General Assembly

The Clean Energy Opportunity Act, House Bill 170, will get a hearing before the House Tourism Development and Energy Committee this Thursday, February 28, at 10 a.m. in Room 131 of the Capitol Annex in Frankfort.

This important bill, sponsored by Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, asks utilities in Kentucky to get an increasing share of their electricity from energy efficiency programs and renewable energy sources over the next ten years. It is modeled after policies that are already working to create jobs and energy savings in 30 other states, including Ohio and North Carolina.

A 2012 study found that this bill could create 28,000 net new jobs over the decade and lower customers bills by 8-10% compared to a “business as usual” scenario.

The bill is expected to receive a hearing, but not a vote, again this year. Your help is needed to urge legislative action. Please join us in the committee room on Thursday if at all possible. And, whether or not you can make it to Frankfort, take a moment to call the legislative message line.

“What would it mean for our economic development if Kentucky had a reputation nationally as having the best-educated and most skilled workers? Wouldn’t that be exciting? Wouldn’t that be a place where you’d want to live and raise a family, as well as locate your business?” 

– Becki Winchel, Jefferson County Chapter

Eastern Kentucky members came together to participate in a Blue Ribbon hearing on tax reform in Prestonsburg last year.

This year is Kentucky’s best opportunity to pass the meaningful tax reforms that we need right now. And reforms are likely to be taken up during a special legislative session this spring. But so far, the legislature has held no hearings — no chance for public input or conversation — about good policies and reforms. Our ability to make progress toward the Kentucky we deserve is too important to let legislators address it behind closed doors, without public input.

Now is the time to voice your support for the Kentucky Forward Plan, HB 142, sponsored by Rep. Jim Wayne, and push for a hearing for HB 142. This bill would raise around $800 million a year in much needed revenue, and would make our tax structure fairer across income levels. (Learn more about HB 142)