Kentuckians have made it clear that we want an energy future that supports jobs, health, equity and climate – and we have great ideas for how to bring that about. The Empower Kentucky Summit will be largest gathering ever of a diverse set of Kentuckians figuring out what it will take to bring about Kentucky’s Bright Energy Future.
For the past year we’ve been listening to the ideas, hopes and needs of Kentuckians, learning from what other states have done, and tapping into technological and economic expertise to put together a draft plan for what’s possible, what it will take and why it matters for Kentucky to make a just transition to a clean energy economy
If you’re interested in being part of a well-informed, creative, visionary, justice-oriented conversation about building the agenda for Kentucky’s energy future, join us September 30 – October 1 in Louisville.
Click here to register to attend!
Across the US, low-income and people of color communities face the greatest exposure to air and water pollution that is harmful to health. A shift to cleaner energy sources can generate significant improvements in the health of Kentuckians, including lower rates of premature death, asthma, lung cancer, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). However, it’s not inevitable that those benefits will occur in the most affected communities. In fact, if we aren’t intentional, the Clean Power Plan could make pollution worse for some communities. In this workshop, we’ll explore how and why various organizations are working to prioritize health and economic and racial justice as local, state and national decisions are made about our energy transition. Together we’ll consider what’s needed and what could help to ensure that efforts to prevent harm to our climate also protect the health of communities most affected by pollution.