Energy Production in Kentucky is a Health Justice Issue

KFTC Members Beverly May, of Floyd County, and Kat Goodman, of Jefferson County, discussed energy production in Kentucky as a health justice issue at a University of Louisville conference focused on Health Equity this past weekend.

They presented the facts about health impacts of coal at each step in its cycle - mining, processing, transport, burning and waste disposal - and told their own personal stories about paying the true costs of coal every day. They presented data showing that each of these coal cycle steps occurs both in large volumes and in mainly in high poverty counties or neighborhoods in Kentucky.

Beverly May, a native of Eastern Kentucky and a nurse practitioner in the area, presented the health impacts associated with mountaintop removal valley fill practices, coal processing and exposure to the resulting slurry, and transport of coal throughout Kentucky's communities.

Kat Goodman, who grew up in the shadow of the R.D. Green power plant and coal ash dumps outside of Henderson, KY, presented the health impacts associated with coal combustion and exposure to coal ash and discussed her own personal health struggles.

Both presenters linked chronic health problems that have been linked to exposure to pollutants from mining and burning coal, such as cancer, heart disease, asthma and chonic obstructive pulmonary disease, to the future of economic development in Kentucky. Individuals suffering from conditions that require uninterrupted health insurance are not likely or able to leave their jobs to start small businesses. And yet, small business development is exactly what it's going to take to grow Kentucky's economy and, in Eastern Kentucky, transition away from coal.

Kat concluded with the point that these health impacts being thrust onto communities already impoverished is not a coincidence and certainly makes energy production in Kentucky an issue of health justice.

The audience was engaged and attentive. Good outcomes are already clear - KFTC has been invited to do the presentation at the University of Louisville medical school in December and attending students will explore starting a student chapter on campus.

Download Bev and Kat's presentation here. Please contact [email protected] if you are interested in doing this presentation to an audience or if you have any questions about the citations or information in the presentation.