August Actions and Updates
Left: Representatives from Friends of the Tug Fork River testify on water infrastructure and water quality. Right: Tug Fork’s Nina McCoy, ACLC’s Ella Helmuth, LiKen’s Deborah Thompson, Rep. Bobby McCool, KCC’s Lane Boldman and Mickey McCoy.
Water Infrastructure and Citizen Action
This past week, lawmakers in the Interim Joint Committee for Veterans, Military Affairs & Public Protection (VMAP) received detailed presentations on the state of water and wastewater infrastructure in Kentucky from the Kentucky Division of Water, Kentucky Rural Water Association, Martin County Water and Sanitation districts, and nonprofits from Eastern Kentucky who are working on water issues.
KCC meets with lawmakers year-around, including those who have been impacted by the recent flooding disasters, and we often hear questions on how to address stream management. Following a flood event, many communities rush to begin the cleanup of waterways, but due to the steep slopes found in eastern Kentucky streams, the public, and lawmakers, need to understand that dredging can be problematic. We have explained to lawmakers that dredging streams can cause greater problems including ecological damage and destabilization of fragile stream banks.
During this week’s VMAP meeting, lawmakers had the opportunity to hear from citizen groups who are impacted by longstanding water issues like these, including Friends of the Tug Fork River and Martin County Concerned Citizens, working with LiKEN Knowledge and Appalachian Citizens Law Center. These citizen groups have been documenting forest and river-related economy and traditions along the Tug Fork and Kentucky Rivers and have been monitoring drinking water issues in the region, as well as organizing tire and debris cleanups in their mountain streams that are sensitive to maintaining stream integrity and improving river structure while removing over 16,000 tires from streams over the years. Learn more about their work here.
Other Legislative Highlights of the Week
Lawmakers also heard this week from Fish & Wildlife and the Division of Forestry on the future of prescribed fire in Kentucky during this week’s meeting of the Tourism, Small Business and Information Technology committee. Their presentations focused on the need to protect, conserve and enhance forest resources and reducing hazardous fuels.
Actions To Take NOW on Gas Plants in Kentucky and Federal Rollbacks on Climate
LG&E-KU want to invest billions of dollars in two new gas plants to address predicted future energy demands due largely to inquiries from data center companies who are looking at Kentucky for a future home. Citizens are already fighting the build out of energy-hungry data centers that can impact ratepayers and climate. If approved, ratepayers could be on the line for some or all of the cost of these new gas power plants.
ACT: KCC is one of many partners within the Kentuckians for Energy Democracy network. Written comments can be submitted directly through our website. www.k4ed.org/lge-ku
Comments Needed on Endangerment Finding/Climate Change by Aug. 7: This past month, Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said the Trump administration would revoke the scientific determination that underpins the government’s legal authority to combat climate change. The EPA is planning to rescind the 2009 declaration, known as the endangerment finding, which concluded that planet-warming greenhouse gases (such as CO2) pose a threat to public health. Without the endangerment finding, the EPA would be left with no authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate the greenhouse gas emissions that are accumulating in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels.
According to NASA’s latest measurement for June of 2025, levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are at 430 ppm. CO2 levels of 350 ppm in the atmosphere are considered a “safe” amount to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. We surpassed that threshold around 1990.
Kentucky, a significant emitter of greenhouse gases, has also been impacted by a string of billion-dollar weather disasters. Since 2020, FEMA has issued 13 disaster declarations for the Bluegrass State. Between 2020 and 2023, Kentucky recorded 130 tornadoes.
ACT: Enough is enough. The EPA is accepting public comments on the Endangerment Finding until August 7th. We encourage you to submit comments to oppose the repeal of this landmark ruling and uphold the Endangerment Finding. Submit Comments HERE.
More Nuclear Updates
We hope you all had a chance to check out the webinar and resources on KCC’s nuclear energy page. After we held that webinar a few weeks ago, we heard of plans to build America’s first U.S.-owned, privately developed facility to enrich uranium in far western Kentucky. And Republican leaders of both Kentucky’s chambers of legislature took the stage in Paducah on July 31st to discuss incentive opportunities and other actions state lawmakers are considering ahead of the 2026 budget session.
Last week, the Department of Energy listed the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site as one of four federally-owned properties that could house future data center and energy generation projects.
It was also announced that Billionaire Peter Thiel would be backing the first privately developed uranium enrichment facility in Paducah. His new startup, General Matter, is reported to be planning for a US nuclear revival. See World Nuclear News article about General Matter here.
ACT: If you live in the Paducah area and you are following these projects, please contact us. We’d love to stay in touch with you on these issues and get your local perspective.
Support KCC! Join us for the Wild and Scenic Film Festival on August 29th
Tickets on sale NOW! KCC is once again hosting the national Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Lexington Ky. Come join us in Lexington for an evening of ten great short outdoor adventure films, silent auction and door prizes Details here.
Feeling overwhelmed with all of the important environmental issues happening?? Take a break and get inspired! Join us for this year’s festival for some “feel good” activist and adventure films! If you missed the earlier local screenings of the Kentucky-based film “River Cowboys”—don’t worry, you can catch it in this year’s film festival along with nine other great short films.
Lead sponsor: Republic Bank. Event Spotlight Sponsor: Solar Energy Solutions. Additional supporters: Wild Birds Unlimited Lexington, Good Foods Co-Op, Ale-8-One, Michler’s Florist, Greenhouse & Garden Design, J&H Outdoors, Oakford Multimedia