[♪♪] GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: KENTUCKY’S ENERGY NEEDS.

COAL HAS BEEN ONE OF KENTUCKY’S SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY.

IT’S STILL IMPORTANT, BUT IT’S BEEN ON THE DECLINE THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES.

WE’RE SEEING MORE SOLAR PANELS IN KENTUCKY.

AND WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF WIND POWER?

AND NUCLEAR ENERGY?

TO DISCUSS THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF ENERGY,WE ARE JOINED IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO, BY: KATE SHANKS, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE; RANDAL STROBO, ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY WITH STROBO-BARKLEY PLLC; STATE SENATOR DANNY CARROLL, A REPUBLICAN FROM BENTON; AND CARRIE RAY, ENERGY DIRECTOR OF THE MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

EARLIER TODAY I TALKED WITH THE PRESIDENT ST KENTUCKY COAL ASSOCIATION TUCKER DAVIS HOW FOSSIL-FUELS ARE FARING IN KEN CONDITION AND IF IT CAN COEXIST WITH OTHER ENERGY SOURCES.

TUCKER DAVIS, WHO IS HEAD OF THE KENTUCKY COAL ASSOCIATION THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME VIA SKYPE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Renee: AS WE TALK ABOUT KENTUCKY'S ENERGY NEEDS DESCRIBE FOR US HOW YOU VIEW AND YOUR ASSOCIATION AND COAL INTERESTS AND COAL COMPANIES VIEW THE IMPORTANCE OF COAL STILL IN KENTUCKY'S ENERGY PORTFOLIO.

HOW VITAL IS IT IN YOUR VIEW?

>> WELL, KENTUCKY COAL IS THE BACKBONE OF ALL INDUSTRY HERE IN OUR COMMONWEALTH.

IT IS THE DRIVER OF GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND EVERY FACET OF OUR ECONOMY.

MANUFACTURERS CHOOSE TO GROW AND EXPAND IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE OF OUR RELIABLE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND ALMOST LIMITLESS ELECTRICITY HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

SO WITHOUT COAL NOTHING WORKS NO LIGHTS, NO TELEVISION, NO ELECTRIC VEHICLES NO ECONOMY.

WE BELIEVE COAL PLAYS A STRONG ROLE IN OUR ENERGY FUTURE.

ED COMMONWEALTH IN 20 NOWRN, KENTUCKY WAS NUMBER 3 IN THE COUNTRY FOR LOWEST INDUSTRIAL UTILITY RATES.

TODAY WE ARE NUMBER 21.

RESIDENTIAL UTILITY RATES THE SAME THING WE WERE NUMBER 8 IN THE COUNTRY LOWEST RATES FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.

IN 2014.

TODAY WE'RE NUMBER 17.

AND AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME?

WE LOST 11 COAL-FIRED POWER UNITS.

AND SO WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE THIS ENERGY CRISIS GETS WORSE.

>> Renee: SOME WOULD SAY THOUGH THAT THAT MAKES THE CASE FOR WHY KENTUCKY SHOULD EMBRACE OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY, SUCH AS SOLAR, WIND, RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

CAN ALL OF THESE ENERGY SOURCES COEXIST?

>> SURE, EVERYBODY HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO KENTUCKY'S FUTURE ENERGY MIX.

I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT COAL IS A PROVEN AND RELIABLE SOURCE OF POWER IN AMERICA AS WE LOOK FOR WAYS TO GO GREEN, WE HAVE TO ACT RESPONSIBLY AND INSURE THAT BASIC RELIABLE ENERGY NEEDS ARE MET FOR EVERY AMERICAN.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A TRANSITION AT SOME POINT IN TIME FOR MORE ENERGY SOURCES.

BUT THESE ARE PRETTY COMPLEX ISSUES.

AND THEY CAN'T BE DONE OVERNIGHT AND DIDN'T BE DONE TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS WITH ANTI-COAL ACTIVISTS.

SIMPLY PUT GREEN ENERGY ISN'T READY TO POWER KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE ACTIVISTS ARE PROMISING AND IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS A THREE-YEAR BACKLOG OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS WITH FEDERAL REGULATORS BEFORE THEY CAN BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS MANY FRANKLY WE NEED POLICY NOT PLATITUDES TO SOLVE OUR COUNTRY'S ENERGY NEEDS.

>> Renee: WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DECLINE OF THE INFLUENCE OF COAL AND THE PLANTS, MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY THAT IS BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION THAT PARTICULARLY STARTED DURING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION BUT OTHERS WILL CITE THERE ARE MARKET FORCES AT PLAY.

THAT THERE'S MORE COMPETITION WHETHER IT'S RENEWABLES, GAS, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT REGULATION IS THE COMPLETE AND UTTER HAS CAUSED THE DEMISE OF THE COAL INDUSTRY IN KENTUCKY IS THAT FAIR?

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU WANT TO -- WE'RE SEEING THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE COAL PLANT CLOSURES AND ALSO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S OWN ECONOMIC ADVISERS, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S OWN REGULATORS ARE EVEN REQUESTING TO SLOW DOWN THIS RAPID PACE OF COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT RETIREMENTS WE ARE LOSING THAT BASE LOAD POWER.

THE RAPID PACE AT WHICH THE PLANTS ARE RETIRING WE CAN'T GET NEW GENERATION ON-LINE.

AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR UNILATERAL CONTROL OF THE ELECTRIC GRID BUT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS SOMETHING THOUGHTFUL AND MEASURED BEFORE THIS SPIRALS OUT OF CONTROL.

LOOK AT WHAT WE SAW LAST WINTER.

WE HAD A RELATIVELY MILD WINTER LAST YEAR, RENEE AND WE SAW A POWER GRID WITH INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF ENERGY.

THE CLOSURES COMBINED WITH THE FAILURE OF RENEWABLES AND NATURAL GAS PLANTS, TO MEET DEMAND DURING THOSE TEMPERATURES THREATEN TO PUSH THE GRID TO THE BREAKING POINT.

>> Renee: WELL NOW THERE IS A NEW KENTUCKY LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IMMEDIATELY THAT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR UTILITY COMPANIES TO RETIRE COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS UNLESS THEY CAN DETERMINE AND I GUESS SUBSTANTIATE IT WILL NOT CAUSE DISRUPTIONS BROWNOUTS OUR BLACKOUTS AND NOT AFFECT THE RELIABILITY OF THE ELECTRIC GRID SOMETHING THE KENTUCKY COAL ASSOCIATION WAS FIRMLY BEHIND IS THAT ALREADY HELPING?

HOW WILL WE KNOW THAT THAT'S WORKING?

>> WELL, I MEAN I THINK IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

BUT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF POLICIES WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

WE DON'T NEED TO BE LOOKING AT BUREAUCRATS IN WASHINGTON OR BOARDROOMS IN CALIFORNIA OR NEW YORK TO DETERMINE OUR ENERGY FUTURE.

IT HAPPENS HERE IN KENTUCKY AND THE MORE OUR POLICYMAKERS ARE TAKING A LOOK AND ARE ADDRESSING THIS THE SLOWDOWN OF OUR PLANT CLOSURES, THEN I THINK THAT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Renee: AS YOU RECALL THERE HAVE BEEN STORIES SINCE THE EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODS THAT TALKED ABOUT WHETHER MINING PRACTICES COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO SOME OF THE CLIMATE IMPACTS THAT WE SAW WITH THE EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODING AND COULD HAVE ONGOING EFFECTS IN THAT REGION IN PARTICULAR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BLACK LONG AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE COAL INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE CONCERNS?

>> WELL, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT OUR MEMBERSHIP AND THE KENTUCKY COAL ASSOCIATION, OUR OPERATORS OUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OUR VENDORS AND CONTRACTORS THEY LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE IMPACTED DIRECTLY BY THE COAL INDUSTRY.

AND TO SAY THAT THEY WOULD IN ANYWAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY LIVE IN THAT THEY WERE BORN AND RAISED IN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN ARE EDUCATED IN IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE.

>> Renee: WELL, TUCKER DAVIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE KENTUCKY COAL ASSOCIATION FOR GIVING US A FEW HOSPITALS OF YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

NOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS BY TWITTER AT K-Y TONIGHT K-E-T.

SEND AN EMAIL TO K-Y TONIGHT AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G. OR USE THE WEB FORM AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G SLASH K-Y TONIGHT.

OR YOU CAN CALL 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

WHO ARE IN THE STUDIO.

A LOT TO TEASE OUT FROM WHAT Mr. DAVIS SAID AND I WILL GO TO THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR RESPONSE.

AND I WILL START WITH YOU RANDY, ABOUT HE SAYS THAT GREEN ENERGY IS JUST NOT READY TO POWER KENTUCKY AND THERE'S BACKLOG ALREADY OF THREE YEARS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.

IS IT UNWISE TO EXPECT RENUB ENERGY TO BE A MAIN SOURCE OF POWER IN KENTUCKY AT THIS TIME OR IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS?

>> I THINK IT IS UNWISE.

AND IN THE SHORT-TERM, COAL IS GOING TO BE HERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE HERE FOR SOMETIME STILL.

70% OF THE ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN OUR STATE.

BUT IN THE LONGER TERM IN THE MIDTERM WE NEED TO START MAKING PREPARATIONS AND LEGISLATING AND TAKING ACTION TO REALLY START ADOPTING RENEWABLES IN THIS STATE.

THERE IS A LOT OF ISSUES STILL WITH SOME RELIABILITY OF RENEWABLES IN SOME INSTANCES THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH BRINGING IN ON-LINE IN KENTUCKY AND GENERALLY IN THIS REGION BECAUSE OF SOME INTERCONNECTION PROBLEMS.

BUT THERE'S WAYS WE CAN SOLVE THAT.

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT WAS THAT PHRASE?

>> INTERCONNECTION QUEUES.

>> Renee: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WHEN THERE IS A LARGER SOLAR FACILITY WANTS TO COME ON-LINE AND CONNECT TO THE GRID, DEPENDING WHERE THEY ARE IN THE STATE THEY HAVE TO BE PUT INTO AN INTERCONNECTION QUEUE WHICH WOULD THERE IS A BIT OF A LINE RIGHT NOW.

ESPECIALLY IN PARTS LIKE THE PJMETRO THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE AND ISSUES WITH GETTING SOLAR FACILITIES ON-LINE.

BUT WE'RE STARTING TO SOLVE THOSE ISSUES.

THERE ARE SOLAR FACILITIES COMING ON-LINE.

ONE IN JARRETT COUNTY, TURKEY RUN THAT IS ON-LINE FOR A YEAR NOW AND ONE OF THE FIRST SOLAR FACILITIES TO GO THROUGH THE SITING BOARD PROCESS TO ALLOW THEM TO BUILD AND OPERATE IN KENTUCKY.

THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS AND THERE'S SOME MISSTEPS IN THE BEGINNING BUT WE'RE STARTING TO CORRECT THOSE AND TAKE STEPS TO BRING RENEWABLE ENERGY ON-LINE AND TO GO PACK TO WHAT Mr. DAVIS SAID ABOUT ONE GREEN ACTIVISTS HAVING GREEN ACTIVISTS CAUSING PROBLEMS, SAYING COAL BAD THINGS ABOUT COAL, AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS SAYING EVERYBODY NEEDS TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

WHICH ONE IS IT?

SECONDLY, REGULATION HE CLAIMED THAT REGULATION WAS THE PROBLEM AND WHY COAL IS WHY WE ARE LOSING COAL GENERATION IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IF IT IS A PROBLEM IS MARKET FORCES.

MARKET FORCES ARE WHY COAL IS NO LONGER BEING TURNED TO FOR NEW GENERATION IN KENTUCKY AND WHY SO MUCH COAL IS BEING RETIRED IN KENTUCKY.

THE MARKET FORCES WITH THE CHEAP COST OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ALL THE BENEFITS THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY PROVIDES TO THE ENVIRONMENT TO PEOPLE'S HEALTH, IT'S REALLY A NO-BRAINER TO START BRINGING THAT MORE ON-LINE.

COAL WILL BE WITH US FOR SOMETIME.

WE HAVE 70% OF OUR ENERGY GENERATED BY COAL IN KENTUCKY.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE PLANS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH COAL BEING MORE EXPENSIVE AND BRINGING MOW RENEWABLES ON-LINE BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAPER.

>> Renee: WELCOME BOTH OF YOU ARE NEW TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

>> THANK YOU.

WE ARE THE SAME OPINION.

WE KNOW COAL IS GOING TO BE PART OF OUR ENERGY FUTURE FOR AT LEAST THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

BUT AS HE SAID WE NEED TO BE AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING THE RENEWABLE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US.

THE TECHNOLOGY EXISTS.

ONCE YOU INSTALL THE SOLAR THE POWER IS FREE.

Mr. DAVIS WAS BLAMING KENTUCKY'S RATE INCREASES ON COAL RETIREMENTS.

THE RATE INCREASES ARE NOT DUE TO RENEWABLE ENERGY ON THE GRID.

WHEN WE SWITCH FROM COAL IT'S TO MOVE TO NATURAL GAS.

AND MANY PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY HAVE SEEN THEIR BILLS RISE DRASTICALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THAT IS THE FUEL ADJUSTMENT CHARGE WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RATES IT'S THE COST OF THE FUEL AND WE KNOW THE COST OF FOSSIL-FUELS PARTICULARLY NATURAL GAS HAS GONE UP DRASTICALLY WITH THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND OTHER MARKET FORCES.

BUT IF WE ALLOW FOLKS BOTH UTILITY SCALE RENEWABLES AND ROOFTOP SOLAR IF YOU ALLOW PEOPLE AND GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO PUT SOLAR ON THEIR OWN HOMES AND BUSINESSES THEY ARE ABLE TO BOTH INCREASE THE PENETRATION OF RENEWABLES INTO OUR ENERGY MIX AND TO REST SOME CONTROL OF THEIR SKYROCKETING ENERGY BILLS.

>> Renee: WE HEAR THE UP FRONT COSTS ARE STEEP.

>> THEY ARE BUT THEY ARE DECLINING RAPIDLY.

AND THE INCENTIVES THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OUR EXPERIENCE AT THE MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION WHERE WE WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NONPROFITS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY ON EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE UPGRADES THESE INCENTIVES ARE REALLY SPURRING A LOT OF FOLKS IN OUR REGION TO INVEST IN IN SOLAR ENERGY.

WE ARE SEEING THE NUMBER OF INSTALLATIONS THAT WE HAVE SUPPORTED HAS SKYROCKETED.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE THE INCENTIVES ARE REALLY BRINGING THE COST IN REACH OF PEOPLE.

AND THESE AREN'T RICH PEOPLE FROM LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE THESE ARE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> KATE SHANKS ENERGY YOU ARE A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT.

AND I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

YOU CAN RESPOND TO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD AND PERHAPS ANSWER THIS QUESTION FROM JEFF SIMS FROM CALDWELL COUNTY.

MUCH IS DISCUSSED ABOUT ENERGY ALTERNATIVES TO COAL HOWEVER I CONTINUE TO HEAR AT THE ELECTRICITY GRID CANNOT HANDLE THE INCREASED USE OF ELECTRIC ECONOMY.

>> RENEE THANK YOU FOR TAKING ON THIS TOPIC IT IS A BIG TOPIC FOR SURE AND THERE'S DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WE CAN TALK ENERGY, I HAVE TO START BY SAYING THIS IS A SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY THAT IS HEAVILY REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MARKET FORCES WHICH I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT MARKET FORCES, AND YOU GET INTO ENERGY YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.

UTILITIES ARE HEAVILY REGULATED BY THE EPA AND REGULATED BY THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND REGULATED MONOPOLIES YOU TALKED ABOUT THE INTERCONNECTION QUEUE YOU CANNOT JUST PLUG INTO THE GRID THEY ARE REGULATED BY THE REGIONAL TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATIONS.

THERE IS A LOT TO CONSIDER WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ENERGY AND YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT POLICY IS HUGE RIGHT NOW.

AND IT IS DRIVING A LOT OF THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEING MADE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WE HAVE A VARIETY OF REGULATIONS.

YOU HEAR ABOUT GREENHOUSE GASES AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND THERE IS A NEW PROPOSED RULE FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT WE WILL BE COMMENTING ON IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF RULES, MERCURY NEAR TOXICS THE TRANSPORT RULE, THE FLUID GUIDELINES I WILL NOT GO INTO THOSE IN DETAIL BUT THEY ALL IMPACT HOW UTILITIES OPERATE THEIR POWER PLANTS AND A LOT OF REGULATIONS ARE CREATING INCREASED COSTS ON COAL.

AND AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT PASSED BY CONGRESS IT HAS EN SIN TESTIFIES FOR RENEWABLES.

SO YOU DO HAVE A MARKETPLACE A MARKET THAT IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY POLICY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

AND I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT.

AND IN TERMS OF OUR TRANSMISSION GRID AND WHAT OUR ENERGY MIX LOOKS LIKE NOW, WE'RE ABOUT 70% COAL.

WHEN I GOT INTO ENERGY YEARS AGO, WE WERE 97, 98% COAL.

WE ARE A COAL STATE.

WE DON'T HIDE THAT.

WE PRODUCE COAL HERE.

WE USED TO PRODUCE QUITE A BIT MORE COAL.

IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY AND IT CONTINUES TO DO SO, CONTINUES TO EMPLOY PEOPLE.

AND FOR THE LONGEST TIME WE HAD THIS GREAT MARRIAGE BETWEEN COAL AND OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY PRODUCE A LOT IN THE STATE AND WE STILL DO.

WE ARE A MANUFACTURING STATE AND WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.

OVER TIME, BECAUSE OF THE REGULATIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN WE'VE SEEN CHANGES IN THE PRICES OF NATURAL GAS BECAUSE OF FRACKING AND DRILLING WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THAT SHIFT TO NATURAL GAS.

AND A LITTLE BIT OF RENEWABLES, TOO.

SOLAR WORKS IN KENTUCKY.

THE SUNSHINES IN KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE IN THE CHAMBER THAT DO SOLAR PROJECTS.

SO WE REPRESENT ALL THE ENERGY SOURCES.

AND AT THE CHAMBER OUR FOCUS IS LARGELY ON ALL THE ABOVE ENERGY APPROACH.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UTILITIES HAVE ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE FOR HOW THEY DESIGN THEIR ENERGY MIX BECAUSE WE WANT AFFORDABLE PRICE ANDS AND RELIABLE ENERGY BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR ECONOMY IN ATTRACTING THE MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURAL LOGISTICS JOBS.

WE FOCUSED ON POLICY AND SUPPORTED THE BILL THAT LIFTED THE MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR SO WE COULD START TALKING ABOUT THAT.

WE OPPOSE THE CLEAN POWER PLAN DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO UTILIZING FOSSIL-FUELS WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT NEW RULE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THAT.

WE WANT TO SEE WE HAVE THE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE INCLUDING RENEWABLES TO DESIGN THE ENERGY MIX THAT FITS OUR NEEDS SO WE CAN BE THE MOST AFFORDABLE ENERGY IN THE U.S. AS WELL AS THE MOST RELIABLE AS WELL.

>> Renee: BUT YOU HEARD Mr. DAVIS SAY THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE OUR ELECTRICITY RATES NOW USED TO BE IN THE TOP THREE IN OUR WE'RE 17 OR 21.

SO... >> WE ARE COMPETITIVE ON INDUSTRIAL RATES IN KENTUCKY.

AND I COME ON THE SHOW AND TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE OUR WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION AND HOW WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM AND RAISE OURSELVES UP BUT OUR ENERGY PICTURE WE'VE BEEN COMPETITIVE IN THAT REGARD.

THOSE PRICES DO FLUCTUATE QUITE A BIT AND YOU KNOW, THE COST OF FUEL THAT IS AN ISSUE THE WAR IN UKRAINE THAT IS AN ISSUE.

SO THAT IS AFFECTING US AS WELL HERE AT HOME.

BUT WE CONTINUE TO PREDOMINANTLY RELY ON COAL.

AND HAVE GOOD COMPETITIVE PRICES FOR OUR ECONOMY.

>> Renee: WELL, STATE SENATOR DANNY CARROLL GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE'VE HAD YOU HERE ON OTHER ISSUES BUT NOT ON ENERGY.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.

>> Renee: SOMETHING NEW FOR OUR AUDIENCE TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT IN GREATER DETAIL AS SHE ELUDED TO THERE WAS LEGISLATION THAT LIFTED KENTUCKY'S NUCLEAR MORATORIUM AND ACTIONS SINCE.

SO THE PA DUKE KA PLANT CLOSE TO WHERE YOU LIVE TALK TO US ABOUT WHY YOU HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THIS AND WHAT PROSPECTS DO YOU SEE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY HERE IN KENTUCKY?

>> THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION WAS SOMETHING I INHERITED FROM SENATOR LEAPER, MY PREDECESSOR.

AND I WAS FOR THE THAT ENOUGH MY SECOND YEAR IN TO GET THAT LEGISLATION PASSED.

BACK IN PA DUKE KA WE ARE PRO CLEAR.

AND WITH THE DOE PLANTS IN CLEAN UPSTAGES NOW, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WITH THE WASTE THAT IS LEFT FROM THE GAS DIFFUSION PROCESS THEY CALL THAT THE TAILS THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE TO ENRICH URANIUM BY THE USE OF LASERS.

OF AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TECHNOLOGY IS NOT EXACTLY PERFECTED YET BUT ONCE THAT DOES HAPPEN THERE IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR AREA TO RECRUIT A PLAN IN.

A GLOBAL LASER ENRICHMENT IS THE NAME OF THE COMPANY THAT IS VETTING THIS TECHNOLOGY AND WE HOPE TO HAVE THEM IN PA DUKE KA AT SOME POINT TO CLEAN UP THE WASTE THAT IS THERE AND MAKE NUCLEAR FUEL OUT OF IT.

I THINK IN THE GRAND SCHEME NUCLEAR THERE IS A LOT OF TALK AND A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHILE WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, THE RENEWABLES SOLAR, WIND, THOSE AREN'T BASE LOAD SOURCES OF ENERGY.

AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING THERE SO QUICKLY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

AND WE HAVE TO BRING NUCLEAR INTO THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT ONCE THE MORATORIUM WAS LIFTED, IT WAS CRICKETS.

BECAUSE GAS WAS LOW COST, THEN, COAL AND SO IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IT'S REALLY STEPPED UP ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW QUICKLY THINGS WERE MOVING UNTIL WE HAD A NUCLEAR FORM IN PA DUKE KA SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND THE RESPONSE WAS TREMENDOUS.

THE INFORMATION THAT I LEARNED AND I KNOW THERE ARE COMPANIES NOW THAT ARE ALREADY MAKING CONTACTS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH IN HOPES OF BRINGING REACTORS INTO THE STATE.

>> Renee: SCARY FOR PEOPLE, THOUGH, SENATOR.

>> IT IS BUT IF PEOPLE WILL TAKE THE TIME AND DO THE RESEARCH, WITH THE ADVANCE REACTORS IT'S NOT THE SAME REACTOR AS THREE MILE ISLAND, AND ALL THE DISASTERS THAT YOU HEAR ABOUT.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS SO MUCH FURTHER ADVANCED NOW WITH WHERE WE ARE THE GENERATION FOUR REACTORS AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE COMING IN THIS FIELD LOOKING AT MICRO REACTORS SMALL REACTORS AND THE NEW TECHNOLOGY IN THE LARGER REACTORS.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE CHOICES THAT COMMUNITIES CAN MAKE THAT BUSINESSES CAN MAKE THAT THE POWER COMPANIES CAN MAKE TO BEST SUIT THEIR NEEDS.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT WE CAN SUPPLY THE BASE LOAD ENERGY.

AND IT DOES NEED TO BE A PROPER MIX.

AND JUST CAME BACK FROM IDAHO NATIONAL LAB A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHERE THEY DO A LOT OF TESTING RELATED TO NUCLEAR, THE SOUTHERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE THIS PAST WEEK AND MOST OF THE STATES ARE TAKING THE SAME APPROACH THAT IT'S VERY MUCH BALANCED AND ALL THE ABOVE.

WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT AS THIS EVOLVES AS THE ENERGY NEEDS INCREASE, THAT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A REBALANCE THAT TAKES PLACE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

AND OBVIOUSLY IN KENTUCKY, WE WANT COAL TO BE VIABLE AS LONG AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE OPEN TO NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND COAL AS WE CAN MAKE THAT A CLEANER OPTION.

WE CAN'T BE SHUTOFF TO THAT.

AND WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

AND BALANCE ALL OF THESE THINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> Renee: SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE EASTERN KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS ARE ALL FOR COAL AND THE WESTERN KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS ARE ALL PUSHING NUCLEAR, RIGHT?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL.

I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT WE WANT ALL THE ABOVE AT THIS POINT.

AND WE WANT TO PRESERVE THE JOBS.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WITH NUCLEAR, MANY OF OUR COAL PLANTS IN KENTUCKY THAT HAVE BEEN SHUTDOWN THESE 11 SINCE 2014 SOME WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONVERSION TO NUCLEAR.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU CAN TRAIN THE WORKFORCE THAT IS IN THOSE FACILITIES BECAUSE BASICALLY, IT WILL USE THE SAME FACILITY IT'S JUST INSTEAD OF THE COAL BEING THE SOURCE OR SUPPLY OF HEAT IT CAN BE CONVERTED TO NUCLEAR.

THE NEW REACTOR GOING IN WYOMING, BILL GATES COMPANY TERRA POWER THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING THERE.

THAT WILL TAKE THE PLACE OF A COAL PLANT AND THEY WILL USE THE ALL OF THE OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT IS THERE AT THE FACILITY BUT IT WILL JUST SUBSTITUTE THE NUCLEAR REACTOR FOR THE COAL BURNING FURNACE.

>> Renee: AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE ALSO FOR LEGISLATION THAT CREATED THIS NUCLEAR POWER WORK GROUP IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND YOU MET BEFORE YOU HAVE A MEETING COMING UP AND ONE IN SEPTEMBER AS WELL.

IS THERE LEGISLATION THAT COULD COME WE COULD SEE IN THE 2024 SESSION?

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE WORK GROUP AND THE KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GET ANSWERED?

>> AND HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE.

BUT THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE GROUP IS TO PLOT A COURSE PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON THE NEED FOR NUCLEAR COMMISSION WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH AND HOW THAT WOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND WHO WOULD MAKEUP THAT GROUP, WHAT WOULD THE RESPONSIBILITIES BE.

BUT AS PART OF THE WORKING GROUP THERE IS AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY BARRIERS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

WE KNOW THAT IN THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT WITHIN THE STATE, AS FAR AS NUCLEAR WE ARE NOT IN TOO BAD OF SHAPE THERE WE STUDIED THAT WHEN WE LIFTEDDED MORATORIUM.

IT'S FIGURING OUT HOW NUCLEAR IS GOING TO FIT INTO THIS AND WE NEED TO DO THIS WITH HASTE.

WE CANNOT FALL BEHIND BECAUSE I ASSURE YOU THAT OTHER STATES ARE INVESTING MILLIONS TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY AND WANTING TO BRING REACTORS TO THEIR STATE AND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY.

AND YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, THE TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE TO BEGIN WITH BUT IT WILL LEVEL OFF IN TIME.

AND WE KNOW THAT TBA IS GETTING READY TO WORK ON A BUILDING REACTOR IN TENNESSEE.

AND TERRA POWER AND THOSE ARE THE TWO HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

BUT THERE ARE PLANS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY FOR MANY STATES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

AND I THINK CHINA IS LEADING THE WAY AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF REACTORS THEY PLAN TO BRING ON-LINE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

BUT THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT IS A NIGHTMARE ESPECIALLY WITH NUCLEAR RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE WORK DONE IN THAT AREA TO STREAMLINE SOME OF THOSE PROCESSES.

OUR PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IT IS A NEW TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S MUCH SAFER, THE RISKS ARE NOT THERE AS BEFORE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND IT CAN PROVIDE A STABLE BASE LOAD SUPPLY OF ENERGY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> Renee: HOW DOES THIS SIDE VIEW NUCLEAR ENERGY AS A POSSIBILITY?

>> THE ASSOCIATION AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IT'S NOT NUCLEAR IS NOT MUCH OF A TALKING POINT OR AN ISSUE IN THE REGION.

BUT I THINK AS FAR AS THE TECHNOLOGY GOES, THERE ARE HAVE BEEN ADVANCES AND NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY PERHAPS MAKING IT SAFER.

THE QUESTION FOR ME IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE ACTING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER ON CLEAN ENERGY BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE CAN'T BE WAIT AS LONG AS IT MIGHT TAKE TO BUILD A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

WE COULD TAKE THAT MONEY THAT WE INVEST IN NUCLEAR AND INVEST IS IN EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE AND TECHNOLOGIES WE KNOW WORK TODAY JUST TO MOVE THINGS ALONG FASTER.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS NOT DISCUSSED IS THE EFFICIENCY AND THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY WE NEED TO PRODUCE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WE JUST ARE USING LESS OF IT IF WE MAKE ROBUST INVESTMENTS IN COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY.

THAT IS A HUGE OPPORTUNITY THAT EXISTS IN THE STATE THAT DOESN'T GET DISCUSSED MUCH PROBABLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS EXCITING AS NUCLEAR OR SOLAR OR BATTERY STORAGE.

BUT YOU KNOW, LEAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY ON THE TABLE IS TAKING MONEY OUT OF PEOPLE'S POCKETS AND IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BENEFIT THE WORKFORCE AND EVERY RATE PAYER IN THE STATE.

>> Renee: THIS QUESTION FROM A VIEWER SAYS QUOTE I LIVE ON THE OHIO RIVER IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT A TURBINE IN THE WATER THAT COULD HARNESS HYDRO ELECTRIC ENERGY.

>> WE HAVE HYDRO, YES.

WE GET 7% OF OUR ELECTRICITY FROM HYDRO ELECTRIC POWER AND IT'S NOT NEW.

WE'VE HAD SMITH LAND THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT HIGH DEGREE ELECTRIC FACILITIES THAT DO GENERATE POWER AND OUR LARGEST SOURCE OF RENEWABLE POWER IN KENTUCKY.

SOLAR IS MUCH SMALLER.

WE DON'T HAVE WIND FARMS IN KENTUCKY.

PEOPLE WISH WE HAD THEM.

>> Renee: IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

>> NO.

I WILL SAY IT.

I THINK THAT THERE'S THOUGHTS IF YOU CAN GET THE TURBINES HIGH ENOUGH PERHAPS.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT A WIND RESOURCE MAP OF THE UNITED STATES, SOUTHEAST IS JUST A HOLE.

YOU GOT IT IN THE MIDWEST AND NORTH OF US ALONG THE COASTS.

THERE IS A LOT OF WIND RESOURCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IF WE'RE GETTING WIND POWER IT'S WHEELED FROM ELSEWHERE BUT IT'S NOT VIABLE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: YOU WOULD AGREE?

>> RIGHT NOW I WOULD AGREE THAT WIND FARMS IN KENTUCKY IS DIFFICULT TO DO.

BUT AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHERS, WIND TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING.

AND I THINK SOME UTILITIES ARE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO DO WIND TURBINE WIND FARMS BECAUSE OF THE TALLER TURBINES THAT CAN BE BUILT.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE ISSUE OF RELIABILITY.

AND WE HEARD SENATOR CAROL TALK ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF SOLAR WIND WHEN THE WIND DOESN'T FLOW IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY THAT WAY.

BUT ALL ELECTRIC GENERATION SOURCES HAVE DIFFERENT RELIABILITY ISSUES.

WE SAW DURING WINTER STORM ELLIOT AND MEETINGS AT THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT THIS WHERE A LOT OF REASON FOR THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS IN KENTUCKY UNPRECEDENTED IN OUR STATE IS BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF NATURAL GAS POWER PLANTS.

THERE WERE ISSUES WITH COAL PLANTS AS WELL.

PGM RELEASED ROLLING BLACKOUTS ACROSS THE EASTERN PART OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND NATURAL GAS AND COAL WERE THE TWO MAIN REASONS FOR THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS AND THEY PUT RENEWABLE ENERGY AT 10% AND THE REST 90%.

RELIABILITY IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL GENERATION SOURCES.

WHEN IT COMES TO NUCLEAR AND I DON'T KNOW SENATOR CAROL KNOWS BUT A CLIENT OF MINE IS A MEMBER OF THAT TASK FORCE I'M INDIRECTLY INVOLVED WITH IT AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT SENATOR CAROL IS BRINGING YOU HAVE NUCLEAR ENERGY AND PUTTING THE TASK FORCE TOGETHER AND EXPLORING THE ISSUE.

KENTUCKY SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN MENTIONED ON THIS PANEL HAS BEEN LATE TO THE GAME WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS A REASON FOR SENATOR CAROL FOR PUTTING THAT TASK FORCE TOGETHER I THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY OTHER MOTIVES FOR THAT WHICH ARE COMMENDABLE BUT CLIMATE CHANGE IS A HUGE ISSUE.

IF WE CAN FIND OTHER RESOURCES THAT REDUCE THE RISK OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND DO THINGS THAT OUR STATE NEEDS TO TAKE STEPS TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

IT IS A COMPLICATED PROBLEM.

AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THIS TASK FORCE IS PUT TOGETHER.

I THINK IT'S GREAT WHEN LEGISLATORS TRY TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT IN KENTUCKY YET AND CLIMATE CHANGE IS A PROBLEM THAT A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE FROM THE TOP DOWN TO THE BOTTOM UP IT WILL REQUIRE STATES, COUNTIES, CITIES, NATIONS IN THE WORLD IN GENERAL TO ADDRESS IT.

SO NUCLEAR ENERGY IS PART OF THAT ANSWER, GREAT.

PERSONALLY, I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH NUCLEAR ENERGY.

THERE ARE ISSUES WITH AFFORDABILITY AND ISSUES WITH YOU KNOW, IN THE RECENT HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, A LOT OF NUCLEAR PROJECTS WERE ABANDONED.

WASTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND CUSTOMER MONEY FOR UTILITIES ON THOSE PROJECTS.

WHETHER OR NOT THE TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN IMPROVED ENOUGH AND WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN PICK AND CHOOSE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES WITH THE SMR'S FOR THOSE MEDIUM SIZED.

>> Renee: SMR'S.

>> SMALL MODULAR REACTORS SENATOR CAROL IS THAT 50 TO 100 MEGAWATTS.

AND SMALLER MICRO REACTORS AND THE LARGER ONES.

SMR'S IS THE NEW COOL TECHNOLOGY THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE ARE EXPLORING THESE ISSUES.

WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THE WASTE AND WASTE IS STILL AN ISSUE.

AND ALWAYS BEEN.

THE ISSUE THAT ENVIRONMENTALISTS TALK ABOUT.

IT IS A ISSUE THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM GOING FORWARD UNTIL WE HAVE GOOD SOLUTIONS FOR THAT WE WILL FIND THAT NUCLEAR WILL BE HARD TO IMPLEMENT AND IT TAKES AWAY GOING BACK TO WHAT CARRY WAS SAYING TAKES AWAY GOOD WORK HAPPENING WITH OTHER ENERGY SOURCES ESPECIALLY RENEWABLES.

IF WE ARE GOING TO TURN OUR FOCUS ONLY ON NUCLEAR WHICH I DON'T THINK WE ARE, THE MORE WE FOCUS ON NUCLEAR THE LESS WE WILL FOCUS ON THINGS PROVEN WORKABLE.

AND ENERGY IS NOT COMPLETELY RELIABLE.

SOMETIMES THE SUN IS NOT GOING 0 IT SHINE AND THE WIND IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GRID AND TRANSMISSION AND SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM BATTERIES AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES LIKE RUN OF THE MILL HYDRO, WATER THAT IS COMING AND GENERATING FROM WATER GENERATING FROM A RIVER, THERE'S CLOSE LOOP HYDRO WHERE ITSELF GENERATING YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A RUNNING RIVER.

ANOTHER RELIABLE SOURCE LIKE A LARGE BATTERY.

THERE'S LOTS OF TECHNOLOGIES OUT THERE THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED.

I THINK NUCLEAR IS ONE OF THEM AND WE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THEM AND I THINK IT'S GREAT AGAIN THAT THE SENATOR IS DOING THAT.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER AND REALLY FOCUS ON THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE MORE AFFORDABLE AND MORE RELIABLE.

>> SENATOR CAROL IS THERE A CONVERSATION ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE WHETHER OR NOT IT'S REAL IT EXISTS AND IT'S MAN MADE?

>> PROBABLY DEPENDS ON WHICH SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU ARE ON.

AND DO I BUY IN TO ALL THE CLIMATE CHANGE?

I DON'T.

YOU SEE STUDIES AND RESEARCH THAT CONTRADICTS EACH OTHER EVERYDAY.

AND BUT THE FACT IS THAT I FEEL LIKE NUCLEAR IS THE ONE AREA THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON IS GREEN ENERGY AND BASE LOAD ENERGY.

AND I THINK TO FAIL TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND TO FAIL TO GET AHEAD OF THE GAME ON THIS WOULD BE A HUGE MISTAKE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH.

BECAUSE, AGAIN, THESE OTHER STATES ARE DOING IT.

AND THEY ARE DOING IT NOW.

AND MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT THIS HAS BECOME SUCH A POLITICAL ISSUE WITH THE RENEWABLES, WITH COAL AND WE CAN'T LET THE POLITICS OF IT DICTATE WHERE WE GO.

WE'VE GOT TO GAUGE HOW LOOK AT THE COSTS AND HOW MUCH ENERGY IS PUT OUT BY RENEWABLES TO MAKE SURE IT'S ECONOMICAL TO INVEST IN THAT.

NO MATTER WHAT WE DO IT'S NOT GOING TO SUPPLY A BASE LOAD OF ENERGY.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE THIS COUNTRY IS GOING WITH EV'S, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THE DEMANDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON THE GRID, AND OUR GRID IS NOT CAPABLE OF HANDLING WHERE WE'RE GOING AT THIS POINT.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT AT THE IDAHO NATIONAL LAB IS THE RESEARCH ON THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE QUICK CHARGERS FOR VEHICLES AND LOOK AT EVERY HOME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVING A CHARGER IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO HANDLE THAT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

AND WE DO -- WE'RE GOING TO NEED THE BASE LOAD ENERGY.

AND WE HAD A PRESENTER AT IDAHO THAT SPOKE AND THEY TALKED ABOUT BY 2050, THIS COUNTRY WOULD NEED 300 REACTORS TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO BACKWARDS.

WE CAN'T CUT ENERGY USAGE AND ATTRACT NEW BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO THE STATE AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT DEMANDS MORE ENERGY.

AND SO WE HAVE TO BE COMPETITIVE.

AND THE THINGS THAT ARE HARMING OUR EARTH, WE NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THAT AND TAKE CARE OF OUR EARTH.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ARGUES THAT.

AND I GUESS THAT IS WHY I'M PUSHING NUCLEAR TRYING TO AS WE MOVE INTO THE FUTURE WITH THE NUCLEAR COMMISSION, KIND OF SHIFT THAT CONVERSATION IN THE STATE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

BUT OUT WESTERLIESENING TO THE FOLKS FROM THERE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE NET ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2035, I THINK IS THE YEAR THAT THEY SAID.

AND FORT THEY DO IS GEARED TOWARDS THAT.

I DON'T LOOK AT IT BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND ALL THAT.

I LOOK AT IT THAT IT IS A COMMON SENSE WAY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

AND RIGHT NOW WHAT SOME OF THE ESTIMATES THEY HAVE WITH THE REACTOR THAT TERRA POWER IS BUILDING THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT TWO CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR FOR GAS, THREE CENTS FOR COAL AND THEY ARE THINKING WITH THIS TYPE OF REACTOR AS WE MOVE FORWARD IT WOULD BE ABOUT FIVE CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR.

NOT A HUGE DIFFERENCE BUT IN TIME, I THINK THAT WILL ADJUST.

AND THE TECHNOLOGY IS STILL GOING.

AND IT IS SAFE AND THE WASTE ISSUES ARE BEING DEALT WITH.

FRANCE, THEY HAVE A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY RECYCLING FUEL.

COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE USING SPENT FUEL AS THEIR FUEL.

SO THE TECHNOLOGIES ARE THERE.

AND IT'S NOT THE SAME LEVEL OF WASTE NOT THAT EVEN WITH THE LARGE-SCALE REACTORS THERE WAS A LOT OF WASTE THAT CAME WITH THOSE.

BUT THE NEW TECHNOLOGY IS JUST CUTTING DOWN SO MUCH ON THAT.

AND WE'RE LEARNING TO RECYCLE THAT FUEL.

WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO DEVELOP THE FUEL AND THE TECHNOLOGIES ON THE NUCLEAR ON THE REACTION ITSELF THAT USES UP ALL THE HARMFUL MATERIALS WITHIN THAT FUEL.

SO IT'S JUST AND I GUESS THAT IS WHY IT'S FASCINATES ME.

NOT THAT I HAVE ANY BACKGROUND IN IT BUT THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT IT, THE MORE FASCINATING IT BECOMES ON WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

AND SOME DAY, IT WILL BE NUCLEAR FUSION THAT WILL POWER THIS WORLD.

AND THEY ARE ALREADY STARTING TO MAKE ADVANCEMENTS IN THAT.

BUT IN THE DISTANT FUTURE THAT IS WHERE WE'LL BE.

>> Renee: WE'VE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF INTERESTING COMMENTS FROM VIEWER.

TOM WATSON SAYS IF WE'RE GOING TO BE THE EV STATE AS THE GOVERNOR HAS STATED THAT WON'T HAPPEN WITHOUT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

YOU AGREE?

>> WE DEFINITELY NEED THAT BASE LOAD POWER IF WE ARE POWERING ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND WE'RE THRILLED TO SEE THE MANUFACTURING COMING TO KENTUCKY TO MAKE THE BATTERIES AND THE COMPONENTS FOR THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SECTOR WE'RE DEVELOPING WE THINK THAT IS GREAT.

IN REGARDS TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AGAIN, ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY APPROACH IS WHERE WE ARE AT THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER.

>> Renee: DOES KENTUCKY CHAMBER RECOGNIZE CLIMATE CHANGE?

>> SURE.

THERE IS A LOT OF SCIENCE AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT I WANT TO THROW A COUPLE NUMBERS ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

A LOST THIS COMES FROM THE COUPLE BUGS OF FOSSIL-FUELS WHEN YOU LOOK AT GLOBAL CO2 EMISSIONS THE UNITED STATES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 14%.

THIS IS A GLOBAL ISSUE.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN CONTEXT.

AND WE ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

OUR ENERGY RELATED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ARE COMING DOWN FROM THE PEAK IN 2007.

AND SO WE'RE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

BUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT OTHER NATIONS, [AUDIO INTERRUPTION] AS THEY BECOME WEALTHIER AS THEY DEVELOP THEY GENERATE AND USE MORE ELECTRICITY AND THEY CAN PRODUCE MORE CARBON DIOXIDE AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS A GLOBAL ISSUE AND UNDERSTAND ARE WE ON THE RIGHT PATH AND MOVING AT THE RIGHT SPEED ON THAT PATH DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE GASES.

BECAUSE IF WE GET IT WRONG AND WE GO TOO FAST OR GO IN THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR TOO LONG THERE ARE COSTS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 14% OF THE PIE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT IS KLINE DOING, WHAT IS INDIA DOING.

AND THE UNITED STATES WE COME IN SECOND IN TERMS OF OUR EMISSIONS AND LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF OUR EMISSIONS WE HAVE A LOT WE'VE CONTRIBUTED TO THE GREENHOUSE GAS WE'VE CONTRIBUTED A LOST GREENHOUSE GASES.

BUT OTHER NATION ALSO WANT TO DEVELOP AS WELL.

AND YOU WILL SEE MORE AND MORE ELECTRICITY USE IN THOSE PLACES.

SO ALL THE MORE REASON WHY WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT NUCLEAR AND TALK ABOUT COAL TECHNOLOGIES WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT RENEWABLES AS WELL.

IT'S CERTAINLY PART OF THE MIX THAT WE NEED IN KENTUCKY.

>> AND IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE.

THE U.S.'S CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST COUPLE HUNDRED YEARS IT'S FAR OUTNUMBERS ANY OTHER COUNTRY ACROSS THE WORLD.

I THINK SHE IS RIGHT THAT THE U.S. IS NO LONGER NUMBER ONE.

CHINA IS NUMBER ONE.

BUT HISTORICALLY.

>> DOUBLED CHINA.

>> U.S. IS PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE.

SO CLIMATE CHANGE IS LIKE I SAID A HUGE ISSUE.

THERE'S SPATIAL ISSUES WITHTH CARBON GOES ACROSS BOUNDARIES IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.

CARBON DOESN'T CARE WHAT THE POLITICAL BOUNDARY IS.

THERE'S TEMPORAL ISSUES AS FAR AS CARBON IS GOING TO STAY IN THE ATMOSPHERE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW TO REGULATE CARBON AND HOW TO PASS LAWS ABOUT CARBON ARE ONLY IN OFFICE FOR TWO YEARS, FOUR YEARS, SIX YEARS AT A TIME.

TO REALLY MOTIVATE LEGISLATORS AND THE PUBLIC TO FIX A PROBLEM WHERE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SEE RESULTS FOR 10, 20, 100 YEARS DOWN THE LINE IS DIFFICULT TO DO.

AND THE OTHER BIG PROBLEM IS PSYCHOLOGICALLY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SEE WELL, WE NEED TO NOT ALLOW OUR CLIMATE TO EXCEED 1.5° CELSIUS CHANGE OR WE WILL SEE BAD THINGS HAPPEN ON THE EARTH.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE IS LESS THAN THAT EVERYDAY SO WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM?

AND I WILL USE MY KIDS AS AN EXAMPLE.

THEY WILL BE HAPPY I WILL TALK ABOUT THEIR SNAKE.

WE GOT A SNAKE AND TRYING TO WARM THE CAGE IT TAKES TIME AND EFFORT TO GET THAT FROM 75° TO 80° IN THAT CAGE.

IMAGINE CHANGING THAT IN YOUR HOUSE WHERE YOU HAVE INSULATION IT'S EASIER AND LOOK AT YOUR PROPERTY AND THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, HOW MUCH ENERGY IMMENSE AND CRAZY AMOUNT OF ENERGY IT TAKES FOR THE WORLD TO REALIZE 1.5° CHANGE EVERYDAY 24 HOURS A DAY IT'S IMMENSE.

IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

AND AGAIN THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE IT IS FROM THE BOTTOM UP AND TOP DOWN AND WE NEED ALL HANDS ON DECK INCLUDING OUR STATE OFFICIALS.

>> Renee: A NEW SNAKE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MORE THAN ONE.

>> SNAKE PEOPLE.

>> Renee: SO THIS QUESTION FROM ROBERT COMING AND THIS GETS INTO RATES, HE SAYS FROM RUSSELL COUNTY ONE OF THE LARGEST ELECTRIC PROVIDERS IN KENTUCKY TESTIFIED BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION ASKING FOR A RATE INCREASE OF $45 A MONTH CITING WEATHER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES PARTICULARLY THE EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODS.

HOW MANY MORE COST INCREASES CAN KENTUCKIANS EXPECT AND WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ADDRESS THE PARTICIPATION OF THE RATE PAYER IN THE PROCESS.

>> THAT IS SOMETHING THE MOUNTAIN ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON CLOSELY FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IS THE REPEATED RATE INCREASES WE'RE SEEING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL.

THE ENERGY BURDEN OF FOLKS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS EXTREMELY HIGH.

ENERGY BURDEN MEANING THE PERCENT OF PERSON'S INCOME THEY HAVE TO SPEND ON ENERGY BILLS.

AND THERE IS A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT THAT BUILDING STOCK IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS CAN BE FAIRLY POOR.

THERE'S AGAIN AS I MENTIONED A LOT OF ROOM FOR EFFICIENCY TO IMPROVE THAT AND THE RATES CONTINUE TO GO UP.

WE'RE SEEING RATE INCREASES EVERY TWO YEARS FROM OUR UTILITIES IN THE REGION.

AND THE WE ADVOCATE AND INTERVENE IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION ALONG WITH OUR ALLIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VOICES OF RATEPAYERS NOT JUST RESIDENTIAL RATEPAYERS BUT SMALL COMMERCIAL RATEPAYERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT RATEPAYERS NONPROFIT RATEPAYERS ARE HEARD THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION CAN HEAR WHAT THE ACTUAL IMPACT IS ON FOLKS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SERVES A VITAL ROLE.

IT TOUCHES PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN THE STATE.

IF YOU ALMOST EVERY ELECTRIC UTILITY IS REGULATED BY THE PSC, WATER UTILITIES TELECOMS THEY I BELIEVE SHE MENTIONED THAT WE ARE REGULATED MONOPOLY.

OUR ELECTRIC UTILITIES HAVE NO COMPETITION BUT IN EXCHANGE THEY HAVE TO ASK THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION'S BLESSING ON THEIR RATE INCREASES.

AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HAS SEEN A CONTINUAL EROSION IN THEIR AUTHORITY AND THEIR FUNDING.

WHICH IS REALLY DISHEARTENING TO US AS NON-ASSOCIATION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE THE BULL WORK AGAINST CONTINUED RATE INCREASES.

AND WE NEED A ROBUST AND WELL FUNDED PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO INSURE OUR UTILITIES ARE ACTING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF EVERY KENTUCKIAN AND NOT JUST THEMSELVES.

WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO HAVE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND FILE COMMENTS AND SPEAK AT PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HEARINGS SO THAT THE COMMISSIONERS CAN HEAR FROM EVERYDAY KENTUCKIANS.

>> Renee: AND DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> YES.

THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HAS EXPLICITLY SAID THEY WANT TO HEAR WHAT THESE RATE INCREASES MEAN TO YOU AS A INDIVIDUAL.

AND IF YOU ARE IN KENTUCKY POWER SERVICE TERRITORY, WHERE THEY HAVE JUST FILED FOR YET ANOTHER RATE INCREASE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY NOW TO SAY YOUR PEACE.

WE'RE HOPING THERE WILL BE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THE REGION SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

AND LET THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION KNOW.

THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THEM.

AND THEY DO WANT TO HEAR.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AND WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU.

>> Renee: WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT RATE INCREASES PARTICULARLY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND EVEN EASTERN KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THAT IN THE PAST AS WELL.

SHE TALKED ABOUT MS. RAY ORGANIZATION THAT WHO COALESCING AROUND THIS POWER RATEPAYERS WHETHER THEY ARE RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL AND SOME SCALE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS AND THE INVOLVEMENT AND THE CHANGE THAT CAN COME FROM AVERAGE PEOPLE SPEAKING THEIR MINDS ABOUT IT?

>> ONE OF THE COOL THINGS THAT HAPPENED WITH PEOPLE PUTTING SOLAR ON THEIR HOMES AND LEARNING ABOUT NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO MAKE THEIR HOMES EFFICIENT GIVES PEOPLE A SENSE OF AGENCY.

THEY HAVE A SENSE OF BEING ABLE TO CHANGE HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY THEY USE AND HAVING A VOICE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO UTILITIES DO THIS HOW DOES OUR GOVERNMENT REGULATE THIS.

WE'VE SEEN AN UPTICK IN THE PARTICIPATION WITH FOLKS WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO TRY TO HARNESS THAT GROWTH AND THAT PARTICIPATION TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN INVOLVED IN THOSE DECISION MAKING THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION DOES.

AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN KENTUCKY, THEY HAVE THEIR OWN STAFF AND ADVISORY STAFF BUT THEY CAN'T CREATE THEIR OWN EVIDENCE.

UNLESS FOLKS INTERVENERS PEOPLE WHO SEND IN COMMENTS PUT EVIDENCE IN FRONT OF THE COMMISSION THAT THEY CAN RELY ON TO MAKE THEIR DECISIONS THEY HAVE TO RELY ON THE EVIDENCE THAT THE UTILITIES PUT FORTH AND THAT IS A PROBLEM.

UTILITIES HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS THEY WANT TO BRING RELIABLE SERVICE TO THE CUSTOMERS BUT OFTENTIMES WHEN IT'S INVESTOR OWNED UTILITY THEY HAVE A PROFIT MOTIVE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACOUNCILLABILITY IS THERE AND THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT CAN BE COMMISSION CAN USE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT THE UTILITY MAY NOT NECESSARILY WANT BUT WILL BE BETTER FOR THE CUSTOMERS AND THE ONLY WAY IS WITH MORE PARTICIPATION AND BRINGING THAT EVIDENCE FORWARD.

AND THE PROBLEM WITH THAT STILL IS THAT IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE TO BRING THE CASES AND TO INTERVENE IN THE CASES.

I'M ONE OF THE ATTORNEYS THAT GET TO PARTICIPATE AND I DO MY BEST TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FOLKS TO DO THAT AND ORGANIZATIONS TO DO THAT.

BUT IT IS A LOT OF WORK AND TIME AND EFFORT.

SO WE HOPE THAT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN IN THOSE UNLESS THERE'S STATUTORY CHANGE WHERE IT MAKES IT MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FOLKS TO INTERVENE AND MAKE IT PARTICIPATE IN THOSE CASES.

>> Renee: WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE VIEWER QUESTIONS.

I WANT TO TOSS IT TO SENATOR CAROL ABOUT ONE OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ROBBIE MILLS WAS THE SPONSOR OF SENATE BILL 4 AND WE ELUDED TO THIS IN THE INTERVIEW WITH TUCKER DAVIS IN THE KENTUCKY COAL ASSOCIATION THAT NOW ELECTRIC UTILITIES WOULD HAVE TO PROVE THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY DISRUPTION IN THE RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCY OF THE ELECTRIC GRID IF THEY DO RETIRE, COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

IS THAT WISE?

AND WE KNOW THAT UTILITY COMPANIES IN MOST OF THEM KIND OF BALKED AT THAT IDEA?

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF CONFLICTING FORCES AT WORK WITH ALL OF THAT AND TRYING TO BALANCE OUT WHAT'S BEST AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR US IS VERY DIFFICULT.

FROM THE NUCLEAR PERSPECTIVE THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE WITHIN THE INDUSTRY THAT ARE WORRIED THAT THAT WILL SLOW NUCLEAR PROCESS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH BY KEEPING PLANTS OPEN TOO LONG.

AND I KNOW THE UTILITY COMPANIES FEAR THAT THE COST OF OPERATING THOSE FACILITIES WILL INCREASE DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE PAST THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY.

I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE AN OVERALL PLAN AND WE NEED TO LOOK AT THESE FACILITIES AND AGAIN THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE ALREADY TAKING PLACE TO BRING SMALL MOD USE LAR REACTIONS IN.

MODULAR REACTORS IN.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT THE COST, SMALL MODULAR REACTORS ARE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SYSTEM.

THESE CAN BE BUILT EN MASS.

THEY ARE NOT ON-SITE.

HUGE BUILDINGS.

IT'S NOT WHAT THAT'S ALL ABOUT.

AND THEY CAN BE PRODUCED IN FACULTIES AS PART OF THE NUCLEAR ECONOMY THAT WE HOPE TO ATTRACT IN KENTUCKY NOT JUST HAVING REACTORS AND NUCLEAR POWER BUT PARTICIPATING IN THE INDUSTRY AND MAYBE PRODUCING SMALL MODULAR REACTORS AND ASPECTS OF THE NUCLEAR ECONOMY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

THAT IS ANOTHER SEGMENT OF NUCLEAR THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO PUSH IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

BUT I SUPPORTED THAT BILL AND SENATOR MILLS AND I HAD A CONVERSATION RIGHT BEFORE THE VOTE BECAUSE THERE WAS CONCERNS THAT I HAD NOT CONSIDERED.

AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT COULD SLOW DOWN THE NUCLEAR PROCESS.

AND WE DO NEED THEM BUT THE OTHER SIDE IS WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T START HAVING MORE BROWNOUTS AND BLACKOUTS IN THE COMMONWEALTH BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BASE LOAD ENERGY.

WE ARE MOVING WAY TOO FAST ON THIS STUFF.

THE CONVERSION TO EV'S AND EVERYTHING GOING ELECTRIC AND WE DON'T HAVE THE GRID, WE DON'T HAVE THE BASE LOAD OF POWER OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE THE BASE LOAD AND THE RENEWABLES THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CARRY THE NEED WE HAVE AND IT SOUNDS GREAT AND ALL GOOD IT'S GOOD FOR THE EARTH I'M ALL FOR THAT.

BUT I THINK SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT ARE BEING THROWN OUT HERE TONIGHT ARE A LITTLE UNREASONABLE AND UNREALISTIC.

THE WIND, SOLAR, THEY CANNOT POWER THIS COUNTRY.

WE'RE MOVING WAY TOO FAST FOR THAT.

DO WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A PART OF WHAT WE DO AS LONG AS IT'S ECONOMICAL FOR US TO DO THAT, YES.

I FEEL LIKE WE CAN GET AND WE CAN REDUCE THE CARBON, NUCLEAR DOES THAT.

AND THAT COST IS GOING TO COME DOWN AS WE START MASS PRODUCING SMALLER REACTORS.

DOW CHEMICAL PARTNERED WITH X ENERGY AND BUILDING A NEW FACILITY THEY WILL HAVE A NUCLEAR REACTOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR BUILDING.

IT WILL PROVIDE POWER FOR THAT FACILITY AND HEAT FOR THE CHEMICAL PROCESSES.

NUCLEAR REACTORS WILL ALLOW AREAS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THAT DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO POWER MAJOR INDUSTRY, ONCE WE START USING NUCLEAR REACTORS ON-SITE THAT OPENS ALL KINDS OF DOORS FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY WHERE THEY CAN HAVE THE POWER NECESSARY TO POWER A MAJOR MANUFACTURER ON-SITE.

THINK OF THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT COULD SAVE IN THE JOBS THAT COULD BRING TO HELP EASTERN KENTUCKY WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

NOS ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND WE NEED TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS IN OUR COMMONWEALTH TO LOOK AT WHAT IS POSSIBLE FOR OUR STATE.

OTHER STATES ARE.

>> Renee: WHAT IS OUR LEGISLATURE DOING TO ENLARGE OUR ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE?

>> THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE BEING HAD BUT THAT'S VERY MUCH A UTILITY EFFORT TO BUILD OUT.

AND IT'S GAUGING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

I ASKED THE RESEARCHERS AT THE IDAHO NATIONAL LABS WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOING WITH THIS WHEN YOU LOOK AT TRYING TO CALCULATE ON A REGIONAL BASIS FOR A STATE WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THIS DATA?

ARE LEGISLATORS IS CONGRESS BEING MADE AWARE OF THIS ON WHAT THE DEMANDS ARE?

BECAUSE WE NEED TO KNOW THAT BEFORE WE PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND ALL THE ELECTRIC CARS WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN HANDLE IT.

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T.

YOU WILL SEE THINGS LIKE WHAT HAPPENED LAST WINTER WITH BLACKOUTS AND BROWNOUTS THAT WILL BECOME COMMONPLACE WE ARE NOT PREPARED FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING.

AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO EITHER SLOW DOWN OR STEP UP IN AREAS LIKE ENERGY.

YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP GOING AWAY FROM COAL AND NOT REPLACING THAT WITH A BASE LOAD SUPPLY OF ENERGY.

WE CAN'T KEEP UP IF WE DON'T SLOW DOWN OR PRODUCE MORE ENERGY.

>> Renee: THE LAST COMMENT FOR THE EVENING ABOUT THIS?

>> I AGREE WE NEED MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN GRID MODERNIZATION.

OUR GRID IN KENTUCKY AND PROBABLY MUCH OF THE UNITED STATES IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF UPGRADING.

BUT I WANT TO PUSHBACK ON THE IDEA THAT RENEWABLES AREN'T RELIABLE.

I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS OUTDATED MISPERCEPTIONS.

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF STUDIES FROM OUR NATIONAL LABS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, FROM MAJOR RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES THAT HAVE SHOWN THAT RENEWABLES INCREASING PROPORTIONS OF RENEWABLES ON THE GRID INCREASED STABILITY AND RELIABILITY.

THERE ARE -- WE ARE -- THE PROPORTION OF RENEWABLES ON KENTUCKY'S GRID IS SOLAR AND TALKING ABOUT PARTICULARLY IS JUST VERY SMALL.

AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE TURNING 100% RENEWABLE IN NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW OR THREE YEARS FROM NOW.

>> Renee: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

OUR TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

THIS HAS BEEN AN INFORMATIVE AND EDUCATIONAL CONVERSATION WHICH YOU GET ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

NEXT MONDAY NIGHT• JOIN US FOR DISRUPTING ADDICTION: A KET FORUM.

IT’S A TOWN-HALL STYLE PROGRAM WITH RECOVERY ADVOCATES, TREATMENT PROVIDERS, AND POLICYMAKERS TALKING ABOUT KENTUCKY’S RESPONSE TO THE OPIOID CRISIS.