Smokestack

Coal's role in this year's presidential election isn't going ignored by national media. Marketplace Morning Report had an interesting story this morning by Adriene Hill about the fuel's prominent role in President Obama and Mitt Romney's Ohio campaign strategies...even though there are less than 3,000 coal miners in the state. As the industry is always quick to point out, that doesn't include jobs that are related to and reliant on the coal industry.

A bicyclist was hit by a car this morning on Bardstown Road, only days before the road is scheduled to be shut down for a few hours to encourage walking and cycling.

The 36th Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment continues today in Louisville. I was there yesterday, as a participant in a panel loosely structured around a conversation on Kentucky’s energy future, and coal’s role in that mix.

Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson says it’s necessary to balance energy production with environmental stewardship. Abramson delivered the keynote address today during the Governor’s Conference on Energy and the Environment.

During his talk, Abramson touted Governor Steve Beshear’s energy plan, which calls for a quarter of Kentucky’s energy to come from renewable energy and efficiency measures by 2025.

The regulatory body that oversees pollution in the Ohio River is holding its fall meeting in Louisville this week.

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission—or ORSANCO—is made up of representatives from eight states and the federal government. The body meets three times a year.

Kentucky has reached a settlement with a coal company accused of thousands of violations of the Clean Water Act.

Cities around the country are participating in the National Solar Tour tomorrow, which highlights solar and other energy efficient building ideas. In Louisville, there are 30 sites lined up to demonstrate how home and business owners can get at least some of their energy from the sun.

Groups in Kentucky and around the country are calling for the winner of next month’s presidential election to hold a summit on climate change during his term’s first 100 days.