Energy News & Updates

March 2024| Issue 27

What We're Reading

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visits Kentucky to celebrate clean energy factory

Former eastern Kentucky coal mine site will be revived into hydropower facility


Here Comes the Flood of Plug-In Hybrids

Hydrogen could compete with natural gas by 2030, but there’s a catch: report

Beam Suntory digs into reforesting former Knott mine site

Senators press FERC nominees on climate, natural gas, transmission cost allocation

Fiscal Court discusses energy conservation funding for businesses


$81 Million Federal Grant To Help Build $1.3 Billion Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Hydropower Facility in Bell County


On March 21, 2024, Gov. Andy Beshear joined the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to announce that the Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project was approved for an up-to-$81 million federal grant to help construct a first-of-its-kind $1.3 billion coal-to-pumped storage hydropower facility in Bell County.


When complete, the Lewis Ridge Project will be one of the first pumped storage hydropower facilities constructed in the U.S. in more than 30 years – and the first ever to be built on former mine land. It will breathe new life into Eastern Kentucky communities that have experienced population decline in recent years while improving grid reliability.

Learn more.


The DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) selected the Lewis Ridge project as one of the five clean energy projects in Arizona, Kentucky, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to accelerate clean energy deployment by supporting diverse, locally driven clean energy projects that can be replicated in current and former mining communities across the country. To review the OCED’s announcement, here is the website.


Collaborative Blueprint Presents Ten Priorities for Kentucky


The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (KCED) and the Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED) have jointly prepared the Collaborative Blueprint for Kentucky. It lays out an economic development blueprint that economic developers and their stakeholders could follow to spur growth in Kentucky over the next five years. It emphasizes a set of priorities, including five priority sectors and five priority enablers that will help realize growth in priority sectors, where economic developers may choose to align, prioritize, and act to generate growth for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.


Read more.

Bluegrass Greensource Announces Main Street Clean Sweep 2024


Bluegrass Greensource will be holding the 11th Annual Main Street Clean Sweep in celebration of the 54th Earth Day. This Earth Month, local community coordinators will work with Bluegrass Greensource to host cleanup events in 20 locations throughout Central Kentucky. Each community's volunteers will join to clean up litter from city streets, parks, and local waterways. In 2023, nearly 800 volunteers worked to pick up over 9300 pounds of litter in just one week. For questions or more information contact Alli Johnson at alli@bggreensource.org



FACT SHEET on IRA Home Energy Rebates

 

The U.S. Department of Energy has created a Fact Sheet to provide information about the upcoming Home Energy Rebate program. This program is funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and offers rebates to eligible homeowners. The Fact Sheet includes answers to frequently asked questions, such as what the rebate funds can be used for, when and how to apply, and links to U.S. DOE resources. Kentucky has already submitted its Home Energy Rebate application, and funds are expected to be available in early 2025. To learn about the progress of rebate launches in other states, visit the Home Energy Rebates | Department of Energy Map.

Download the Home Energy Rebates Fact Sheet. Applicants need to meet all federal and state program rules. When possible, DOE recommends waiting until your state’s rebate program launches before beginning your project.

What's Happening at the Office of Energy Policy

Kenya Stump, Steven Barrera, and Hailey Mattingly attended the Appalachian Carbon Forum hosted by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research, on March 7 in Lexington.

Lona Brewer presented at the Home Performance Coalition contractor workshop held at BIA in Lexington on March 7.

Carol Stringer attended the 2 CFR 200 (Code of Federal Regulations) Training in Washington, DC, March 4-7.

Amanda LeMaster participated in the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Hazard Mitigation Assistance External Stakeholders Working Group in Washington, DC, from March 12 to 15th.

Amanda LeMaster is attending the Kentucky Petroleum terminal site visits for energy resilient planning beginning March 26 through April 2.

Steven Barrera attended the MESC Clean Energy Manufacturing-48C Central Appalachia Region event in Charleston, WV on March 25 and 26.

Amanda LeMaster participated in the March 27 Public Service Commission Southeast Electric Reliability Corporation training in Frankfort.

Lona Brewer

On February 27, Kenya Stump attended the Tennessee Nuclear Advisory Group Meeting in Nashville, TN.

The Office of Energy Policy Impact Summary 2023 is now available on the EEC website.


Data Visualization of the Month

Planned and Retired Power Plants Dashboard


The Office of Energy Policy has developed this dashboard as a resource for the general public to identify power plant additions, retirements, and past retirements throughout the United States. Data comes from the U. S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) form 860 Monthly and is subject to revision per the EIA. Questions may be directed to the Office of Energy Policy, Evan.Moser@ky.gov.

Partner Spotlight

Bluegrasss Greensource


Bluegrass Greensource (BGGS) educates students, teachers, and communities in 20 central Kentucky counties. The Office of Energy Policy supports the initiatives of the BGGS with grant funds awarded through Kentuckky's State Energy Program. With grant fund support, BGGS provides students, teachers, and residents with resources, knowledge, and the tools to help ensure clean, healthy, and enjoyable environments for future generations. Visit the Bluegrass Greensource website for a complete schedule of events and programming.

Pictured are students from Breckinridge Elementary. Photo courtesy of Bluegrass Greensource