From Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeighOn nights and weekends, lower the thermostats and turn off the lights.That’s what Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is ordering for state-owned facilities operated by the Finance Cabinet. That includes the State Capitol, the Capitol Annex and the Governor’s Mansion. “It’s senseless to heat or cool down a building when no one is working there," Beshear said. "We think this will cut energy use by 24 percent and save us approximately two million dollars a year. We’re also going to encourage other agencies and groups that receive taxpayer funds, such as schools, universities and local governments, to do the same thing.”Beshear says if they did, it could save taxpayers more than $100 million per year. The Beshear administration is also requiring new public facilities or renovations to existing facilities, built with 50 percent or more state funds, to be designed according to nationally recognized energy efficiency standards.The new regulations are based in part on legislation approved by the 2008 General Assembly.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.