Smokestack

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:

Louisville is at the bottom of a list ranking American cities based on their parks for the second year in a row.

The city was ranked 49th out of 50 in this year’s ParkScore ranking from the Trust for Public Lands. The ranking pits the nation’s 50 biggest cities against each other, using metrics like per capita park spending, park size and park access.

President Barack Obama has signed a bill championed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to block the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from restricting access to dams on the Cumberland River.

As I reported last month, the Army Corps proposed blocking access to the dams for safety reasons.

Here in Louisville, we talk a lot about air pollution and the related health effects. We're entering ozone season, and if last year is any indication, there will be some days where pollution levels are so high, residents are encouraged to stay indoors. But for those of us without medical degrees, it's hard to actually picture how pollution is affecting our lungs, and how bad the air in any given place actually is.

A proposed natural gas pipeline could cross through up to 18 Kentucky counties.

The Bluegrass Pipeline would carry natural gas liquids from drilling operations in Pennsylvania to processing plants on the Gulf Coast. These natural gas liquids—or NGLs—that could travel through the pipe are a byproduct of natural gas drilling, and consist mainly of ethane, propane and butane. They’re common ingredients in products like car bumpers, adhesives and camera lenses.

Volunteers will be gathering at Floyds Fork Creek tomorrow to clean up the waterway. This is the 22nd annual Floyds Fork Creek Sweep.

Over the past 22 years, volunteers have removed 120 tons of garbage from Floyds Fork during the annual Creek Sweep. This year, they’ll canvas the waterway in canoes and on foot, working to clean up debris.