Status Report: Governor Ernie Fletcher's Comprehensive Energy Strategy

Press Release

Status Report: Governor Ernie Fletcher's Comprehensive Energy Strategy

"Kentucky's Energy: Opportunities for Our Future" available online

Governor Ernie Fletcher has made energy policy a cornerstone of his administration's agenda, beginning with significant legislative and executive initiatives including the creation of the Energy Policy Task Force in November 2004. After holding public forums across the state, the Task Force released the Commonwealth's first comprehensive energy plan in February 2005.

Today, Governor Fletcher released a status report that provides updates on all activities related to Governor Fletcher's comprehensive energy strategy, "Kentucky's Energy: Opportunities for Our Future." The strategy's 54 recommendations addressed energy efficiency, renewable energy, electricity transmission and generation, energy trends and institutions affecting energy policy, mine safety, and fossil energy resources.

A copy of the status report can be found on the Governor's Office of Energy Policy Web site at www.energy.ky.gov.

"The comprehensive energy plan has guided the energy policy of my administration," said Governor Fletcher. "We have accomplished many of our goals and are continuing to implement new initiatives that ensure Kentucky can lead as a provider of the nation's energy needs while maintaining our low-cost advantage and protecting the environment."

A sign of that commitment was the establishment of the Office of Energy Policy in June 2005. Moved to the Governor's Office in October 2006, the Governor's Office of Energy Policy (GOEP) is charged with implementing the energy strategy's 54 recommendations. Through GOEP, the state has provided grant funding for energy research, demonstration and development projects ranging from fossil resources, renewable energy, including biomass, and energy efficiency.

"One of the strategy's recommendations stressed partnerships with the state's universities, private industry and nonprofit organizations to pursue federal research and development resources for, among other things, clean-coal technology, energy efficiency and renewable energies. The Governor's Office of Energy Policy is the conduit for these partnerships and we have been quite successful," said Governor Fletcher.

Governor Fletcher has supported a number of legislative initiatives to fulfill his energy policy goals for the Commonwealth. Net metering and coal bed methane were part of Governor Fletcher's 2004 successful legislative agenda. In subsequent sessions, initiatives have included legislation to make miners safer, to reduce substance abuse, to reform the permitting process for energy facilities, to provide tax credits for alternative fuels like biodiesel, and to attract the federal FutureGen project. Other activities such as the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet's Blackwater Task Force and study on retreat mining originated from Governor Fletcher's energy policies.

Governor Fletcher's leadership in the field of energy policy transcended the borders of the Commonwealth. During his tenure as chairman of the Southern States Energy Board the American Energy Security Study was prepared. As state co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, he also led the effort for the development of the Energy Blueprint for Appalachia. Both initiatives are showing progress and may eventually be for the nation.

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