A eastern Tennessee startup develops a carbon nanotube from flue gas for a Tennessee Valley Authority gas plant that fossil fuel plans across the country may use to reduce carbon emissions. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
|
|
The OEP staff are committed to our mission to utilize Kentucky's energy resources for the betterment of the Commonwealth while protecting and improving our environment.
OEP Welcomes
Carol Stringer
Kentucky Office of Energy Policy Executive Director Kenya Stump has announced the appointment of Carol Stringer to the position of grant administrator for the OEP. Carol most recently worked for the UGA (University of Georgia Agriculture) Cooperative Extension Program as an agricultural extension agent in the Atlanta area. She is a graduate of Centre College, Danville, Ky., where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in environmental studies, and a master of science degree in integrated plant and soil science from the University of Kentucky. Upon completion of graduate studies, Carol served in the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development managing federal grants before relocating to the Atlanta area.
|
|
Thank You to Kentucky Energy Sector Partners
The tornado event of December 2021 has seen us face many challenges in the energy sector as all of you have worked to bring electricity and fuel to those in need. Your work has helped to restore the light after the darkness, provide life-saving infrastructure and bring some ease and comfort after the devastation.
The efforts of our energy sector have not gone unnoticed. From mutual aid to how each of you has worked in your communities and to support those across the state who have lost everything.
From the staff of Kentucky ESF-12, we appreciate all of the communication, information sharing, late and early morning calls, and for being a partner with us at the Emergency Operations Center.
We know there will be after-action items and lessons learned that we will need to work on together but we wanted to say thank you for being our partner.
Sincerely,
Kentucky ESF-12
|
|
|
|
December 2021, OEP Executive Director Kenya Stump and Energy Assurance and Efficiency Coordinator Amanda LeMaster supported efforts of the ESF-12, Kentucky Emergency Operations Center (Ky. EOC) in response to the devastating tornado outbreak of December 10. Kentucky received a Presidential Disaster Declaration as a result of the severe storms which directly impacted 16 counties with loss of life, property, and significant transmission damage and power outages to 100,000 residents. Restoration efforts are still underway. Eileen Hardy provided support to the efforts of Emergency Operations Center ESF-15.
January 2022, OEP also supported efforts of the Ky. EOC ESF-12 in response to Jan. 1 flooding events resulting in more than 14,000 power outages. By Jan. 4, power was restored to the majority of customers. Another winter weather event of Jan. 5 brought significant snowfall and ice. As a result of this storm, Kentucky was part of a multi-state Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration waiver to ensure the transportation of fuels. Lastly, severe weather brought another flooding event on Jan. 9; however, it did not require ESF-12 activity.
|
|
Kentucky Office of Energy Policy Announces Regional Hydrogen Workgroup to Meet January 28
With the release of Kentucky’s latest energy strategy, KYE3 and the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, hydrogen is an emerging energy topic for Kentucky. The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Office of Energy Policy is pleased to announce the formation of a regional hydrogen hub workgroup and is extending an invitation to you and your organization for a virtual meeting on January 28 at 10 A.M. EST. The 90-minute discussion will outline a path forward for this open workgroup. All interested stakeholders are encouraged to participate. To participate in the virtual meeting on Jan. 28, email energy@ky.gov for a calendar invitation. |
|
Gov. Andy Beshear outlined his budget plan to make game-changing investments that will help the Commonwealth become a national leader by turning two years of incredible progress into 20 years of prosperity for Kentucky’s families. More information can be found here.
|
|
The White House Briefing Room
The White House announced on Jan. 7, state-by-state funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to address home energy costs, including $113 million to Kentucky. Kentucky has received a record $113.2 million to help families struggling with the costs of home heating. The LIHEAP with funds available this fiscal year (October 2021 to September 2022), is the highest amount Kentucky has ever received in LIHEAP. |
|
A massive new industrial complex just south of Louisville has been bought by a national commercial real estate firm, with plans for an electric vehicle producer to set up shop inside. JLL Income Property Trust announced Tuesday afternoon that it has purchased the South Louisville Distribution Center, at 825 Conestoga Parkway. Read the full article.
(Photo: The Rivian R1T Pickup truck and R1S Utility vehicle. Rivian Automotive. ) Louisville Courier Journal Jan 12, 2022, by Lucas Aulbach
|
|
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Direct Technical Assistance can provide holistic planning support at the earliest stages to communities that may not have the capacity to start on their own. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide support for project- or application-specific needs and community-wide resilience needs for up to 36 months. FEMA connects communities with experienced mentors who provide support and lessons learned. For more information, visit the technical assistance description. Eligible Entities: Cities, townships, counties, special district governments, tribal governments, tribal nations (federally recognized), and tribal governments (non-federally recognized)
|
|
During a December 15 roundtable summit hosted by the White House and the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Coal and Power Plant Communities, IWG launched its federal funding clearinghouse. The user-friendly, one-stop web tool enables leaders and advocates in Energy Communities to access up to $38 billion in available federal funding for infrastructure, environmental remediation, union job creation, and community revitalization. Many of the opportunities do not require any matching funds, helping reduce barriers many communities face in accessing funding for projects. Users of this centralized database can easily sort, and filter opportunities based on funding type, program purpose, and eligibility. Access the one-stop resource.
|
|
Now Available for Open Access
The paper concludes that the U.S. manufacturing sector has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 86 percent by 2050. Considerable reductions are found in energy efficiency and material efficiency along with additional strategies that address individual industrial subsectors, including pulp & paper, iron & steel, aluminum, glass, oil refineries, bulk chemicals, cement & lime, and light industry.
Readers are encouraged to take some time to review the paper and to share it within your networks. Registration is now open to attend a free webinar, Thursday, February 3, 2022, at 9 am EST, where the authors will present their work and findings.
|
|
USDA Launches Pilot Program to Deploy Renewable Energy Infrastructure to People in Rural Towns
Funding Will Help People in Particularly Underserved Rural Communities Cut Energy Costs, Increase Energy Resiliency and Address Climate Change
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 19, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Department is making up to $10 million available to help people living in rural towns develop community renewable energy projects that will help them cut their energy costs and contribute to the nationwide effort to reduce pollution that contributes to climate change. These funds will be targeted to help people who live in communities that have been historically underinvested and disinvested. Read the full press release.
|
|
Carbon capture and storage is an important and proven global method used to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities by capturing the CO2 they produce and transporting it to safe, permanent storage deep underground. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management recently announced a Memorandum of Understanding establishing cooperation between the two agencies to assess global, regional, and national resources for geologic carbon storage. Read the full story.
The U. S. Department of Energy has announced the establishment of the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, a new DOE office that will help deliver on President Biden’s bold climate agenda, create new, good-paying jobs for American families and workers, and reduce pollution while benefitting disadvantaged communities. Read the full story.
|
|
On December 8, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14057 supporting clean energy across American industries. Through this Executive Order, the Federal Government will leverage its portfolio of 300,000 buildings, fleet of 600,000 cars and trucks, and annual purchasing power of $650 billion goods and services to ... Read the Federal Sustainability Plan.
|
|
January 11, 2022 Release
This edition of the STEO is the first to include forecasts for 2023. The STEO continues to reflect heightened levels of uncertainty as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, the Omicron variant of COVID-19 raises questions about global energy consumption. U.S. real GDP declined by 3.4% in 2020 from 2019 levels. Based on forecasts that use the IHS Markit macroeconomic model, EIA estimates U.S. GDP increased 5.7% in 2021 and that it will rise by 4.3% in 2022 and by 2.8% in 2023.
In addition to macroeconomic uncertainties, uncertainty about winter weather and consumer energy demand also present a wide range of potential outcomes for energy consumption. Supply uncertainty in the forecast stems from uncertainty about OPEC+ production decisions and the rate at which U.S. oil and natural gas producers will increase drilling. Read the complete forecast.
January 11, 2022
Operators have scheduled 14.9 gigawatts (GW) of electric generating capacity to retire in the United States during 2022, according to our latest inventory of electric generators. The majority of the scheduled retirements are coal-fired power plants (85%), followed by natural gas (8%) and nuclear (5%). See graph and read more...
January 13, 2022
In the latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, EIA expects regular gasoline retail prices to average $3.06/gal in 2022, up from $3.00/gal in 2021, and then down to $2.80/gal in 2023. EIA expects on-highway diesel prices to increase to average $3.33/gal in 2022 before decreasing to $3.27/gal in 2023. In their forecast, annual average diesel demand reaches 2019 levels in the United States in 2022. See graph and read more...
|
|
Letcher County Schools Participate in Ky. NEED Project-Based Learning Program to Help Families Reduce Energy Costs
Beginning this month, the Kentucky NEED (National Energy Education Development) project will launch a pilot Project-Based-Learning (PBL) initiative for middle-school students in the Letcher County School district. The program expands energy education to family resource coordinators, families, and community partners to teach the benefits of home energy efficiency. Students complete a hands-on energy project while exploring the science of energy and how efficiency and conservation measures positively influence the home environment. The PBL initiative culminates with a Family Energy/Science Night for students to share their project experiences and knowledge.
The Ky. NEED Project is supported in part by a grant from Kentucky's State Energy Program. To learn more about this education initiative, contact Ashley.Runyon@ky.gov, or for information about NEED curriculum and free education resources, visit https://www.need.org/
|
|
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced an ambitious hiring campaign – the Clean Energy Corps.
The Clean Energy Corps is dedicated to fighting climate change through public service and supporting American competitiveness on a global scale. The U.S. Department of Energy is hiring a team of hundreds of industry veterans, experienced technical experts, and the next generation of climate leaders. We’re looking for individuals who are ready to act at this critical moment, and shape generations to come through delivering clean energy solutions for America with the U.S. Department of Energy. Jobs are available across the country, and across experience levels. The Clean Energy Corps’ new hiring portal will help streamline the application process for the industry veterans, experienced technical experts, and the next generation of clean energy leaders it seeks to attract.
|
|
Energy & Environment Cabinet
Office of Energy Policy Newsletter, July 2019
300 Sower Blvd
Frankfort, KY 40601
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
