Tagged: coal

PIKEVILLE — An influential eastern Kentucky legislator owns the permits on Pike County coal mines that have repeatedly been cited by the state for safety and environmental violations.

Rep. Keith Hall's Beech Creek Coal Co. and other companies that are mining coal on his permits have been cited for dropping rocks on homes; mining outside of permitted areas and water pollution.

Louisville Gas and Electric has been fined once again by the Air Pollution Control District for coal ash violations at the Cane Run Power Plant in Southwest Louisville, and the district cites scientific testing that shows coal ash is leaving the company's property.

Under the terms of a tentative agreement, Kentucky Power will invest heavily in energy efficiency improvements in Eastern Kentucky, and convert half of its Big Sandy Power Plant to natural gas.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to rethink proposed regulations on greenhouse gases emitted from power plants.

Beshear sent a letter to acting EPA administrator Bob Perciasepe last week. In the letter, Beshear says the agency’s proposed rules to limit emissions would effectively ban new coal-burning plants and raise electricity rates. He wrote: