors, and by tabling at local events.  Members tabled at an event to welcome first-year WKU students to town, and at another campus event that was focused on civic engagement. At both these tables, members registered voters, talked with folks about KFTC, and recruited at least one new member!

Next up is tabling at Saturday's International Festival! Members will have a table from 9am to 7pm, registering voters and talking with people about KFTC.  Then, if you're in the area, come on out to the September chapter meeting on the 27th and get to know some of these fine folks!

While the Northern Kentucky chapter has taken on hillside over development as a local issue in Northern Kentucky, due to the concerns in increased erosion and excess run-off, especially in older and low income neighborhoods, the chapter has not yet taken a position on the ballot initiative this Fall that could do away with the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission. However, many members have expressed concerns over the intentions of some of the organizations targeting the Northern Kentucky Area Planning Commission. 

Sean McDonald, a citizen who resides in Covington, wrote in yesterdays Cincinnati Enquirer,

"The home builders in Northern Kentucky see an opportunity to benefit their businesses at the expense of ordinary citizens (“Supporters rally behind NKAPC“). They want a weakened planning commission in Kenton County – or no planning commission at all – so they can build what they please, where they please, with whatever materials they choose, no matter how adversely these actions affect the environment or the needs of the general population.

Before moving to Kentucky from Wisconsin, Justin Mog and Amanda Fuller had already heard about KFTC. It was the first local organization they joined when they arrived in the bluegrass state.

Amanda Fuller and Justin Mog, Jefferson County KFTC members

It’s no coincidence that this couple’s life embodies the mission and vision of KFTC. They live simply, but with great intentionality, deriving great pleasure from doing things that feel right. They are car-free and use their bike and public transportation. Both work jobs that enhance urban sustainability, participate in the local social justice movement, and outfitted their home with enough solar panels to provide all the electricity and hot water they need.

Amanda says they were able to afford an investment in solar power through carefully prioritized consumer decisions. “We bought a lower-priced house so we could have a little extra in order to install a solar energy system. We also don’t have a car, which saves us $9,000 a year. We have no cable bill and our grocery bills are small since we grow much of what we eat.”

To demonstrate their efficiency measures and solar power systems to friends and neighbors, while promoting KFTC’s work on sustainable energy policy, Justin and Amanda hosted a “solar-powered potluck” party on June 26.

Justin and Amanda have a 4-kilowatt system on their home comprised of 18 solar PV panels situated atop their roof, which provides solar electricity to the grid, offsetting their home electricity use. Additionally, they have a solar hot water heater. Everything was installed by Jeremy Coxon of SunWind power, based in southern Indiana.

Their system feeds as much electricity into the grid as they expect to use in one year. Since it was installed in September 2010, the solar panels have produced 2154 kw hours averaging about 215 kw hours per month through the winter and spring. They are expecting to produce even more power during Kentucky’s sunny summer months.

 Justin and Amanda’s system has produced 2154 kw hours since it was installed in September of 2010. It’s production will increase during Kentucky's sunnier summer months.

After giving tours of the house, Justin and Amanda talked to the crowd of 40 about why they support KFTC. Having studied and worked in sustainability for many years, Justin said he appreciated KFTC’s understanding of it.

“Sustainability isn’t just about being totally focused on environmental concerns – it’s about so much more than that. It’s a matter of balancing social and economic concerns with environmental responsibility. That is why I like KFTC – it gets that balance just right. If we want to work on a better tomorrow we can’t be single-issue focused. We have to promote sustainability in all its messy complexity,” he said.

Inspired by the comments, KFTC member Barry Zalph jumped up from the crowd to add why he thinks people should become KFTC members.

"What I love about KFTC is that they are one of the best organizations in the state at training and involving people in citizen lobbying – speaking to their legislators. They are effective at getting things done in Frankfort. If you ever had any inclination to lobby legislators or even curiosity about how to lobby, get involved with KFTC."

Several out-of-state visitors joined the party, including Shauna Kadel from northern California. She was inspired by the description of KFTC’s work, saying, “Being here made me want to ask whether we have a organization like KFTC where I live.”

Shauna was also surprised at how little Kentucky has done to promote the use of efficiency and renewables through state energy policy. “We have state policies in place that encourage people to use renewable energy in their homes. You see renewable energy everywhere as a result.”

Amanda noted that KFTC’s efforts through the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance (KySEA) to pass sustainable energy policy at the state level is one of the main things Kentucky needs in order to see home-based renewable energy systems become both more affordable and more common.

“It’s really important that we do things in our own homes and work on passing better policies, like the one KySEA supports. Having state energy policy in place that promotes renewable energy is one way to make systems like these more affordable for homeowners across Kentucky.”

In addition to joining KFTC, Justin and Amanda described more actions people can take to promote sustainable energy in Louisville, including getting a home energy audit from LG&E, doing efficiency upgrades in the home such as insulating wall and ceilings, supporting public transportation, and enrolling in LG&E’s green energy program.

With 14 new KFTC members raised through their solar-powered potluck, Amanda and Justin were thrilled with the outcome.

“We were overjoyed with the turnout and the enthusiasm people expressed for working collectively with KFTC members throughout Kentucky to create a better tomorrow for all of us. Friend-raisers are awesome!”

Many Kentuckians demonstrated that they are ready for the benefits that clean energy will bring to Kentucky by attending a conference co-sponsored by KFTC on the topic.

Hear an Appalshop-produced podcast on the day by clicking here.

The first-ever Kentucky Clean Energy Summit, hosted by the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance, brought 150 people together, including small business owners, housing groups, low-income advocacy organizations, legislators, energy experts, and concerned citizens.

Mary Miller of Midway, a board member of Kentucky Watershed Watch and a member of the Sierra Club and KFTC, came to the conference to learn more about how to communicate effectively with legislators. “I asked questions that I’ve been curious about forever,” she said. “It just makes you aware of what all’s going on and how these groups can work together,” Miller said.

During the day, summit speakers and attendees explored:

o    Policies that would increase use of energy efficiency and renewable energy in Kentucky
o    The benefits of these policies and why Kentucky should pass these now
o    Success stories from nearby states, including Ohio
o    The experiences of KySEA member organizations including small businesses and affordable housing providers that are utilizing energy efficiency and renewable energy today

The Clean Energy Opportunity Act, recently filed by Representative Mary Lou Marzian in the 2011 General Assembly and supported by KySEA, is a comprehensive clean energy bill that would set clean energy goals for Kentucky and provide incentives for clean energy businesses. Summit participants got a first look at what’s in the bill.

Carmen Stine and Shari Bivelacque of Alternative Energies Kentucky, a new business in Danville that manufactures solar panels, said starting a clean energy business in a state where there are no incentives or guidelines has been a challenge. Many of their clients are outside Kentucky.
“How do you sell to people who have no incentives to improve their situation and their carbon footprint?” said Stine.

“If there’s a financial incentive, then they start to listen,” said Bivelacque.

Getting state leaders on board will be key, Bivelacque said. “For us to get anywhere with this, it’s going to be all about education,” she said.

And jobs, according to Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, who sponsors the Clean Energy Opportunity Act, House Bill 239. “I think the job piece is what’s so important to effect policy change in Frankfort,” Marzian said.

Andy McDonald of Kentucky Solar Partnership said Kentucky needs to take a long-term view. “We really need long-term stable policies,” McDonald said. “There’s no point in getting trained if there’s not going to be jobs.”

David Brown Kinloch, who with his partners purchased and restored the Mother Ann Lee Hydroelectric Station on the Kentucky River, echoed the view that Kentucky needs to make a long-term investment in clean energy. In addition to his work in hydro power, Kinloch has researched wind power in Kentucky. “It’s a political problem, not a technical problem, why there isn’t wind in Kentucky,” he said.

Representatives of the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises (FAHE), Frontier Housing, Home Energy Partners and the Metropolitan Housing Coalition expressed their desire to see new policies that protect home owners, renters and low-income families from rising energy costs.

“I’ve heard a lot today about energy efficiency as a resource, and I really like that term,” said Vonda Poyner of FAHE, a regional nonprofit based in Berea that provides access to capital that creates housing and promotes community development.

KFTC is a founding member of KySEA, and KFTC members played a role in the agenda throughout the day. Mary Love of Jefferson County delivered the welcome address, and Doug Doerrfeld of Elliott County discussed environmental impacts as part of a panel on The Case for Clean Energy Policies in Kentucky.

Click here to download presentations from the day.

The Bowling Green Fair Housing Coalition organized a Fair Housing Unity Fair on Saturday that offered a fun time, good food, information about local resources, opportunities to organize, and inflated bouncies.

The event was the first big coalition event, and was part-kick off, part welcome party, and part invitation to get involved and to come to a candidate forum next week.

The Bowling Green Fair Housing Coalition is made up of local service, housing, and community organizations including KFTC.  Here are the coalition's guiding principles.

• Everyone should have equal access to housing, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or age.
• Residents should have adequate access to affordable housing programs that will move people toward owning their homes.
• Renters should have access to housing that is decent, safe, and sanitary, with affordable energy efficiency options.
• Renters and landlords should have clarity about their rights and obligations.
• Renters should have protections against unfair practices.

Bowling Green is a growing city that’s preserved its small town feel, one of the reasons we love it. But small town folks know we can’t depend on handshakes to make sure that we’re all treated fairly. We need tools, a few rules everyone plays by.Most landlords in Bowling Green are fair. But we all know that we have a few bad apples. The impact of these bad apples, on individual families and on our community, is great, and the suffering they cause is substantial. We shouldn’t let these bad apples set the standard. Let’s put standards in place that obligate the bad apples to live up to our expectations.

 Get involved by coming to the Candidate Forum on October 28th!  It'll be held at State Street Baptist Church at 340 State Street from 6:30 to 8:30.

The KFTC Bowling Green Chapter kicked off its Operation Voter Madness Wednesday night September 29th on Western Kentucky University's campus. 

As students gathered to raise awareness for the millions of people who have housing problems in the U.S., KFTC volunteers were ready to register students at the Shanty Town event. 

76 new registration were turned in on Friday afternoon to the Warren County clerk's office and the weekend is just now beginning...

"It's very exciting to meet students how actually "get it" and who are as pumped about strengthening our democracy as we have been here at the Beardy Poe!"                    - Meredith Wadlington

A recent news report by the Kentucky News Connection (Public News Service) quotes Charla Peter, communications director for the Kentucky Housing Corporation, explaining the underlying cause of families' shaky housing status is often affordability.

"When the average wage in Kentucky is $10.91, to afford Kentucky's fair market rent at the average wage, a renter must work approximately 45 hours per week, every week, all year through."

According to Peter, another factor in the increase year-over-year is that many were not counted in 2009 due to the ice storm that impeded a complete survey. She adds that Kentucky's double-digit unemployment rate and overall economic downturn play into the spike, as well.

Another goal of the survey, says Peter, is to help alter the public's perception of homelessness, which is not always a person living on the street, or a person with substance abuse issues.

"It takes one incident, a job loss, a family illness or death, a change in familial status such as a divorce. It could be catastrophic to our families if they're not prepared."

The point-in-time count is used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to determine the amount of funding agencies will receive to assist the homeless. The Kentucky Housing Corporation receives more than $11 million federal dollars a year to serve the homeless in 118 counties.

More information and the full report can be found here.