Clean Power Plan – An Opportunity for Just Economic Transition | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
Release Date: 
Monday, August 3, 2015
Press Contact: 
Dana Beasley Brown
KFTC Chairperson
270-314-6646

Clean Power Plan – An Opportunity for Just Economic Transition

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
Members Quotes on the Clean Power Plan Announcement

A grassroots perspectives on the challenge and opportunity that lies ahead

Dana Beasley Brown
Chairperson of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
Bowling Green, Warren County, Kentucky
 
“The requirements for Kentucky in the Clean Power Plan announced by President Obama today are ambitious, but necessary. The goal of a 41 percent reduction in carbon pollution in Kentucky is a welcome challenge, one Kentuckians are ready to meet. The Clean Power Plan is an opportunity to build a new energy economy here that is strong, healthy and good for all people, while addressing climate change. Kentucky can do this. Now we need the leaders who will step up to the challenge and seize this opportunity.”
 
“This Plan is something that can be of great benefit to Kentuckians—if we make that choice. Recent studies have shown that right here in Kentucky even modest increases in renewable energy and energy efficiency can create tens of thousands of new jobs, see savings of 8-10 percent on our electric bills and boost Kentucky’s economy by billions of dollars.”
 
“As the mother of two beautiful children, I want to leave them the best Kentucky possible. The Clean Power Plan gives us the opportunity to build strong, vibrant communities for our children. As we deploy renewable energy and energy efficiency programs to reduce carbon, we will also reduce other pollutants that harm our health. This is our opportunity to improve our poor air quality that today causes hundreds of premature deaths each year and costs us millions of dollars in healthcare costs. Kentuckians all across the state are ready to dig in and work together to build a healthier future, but we need leaders who are willing to fight for a healthier Kentucky, too.”
 
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Carl Shoupe
Retired Coal Miner and Benham Power Board Member
Benham, Harlan County, Kentucky
 
“I’m a third generation coal miner and I’ve been working hard along with other folks throughout eastern Kentucky to build a new economy that doesn’t sacrifice our health. Here in Benham, we have our own electric utility and we have already started moving forward with programs to help our residents save energy and save money and we hope to be generating our own power in sustainable ways over the coming years. We can use the opportunity of this Clean Power Plan to not only create a future with a stable climate and cleaner air for our children to breathe, but to bring energy savings programs like ours here to low-income communities all across the state. We here in Kentucky are proud of stepping up in the past to the challenge of meeting our nation’s energy needs. But people in Harlan County have accepted the fact that the coal jobs are not coming back. We’re ready to move forward, and this Clean Power Plan gives us a challenge and an opportunity to do it again through renewable energy and energy savings—ways that are good for all people.”
 
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Steve Wilkins
Retiree and clean energy advocate
Berea, Madison County, Kentucky
 
“As a retiree, I think about my financial future on a fixed income. We, in Kentucky, have an extraordinary opportunity with the Clean Power Plan to lower our electric bills while creating tens of thousands of new, good jobs. We need a democratic process that will include the voices and wishes of ALL Kentuckians in the process of creating our new energy future. While we may celebrate our legacy, we need to keep our vision firmly on the future as we create Kentucky’s Clean Power Plan. New jobs, new affordable power, and a legacy we can be proud to hand to our children. Just what we need!”
 
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Tom Sexton
Consultant and former city councilman
Whitesburg, Letcher County, Kentucky
 
"The hardworking folks that make their living in coal in my community know the same reality as me: the eastern Kentucky economy desperately needs both diversification, and a shot in the arm. The Clean Power Plan can be opportunity for both, with its potential to create new industries at home, in sectors like clean, renewable energy production and energy efficiency—so hopefully more of our own can make a living here."
 
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Sean Hardy
Environmental justice advocate
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
 
“I grew in west Louisville’s Rubbertown, a community of low-income families, the elderly and other vulnerable populations who have lived with the long-term effects of power plant pollution.  As the Clean Power Plan includes ambitious goals for Kentucky, I am encouraged to see it also includes incentives for bringing renewables and energy efficiency programs to low-income communities and that vulnerable communities like mine must be engaged as Kentucky’s plan is developed. This is our opportunity to make sure the voices of those in Rubbertown, south Louisville and other directly impacted communities across the Commonwealth are heard.”
 
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Tona Barkley
Grandmother and clean energy advocate
Owenton, Owen County, Kentucky
 
“When I retired, my concern about my seven precious grandkids' future in a changing climate drove me to push hard for an energy transition. I volunteered and worked hard on an initiative with Owen Electric and other rural electric cooperative utilities to increase clean renewable energy and energy savings. That experience gave me hope that we can all work together to bring about a bright future in Kentucky. I believe the Clean Power Plan rule gives us another great opportunity to move forward quickly—not only to preserve a climate where ALL our precious babies can have the opportunities that we had, but also to create new jobs for folks right in their own communities. I want our leaders to truly lead us into the future on this, and I'm ready to help.”
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