Kentucky Senate Republicans blast environmental report calling for end to state's coal dominance

Austin R. Ramsey, Lexington Herald-Leader on Dec 22, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Recent temperature swings in the Bluegrass State underscore why Kentucky lawmakers are still clinging to coal, according to Senate Republicans who responded to new research by environmental groups calling for an end to the state’s alleged overreliance on fossil fuels.

Mid-December’s subfreezing temperatures proved why Kentuckians need “dependable, around-the-clock power,” the GOP Senate leaders said in a statement over the weekend.

The statement follows the release of the report that found Kentuckians could save billions by embracing clean energy alternatives and repealing laws that put a thumb on the scale in favor of coal. The report was commissioned this year by the Kentucky Resources Council, Metropolitan Housing Coalition, Mountain Association and Earthjustice.

The study was produced by Current Energy Group LLC, a consulting firm GOP lawmakers accuse of being biased in favor of decarbonization.

The group, Senate Republicans said, “was produced by a consulting firm openly dedicated to advancing aggressive policies that actually diminish our ability to grow the economic base.”

Members of CEG’s energy transition team authored report, calling into question whether its conclusions are an independent assessment of the state’s energy needs, the lawmakers said.

CEG modeled Kentucky’s future energy needs and determined laws Republicans championed in 2023 and 2024 hinder utilities from transitioning to a more diverse, reliable and inexpensive set of power sources such as solar, wind and battery storage.

The policies set tougher standards for state regulators to phase out coal-fired units and established a commission to review fossil fuel-fired plant closures, including those that burn coal, oil or natural gas.

GOP lawmakers touted that commission in their statement Saturday, saying it ensures energy policy “is driven by facts, reliability, and long-term competitiveness.”

CEG did not immediately respond to a Herald-Leader request for comment Monday.

Senate President Robert Stivers, a Manchester Republican, Senate Majority Caucus Chair Robby Mills, a Henderson Republican, and Natural Resources and Energy Committee Chair Brandon Smith, a Hazard Republican, were joined by GOP state Sens. Steve West, of Paris, Phillip Wheeler, of Pikeville, and Danny Carroll, of Paducah, in authoring the statement.

Kentucky, they said, has long been a national leader in affordable, reliable energy while also remaining committed to reducing emissions and investing in cleaner technologies.

“We have made meaningful progress over the decades, and that work continues today through ongoing modernization efforts and responsible planning for next-generation nuclear power,” the group of lawmakers said.

Kentucky does not have any active nuclear power plants, but Paducah’s 70-year-old enrichment site is being eyed by private-developers and the U.S. Department of Energy for future enrichment and artificial intelligence-related power generation.

In 2024, lawmakers passed legislation forming a Nuclear Energy Development Authority in Kentucky to explore nuclear energy projects.

“Kentucky is committed to continued energy progress and innovation, but we cannot risk affordability, reliability, or energy independence by rushing into policies that weaken our grid,” the GOP lawmakers said. “Our energy future must build on the strong foundation already in place, keeping Kentucky competitive, resilient, and powered reliably every day.”

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