Senator Brandon Smith’s Weekly Legislative Update (Week 12)

Week 12 of the 2022 Legislative Session

The final day of the 2022 Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly is on the horizon, which means legislative activity is taking place at a rapid pace. We are required by the Constitution to be finished by April 14^th.

This week I wanted to use this opportunity to communicate with you and to discuss a major concern that is at the forefront of every east Kentuckian’s mind.

Last Thursday, members from the bipartisan Kentucky Mountain Caucus held a press conference on the steps of our commonwealth’s capitol, expressing concern about the potential sale of Kentucky Power to Liberty Utilities Co.

As many of you are aware, last October American Electric Power announced it would sell Kentucky Power to Liberty Utilities, a subsidiary of Canadian energy giant Algonquin Power & Utilities, with a business plan that emphasizes renewable energy.

The Mountain Caucus serves as a voice for one of the most economically vulnerable regions in the United States. A region already facing an increasingly high uptick in energy costs to our residents. As your elected voice at our Capitol, my sole purpose is to protect eastern Kentucky’s interest in Frankfort. Reflecting on what we have witnessed across the nation with utility companies who have an emphasis on renewable energy, the sale to Liberty Utilities gives me pause.

I want to emphasize that I have no animosity towards Liberty Utilities or Algonquin Power & Utilities as a whole. These companies have served countless counties throughout North America honorably, but I have a duty to make sure this company’s business model meets the needs of people and businesses in Eastern Kentucky because we too deserve reliable, reasonably priced electricity.

While I believe renewable energy will ultimately be a large source for utilities in the future, I do not believe we currently have the technology to sustain America’s needs yet. As I have said many times, coal will serve as a bridge to renewable energy. A bridge we are still crossing.

Previously on Tuesday, March 29th there was a public hearing where I testified in front of the Public Service Commission, further voicing my concerns about what this means for our region.

As always, it’s an honor to represent you in Frankfort. If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please contact me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at Brandon.Smith@lrc.ky.gov.

Your friend and public servant,

Brandon Smith

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Note:  Senator Brandon Smith (R-Hazard) represents the 30th District, which includes Bell, Breathitt, Estill, Johnson, Lee, Leslie, Magoffin, Morgan, Perry, Powell, and Wolfe counties.  He is chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. Sen. Smith is also a member of the Senate Standing Committees on Banking and Insurance; Transportation; Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection; and is a Liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.