Climate change pushes LG&E's parent company to slash coal-burning in Kentucky

The parent of Kentucky's two large utilities – LG&E and KU – has ordered a major reduction in emissions blamed for global warming by eliminating "the bulk" of its coal-burning in the coming years. 

Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities have already been shutting down some of its electricity production from coal by retiring decades-old burners. But now, Pennsylvania-based PPL Corp. has set a new goal of cutting its heat-trapping gas emissions 70 percent by 2050, shifting toward cleaner natural gas and renewable energy, PPL said in a news release.