New Energy and Transition News | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

New Energy and Transition News

Collecting Wild Edibles and Medicinals workshop held in Floyd County

September 26, 2013 at 10:53am

100_0400As a follow-up to the 2013 Growing Appalachia conference, members of the Big Sandy chapter and the Rowan County chapter organized a Collecting Wild Edibles and Medicinals workshop on September 8th in Floyd County.

Led by Rowan County chapter member Cody Montgomery, attendees hiked the hills around Wilson Creek and learned about the species located in our area, how to locate their habitats, specific uses for herbs, and how to prepare certain plans for personal use.

KFTC accepting applications to attend Power Shift 2013

September 19, 2013 at 10:11am

More than 10,000 young people from across the country are making plans to converge in Pittsburgh October 18-21 for a conference known as Power Shift 2013. The event is being planned by and for young activists who are working to solve the climate crisis and build a clean, just and thriving economy that work for workers and young people.

KFTC is collaborating with the Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition (KSEC) to help send a large, diverse set of Kentuckians to this event.

Please use the form below if you are interested in representing KFTC at Power Shift 2013. All KFTC members are welcome to apply for one of 10 available spots. We’ll give special consideration to young people and people who live in communities directly affected by extraction and burning of fossil fuels.

Whether or not KFTC is able to directly support your participation in Power Shift, we’ll do our best to connect everyone with information about registration, transportation and lodging being organized by KSEC. To learn more about and support KSEC’s efforts to send a total of 500 Kentuckians to Power Shift 2013, you can visit www.kystudentenvironmentalcoalition.org

To apply to be part of KFTC’s delegation to Power Shift 2013, please fill out this form.

Wendell Berry's vision of a strong local economy

August 17, 2013 at 10:54am

Kentucky author, farmer and KFTC member Wendell Berry kicked off KFTC’s annual membership meeting by lifting up the unbreakable tie between people and the land, between work and community.

In his keynote address to a crowd of more than 200 KFTC members and friends gathered at General Butler State Resort Park on August 16, he expressed an ideal of a locally-based economy built on the skills of local people and the diverse resources of the land.

Franklin Fiscal Court votes against Bluegrass Pipeline

July 25, 2013
State Journal

Magistrates passed a resolution Thursday opposing a natural gas liquids pipeline planned to run through Franklin County, citing environmental and safety concerns and unanswered questions from company representatives.

The Clean Energy Collaborative passes exciting recommendations

July 25, 2013 at 08:18am

The main goal of the Clean Energy Collaborative is to review and recommend energy efficiency and renewable energy options to the East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC). KFTC is a member of this Collaborative along with EKPC, 16 local electric co-ops, and several of our allies. The Collaborative was established as a part of the process that halted the proposed Smith coal-fired power plant in Clark County three years ago.

On June 22, the Collaborative made some exciting progress by passing a set of recommendations to EKPC’s management. After coming to consensus, members of the Collaborative recommend that EKPC:

Jefferson County Birthday Bash

July 18, 2013 at 04:43pm

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Social justice, democracy, and rock n' roll. 

That's how the Kentuckians of Jefferson County kicked-off their 30th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 22, 2013.

In the heart of Butchertown – down the block from the former Jefferson County chapter office – the Tim Faulkner Gallery hosted the Birthday Bash, which featured music from a variety of local artists including Leigh Ann Yost and The Blacktop Farmers.

Obama urged to act on protecting water resources

July 16, 2013 at 01:07pm

The American Clean Energy Agenda (of which KFTC is a member) is urging President Obama to take action to lessen the impact of our nation’s energy policy on our water resources.

ACEA this afternoon released a proposed Executive Order making water a major national priority and moving the U.S. to a clean energy future. The draft executive order would require:

How Beshear can spark a brighter future in Eastern KY

July 14, 2013
Lexington Herald Leader

In a powerful op-ed piece, Ron Eller and Al Smith call on KY Gov. Steve Beshear to "seize the moment, face the desperate realities in the mountains and spark an effort to bring community leaders together in East Kentucky to seek new directions."

Utilities Switch Off Investment in Fossil Fuel Plants

June 18, 2013
New York Times

Decreased demand for electricity, lower carbon prices and the competitiveness of renewable forms of energy are making new fossil fuel plants a bad investment decision in Europe. What does this mean for the United States?

Energy for Change rally draws more than 2,000

June 22, 2013 at 09:27am

KFTC members joined more than 2,000 others in Louisville on Thursday for the Energy for Change: Interfaith Action for Clean Energy and Healthy Communities rally.

"It matters little where we live … dirty energy is polluting our air and water," said Mark Steiner of Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light told the crowd, many of whom were in Louisville from across the country for the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. "Dirty energy is making us and making our children sick."

Activist Tim DeChristopher said he grew up in West Virginia where people live with "fear under the oppression of the coal industry." But he was able to overcome his fear "when my actions aligned with my sentiments.

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