Jeanie Embry
non-student
from Paducah, Ky.
Kentucky is sitting on a veritable gold mine of clean energy resources waiting to be tapped. Every corner of the state – from our farmlands to our cities – has the potential to be major players in clean energy, one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the U.S. today.
Kentucky has the proven resources and know-how to launch a competitive clean energy market. Still, neighboring states like Ohio and North Carolina are beginning to outpace us in the clean energy job market. All we need is a little help from our elected officials.
They need to pass the Clean Energy Opportunity Act. The act would encourage Kentucky’s power companies to expand clean energy and energy efficiency efforts across the state, creating thousands of new jobs and lowering utility bills for Kentuckians.
According to a report released last month by Synapse Energy Economics, passing the Clean Energy Opportunity Act could create 28,000 new jobs in Kentucky and keep electricity rates 8 to 10 percent lower than current projections.
It’s a win-win for Kentuckians, yet this bill, HB 167, faces significant challenges in the Kentucky legislature. We cannot allow these business opportunities and jobs to go to other states.
We need to keep them where they belong right here in Kentucky. It’s time we get serious about building Kentucky’s clean energy economy and pass the Clean Energy Opportunity Act. We can’t afford not to.