Energy News & Updates

February 2025| Issue 38

What We're Reading

Kentucky distillery begins $2M solar-powered project

Energy Islanding in Kentucky? Fort Knox's Push to Resilience and Grid Independence

Kentucky's second EV charging station opens in Berea: Here's how you can use it for free

Developers plan to build Kentucky's first 'hyperscale' data center in Louisville

Solar project in Martin County to be built on former coal mine site

Public Service Commission approves construction of Fayette Co. solar farm

Senate confirms Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright as DOE secretary

DOE to focus on expanding baseload generation: Secretary Wright

New fuel testing lab in Fort Dodge will expand into aviation biofuels

NASEO Initiative Aims to Propel Advanced Nuclear Energy Projects Across Multiple States

On Feb. 5, 2025, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) launched the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative. Directed by State Energy Offices, the Initiative is led by the state co-chairs New York, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Wyoming, and the participating states Maryland, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. These states have committed to accelerating advanced nuclear projects by exploring opportunities to reduce financial and technology risks, devising supportive market adoption policies, defining supply chain needs, streamlining federal permitting, developing coordinated procurement options, exploring state-federal-private financing structures, and creating public-private partnerships.

Read the full article here.

Energy Assurance Advisory Group to Meet February 18, 2025

The Energy Assurance Advisory Group will meet on February 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time to review updates to Kentucky’s Energy Security (Assurance) Plan, and the framework for energy emergency response. The Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, as the designated state energy office, is required by law to prepare a state energy emergency plan and formulate a contingency plan to address any energy shortage that may occur. The Energy Assurance Advisory Group is an interagency group charged with functions related to the response and restoration of critical energy infrastructure under this plan. Interested participants can register for the virtual meeting here. Please contact Amanda.LeMaster@ky.gov with questions.

Kentucky Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition Launches New Website

Aviation is a signature industry and economic driver for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. To keep up with Kentucky's aviation sector growth, the Kentucky Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition has launched a new website, SAF: An Ideal Blend for Kentucky's Economic Future. This new website is a resource for learning more about SAF in Kentucky, the latest news and industry research, and how energy companies, agricultural feedstock, and commodity producers are the ideal blend of Kentucky industries to power the future of flight.

To learn more about the SAF Coalition, contact Seth Cutter, at scutter@cvgairport.com, or Hailey.Mattingly@ky.gov, at the Office of Energy Policy, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.

How Utilities Can Manage Surging Electricity Demand

A new report from ICF, an advanced data modeling and energy solutions organization, maps the locations where demand growth and grid constraints could present the greatest challenges and offers six recommendations for planners and customer program leaders to help their utilities deliver clean, reliable, affordable electricity amid a challenging new paradigm. ICF expects electricity demand growth in every region of the United States, but the pace will vary by region. Click here to see the demand growth hot spots. Download the full report.

What's Happening at the Office of Energy Policy

Amanda LeMaster and Evan Moser supported the Kentucky Emergency Management ESF-12 Activation during severe weather events on Jan. 4-9; Jan. 9-11; Jan. 19 and for the inauguration on Jan. 20. Public Service Commission staff Brandon Bruner and Ron Pararitt also supported ESF-12 activities.

Billie Hardin and Hailey Mattingly attended the 2025 Factory Built Housing Seminar presented by the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute on Jan. 14 in Louisville, KY

Hailey Mattingly attended the Midwest Energy Solutions Conference, Jan. 27-30 in Chicago, IL.

Evan Moser participated in the Jan. 22 Leadership Academy in Frankfort, Ky.

Amanda LeMaster presented on January 23 at the Department of Energy/National Association of State Energy Officials, Joint Cohort Session -Risk Assessment and Risk Mitigation and Energy Security and Grid Resilience Cohorts. Interagency coordination and cross-sector interdependencies with local state and federal stakeholder planning was the topic of her presentation.

Hailey Mattingly participated in the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition meeting, on February 7 in Louisville, Ky.

Kenya Stump presented at the Kentucky Public Service Commission on the topic of microgrids, on February 12 in Frankfort, Ky.

Lona Brewer, Deputy Director of the Office of Energy Policy and long-standing employee of the Energy and Environment Cabinet, has announced her retirement this month. Lona's colleagues and friends in the OEP and the Energy and Environment Cabinet wish her all the best; she will be greatly missed.

The 2024 Kentucky Energy Profile is now available on the EEC Energy website, https://eec.ky.gov/Energy/News-Publications/Pages/Kentucky-Energy-Profile.aspx

The Profile represents a compilation of energy statistics and visualizations spanning the energy landscape from commodity prices to production and consumption data, including profiles of Kentucky energy resources and electric utilities through 2022. For more information, contact Evan.Moser@ky.gov

The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) hosted the 2025 Energy Policy Outlook Conference in Washington, D.C., February 4-7. OEP Executive Director Kenya Stump joined officials from NASEO and state energy offices from across the nation.

OEP Executive Director Kenya Stump (left) was among the national presenters during the NASEO Energy Policy Outlook Conference. Also pictured are (center) Molly Cripps, Executive Director Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and Brooks Rumenik, Energy Director, Florida.

Data Visualization of the Month

Distributed Energy Dashboard

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Office of Energy Policy

Interactive maps and visualizations that summarize and display information on distributed generation by Kentucky county.

Partner Spotlight

Housing Development Alliance, Inc.

HDA provides affordable, energy-efficient housing in southeastern Kentucky. The Kentucky Office of Energy Policy has been a long-standing partner of HDA. This year, OEP awarded a State Energy Program grant to support their mission. Grant funds pay for inspections for home ENERGY STAR Certifications and rebates on ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump water heaters for 35 lower and moderate-income residents. To learn more visit the OEP Program website.