February 5, 2018
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, recently filed a Concurrent Resolution in the Kentucky House of Representatives to end the war on coal that has devastated Kentucky coal country for years. The move, filed by Blanton who resides in coal country in Eastern Kentucky, urged Congress to establish a moratorium on closing coal-fired plants and to eliminate subsidies for renewable energy sources, or to provide them for coal-fired plants as well to create a level playing field.
In Kentucky, 83 percent of electricity in 2016 was provided by coal and nearly every power plant around the country that was shut down from 2008-2017 was powered by a fossil fuel.
“The closing of coal-fired plants all across the county has had a devastating impact on the coal fields in Eastern Kentucky,” said Blanton. “The overreach by the Obama administration and the creation of subsidies for non-fossil fuel electric plants has created an incredibly uneven playing field, at the expense of coal. It’s time to stop the shutdown of coal-fired plants, and to create equality to allow every power source to compete for production.”
According to Blanton’s resolution, technological advances in coal drilling and fracturing have increased natural gas production from the largest contributor, Marcellus Shale, and Congress has provided tax incentives for renewable fuel sources that are less reliable than coal.
“The U.S. has abundant fossil fuels that provide low-cost electricity, high-paying jobs, economic vitality, and electric grid stability,” added Blanton. “I urge Congress to immediately end the war on coal and to eliminate subsidies for renewable energy or establish the same for fossil fuels.”
If adopted, the Clerk of the Kentucky House of Representatives would provide copies of Blanton’s resolution to each member of the Kentucky Congressional Delegation.
