Latest news with #KentuckyUtilities
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration terminates award for Kentucky carbon capture project
The sign outside one of the corporate offices for utility Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer) A federal award funding a collaboration between Kentucky's largest utility, the University of Kentucky and other partners to implement a new system capturing greenhouse gas emissions is among two dozen energy-related awards the Trump administration terminated last week. The $72 million award terminated by the U.S. Department of Energy funded the testing of a carbon capture system on a natural gas-fired turbine operated by electric utility Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities at its Cane Run Generating Station in Jefferson County. Carbon capture refers to technologies that seek to reduce climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels by capturing and storing carbon dioxide before it's released into the atmosphere. The utility described the project last year as an 'important step in assessing the future viability' of carbon capture technology for natural gas-fired power plants. LG&E and KU, which serves more than 1 million customers in the state, would have captured a portion of carbon dioxide emissions to be potentially reused by a nearby manufacturer, according to a press release. Liz Pratt, a LG&E and KU spokesperson, in a statement said the utility was 'disappointed' the award was terminated but remained 'focused on driving innovation and important research and development in this space.' 'Together with our project partners, we will review our options for advancing this important research project,' Pratt said. Among the other awards terminated Friday by the DOE included a number of other carbon capture and storage projects and a project by multinational alcoholic beverage company Diageo that sought to add batteries to decarbonize production facilities including in Shelbyville, Kentucky. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in a Friday statement said canceling the approximately $3.7 billion in total awards was 'in the best interest' of Americans. 'While the previous administration failed to conduct a thorough financial review before signing away billions of taxpayer dollars, the Trump administration is doing our due diligence to ensure we are utilizing taxpayer dollars to strengthen our national security, bolster affordable, reliable energy sources and advance projects that generate the highest possible return on investment,' Wright said in a statement. Investment into carbon capture systems played a large role in the energy policy of the former Biden administration, which sought to require utilities with coal-fired power plants operating past 2039 to capture 90% of carbon dioxide emissions from the plants or have those plants retire by 2032. That carbon capture requirement also applied to new natural gas-fired power plants. The Trump administration has swiftly reversed course, reportedly planning to eliminate any caps on greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants. Supporters of carbon capture technologies generally say it's necessary in transitioning to clean energy and addressing industries that are hard to decarbonize, while skeptics, including environmentalists, question whether the technologies will allow for the further burning of fossil fuels. Byron Gary, an attorney with the environmental legal organization Kentucky Resources Council, told the Lantern the award termination fits into the Trump administration's 'broader strategy' of 'trying to undermine climate regulation.' E&E News reported Friday that the Trump administration is expected to argue the U.S. power sector, a major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, doesn't contribute 'significantly' to climate change. Gary said while his organization would rather see investment into zero-emission renewable energy paired with utility-scale batteries, the award terminations appear to ensure carbon capture technology isn't a 'viable option' for the future.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pulaski County Schools delays return for students as community tackles storm cleanup
PULASKI COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — School leaders in Pulaski County announced around 3 p.m. on Sunday that there will be no school on Monday. Earlier in the weekend, Superintendent Patrick Richardson wrote that the determining factor in whether or not class would be held on Monday would be if power was restored and campuses across the district were accessible. RELATED l Cleanup begins in Pulaski County 'Southern Middle School and Southern Elementary do not appear to have sustained any damage, however, they do not have power at this time,' Richardson wrote. 'The Area Technology building has sustained significant damage to the industrial Maintenance lab.' By Sunday afternoon, power had reportedly been restored to Southern Middle. Leaders with the district said power crews are working hard to restore electricity to the school buildings, with road crews also working to clear roads blocked by storm debris, 'not only to the southern campus but across the county.' Kentucky Utilities crews are reportedly confident that Southern Elementary will have power restored sometime on Monday. Lexington toy shop donating portion of weekend sales to Pulaski County tornado relief Superintendent Richardson said he would be talking with the Kentucky commissioner of education to discuss options on a make-up day for Monday. 'Worst case scenario, we will have to make the day up the first week of June,' Richardson wrote. 'I will keep everyone informed as decisions are made.' School leaders said they hope to hold classes on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Carroll County announces mandatory evacuations after release of water at Dix Dam
A large release of water at Dix Dam is causing concerns and mandatory evacuations in Carroll County, county officials said Sunday. As a result, parts of Carroll County are under mandatory evacuation, including Prestonville, Greensbottom, Happy Hollow and Blue Lick, according to information from Mike Ratliff, the Carroll County Emergency Management Director. Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams said in a Facebook live he'd been told by the Kentucky Emergency Management office that 10 gates at Dix Dam had been accidentally opened and were not able to be closed. But the Henry County Emergency Management said the dam was opened as 'a planned event' because Harrington Lake was full, and water needed to be released. 'If you're on the Kentucky River corridor anywhere, and you're seeing this video, you need to evacuate,' Adams said. 'You need to evacuate immediately.' Kentucky Utilities spokesman Daniel Lowry confirmed the release of water was intentional, adding the spill gates had been opened 'in a controlled fashion' since Friday evening, 'and everything has been going per procedures.' 'Flow into Herrington Lake has subsided starting this (Sunday) morning and we are in the process of closing gates tonight,' Lowry said. Franklin County Judge-Executive Michael Mueller echoed similar statements in an update posted to Facebook, calling Adams' statements 'misinformation' and saying all water released from Dix Dam was done so intentionally. 'They are not releasing 20 feet (of water), they are not opening 10 gates,' Mueller said. 'Everything they are doing has been planned, has been approved by Emergency Management.' In an interview with the Herald-Leader, Adams confirmed he'd talked to the emergency management office around noon Sunday, and to his knowledge, the gates at Dix Dam haven't been closed or cannot be closed. The emergency management office warned it could bring higher water than ever recorded along the Kentucky River, he said. Dix Dam is located between Mercer and Garrard counties, about 80 miles from Carrollton, and is operated by Kentucky Utilities. KU did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Kentucky River starts near Beattyville in Lee County and flows northwest, joining the Ohio River in Carrollton, according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica. In an emergency notice from Carroll County, residents were warned that if they do not evacuate, the county may not be able to assist them as water levels rise. 'The state has advised that the impacts of this major release are unprecedented and unpredictable,' the notice said. 'All we know for sure is that this is going to impact our area in a major way.' Carrollton is located where the Kentucky and Ohio rivers meet, both of which have experienced large amounts of flooding in the aftermath of days of near-constant rain. The Kentucky River is expected to rise to record-setting levels in the coming days. Carrollton is about halfway between Cincinnati's Northern Kentucky counties and metro Louisville. 'This is a significant threat that should be taken seriously,' the notice reads. 'If you fail to evacuate, there is no guarantee in that resources exist that will provide for your rescue. This is a high-impact event and should be taken as a life-threatening emergency.' In the Facebook video, Adams urged residents to take the warning seriously and to not try and 'ride this out.' 'It exceeds expectations, it exceeds any gauges or any data that they have in past history, ever,' Adams said. Adams told the Herald-Leader he was warned by the emergency management office 'there is no data on file to support what we might get.' 'We don't expect a wave or a wall, or something you can physically see happening, but it will be a rapid rise and is not expected to crest until Tuesday sometime,' Adams said.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Power lines laying across I-64 following Clark County transformer fire
CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — A portion of I-64 in Clark County is shut down with power lines lying across the interstate near mile marker 94. Officials said that a transformer caught fire around 11 p.m. Wednesday, and Kentucky Utilities crews are working on clearing the power lines. Lexington police said that shortly after the fire, the roadway was shut down. A new nonprofit in Lexington wants to provide a haven for first responders Power lines laying across I-64 following Clark County transformer fire Richmond professional skater is inspiring others through Dancing 4 Recovery The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said both the eastbound and westbound lanes have been affected. This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 56 News for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Power outage expected in Corydon
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- Some electric customers in Henderson County could see a brief power outage as a result of utility work. Governor Beshear to attend groundbreaking for Henderson supportive housing According to a Facebook post by the City of Corydon, some residents within the city limits of Corydon can expect to be without power at some point Thursday. Kentucky Utilities will reportedly be conducting work, which will require crews to cut power for an unspecified amount of time. No time frame has been given for the utility work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
