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Power Cooperative Looks For Alternatives To Coal

By Josh James

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-978246.mp3

Lexington, KY – In 2010, grassroots activists in Kentucky launched a movement to halt the construction of a new coal-burning power plant in Clark County - and won. Now, as part of the agreement, a collaborative made up of energy providers and environmental groups is looking for cleaner alternatives to help power the 500,000 homes, farms, and business that rely on the East Kentucky Power Cooperative. David Mitchell, Collaborative chair, says meeting the challenge will take effort from power companies and power users.

"We're used to those conveniences and to set those up where they run at night or to cycle your air conditioning off at certain times, that's going to be a little more difficult to do. In some ways it would feel conveniences are going away as opposed to conveniences are improving," he said.

Tuesday marked only the second meeting of the Collaborative, which is expected to study the issues surrounding solar, wind, and other potential renewable energy sources for two years before making its recommendations.