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Speaker promotes energy efficiency

December 05, 2008|Sun Staff report

Three environmental groups sought to bolster their opposition this week to East Kentucky Power Cooperative's plans to build a new coal-fired power plant in southern Clark County.

The Sierra Club, Kentucky Environmental Foundation (KEF) and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC) recruited an energy expert, Glenn Cannon, to visit Kentucky on Wednesday and Thursday to give presentations on efficiency practices at electric utilities. Cannon is a retired manager of Waverly Light and Power in Iowa and former chairman of the American Public Power Association.

While here, Cannon argued that utility managers need to take energy efficiency seriously, and "think outside the box" to create the incentive packages that reduce customers' bills and cut down carbon emissions.

"Energy efficiency isn't about making a sacrifice," he said during his visit. "It's about being smarter."

The message somewhat parallels with a report released in February 2008 by the Cumberland Chapter Sierra Club, KEF and KFTC. The report contended that energy efficiency and renewable energy programs could meet EKPC's electricity demand without the new 278-megawatt power plant that East Kentucky Power plans to build.

East Kentucky Power has long maintained that the proposed plant at J.K Smith Station in Trapp is the best option for generating "reliable and affordable" power to meet growing energy needs.

Officials from East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) and Blue Grass Energy, an EKPC member co-op, meet with Cannon on Wednesday.

Nick Comer, a spokesman for EKPC, said Cannon presented some good common sense programs, but the concepts do not replace the need for the Smith plant.

"Energy efficiency is important and renewables are important. Alternative fuels are important," Comer said. "These are important elements in meeting Kentucky's future energy needs, but there's continued need for coal and for traditional base-load types of generation."

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has estimated that Kentucky will need 7,000 megawatts of new power generation by 2025 to meet growing demand, Comer pointed out.

"That's the challenge that we are facing," he said.

A not-for-profit organization, East Kentucky Power provides electricity to 16 member cooperatives in 87 counties.

Contact Mike Wynn at mwynn@winchestersun.com.

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