Last Updated on October 30, 2024 by Anne Brock
Evolving policies and federal incentives are at the center of how Kentucky leaders are managing energy needs, environmental stewardship and economic development. At their fall gathering of the Governor’s Conference for Energy and the Environment, Team Kentucky shared policy updates and broad planning ideas, while community stakeholders networked for ways to strengthen neighborhoods and better prepare for extreme weather.
Weathering Storms
Moderating a panel on utility preparedness for future winter storms, Executive Director Kenya Stump of Kentucky’s Office of Energy Policy asked panelists, “This extreme cold affects all part of a system. How do we learn from this?”
Tennessee Valley Authority Vice President of Transmission Operations and Power Supply, Greg Henrich said, “We’ve got to continue to drive resiliency into the community.” Energy and utility experts discussed ways to make the entire transmission structure better able to withstand below-freezing temperatures.
SERC Reliability Corporation’s Heather Polzin, who serves at Senior Reliability Advisor, explained how frigid conditions leading to 2022 outages have prompted better reliability standards for utilities.
Discussing how the most recent hurricane impacts have devastated much of neighboring North Carolina and far East Tennessee, United Way of Kentucky President Kevin Middleton explained there are short and long-term needs to meet. “Effective disaster response is more than just fixing what’s broken…ensure these communities come back stronger.”
Workforce Development
Workforce development was another topic of the conference, bringing together several cabinet-level leaders touting the benefits of renewable energy jobs. They focused on the need to train and attract qualified professionals. “We need to be prepared for the workforce of tomorrow,” said Commissioner Kristina Slattery of the Department for Business Development.
Helping Neighbors
The future of jobs and stronger communities is also entwined with the motivation to help those in greatest need. Multiple federal programs supporting energy-related work, such as the Solar for All program still in planning stages, put the focus on benefiting neighbors who need help simply paying their utility bills.
“What would our energy systems look like if they embodied the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself?” asked Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore. Her organization plans to organize several projects in other Southern states that will utilize Solar for All grant resources to deploy clean, solar energy that benefits low-income residents. Similar projects are being planned by state leaders in Kentucky.
Preserving Our Environment
Simply preserving the environment was another key focus at the conference, where Lt. Governor Jaqueline Coleman praised, “Kentucky’s environment is as rich and diverse as our people. I believe that we are called to be good stewards of this land.”
Studying the connection between trees, cleaner air and healthier hearts was Professor Ted Smith, PhD, whose work suggests an environmental approach could save lives. “With a changing climate comes changing existential risk for us as a species.”
Kentucky, Tennessee & Beyond
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