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| 316 Hart Senate |
| Office Building |
| Washington, D.C. 20510 |
| P: 202-224-4343 |
| F: 202-228-1373 |
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Environment
Kentucky has a rich environmental history and wealth of natural and mineral resources that have formed the basis of our communities and economy. Energy and the environment have always been two important issues to Kentucky and affect nearly every part of our lives.
I am proud to come from a coal state. As you know, coal is a major part of Kentucky’s economy, providing cheap electricity and jobs for Kentuckians. The United States has 30 percent of the world’s coal reserves and more than half of our nation’s electricity is generated from this abundant low cost domestic fuel. That is why I have drafted legislation including tax incentives for the use of clean coal technology. This legislation, currently included in the Energy Policy Act, helps provide affordable coal-based power while lowering emissions from coal power plants through tax incentives to coal companies and federal research and development of new clean coal technology. This will not only help our environment, but also ensure that Kentucky’s coal industry remains strong and that electricity rates in Kentucky are kept low and affordable.
We also need to work to restore our environment from the effects of the 150-year legacy of coal production in the Commonwealth. I have been successful in securing funds for reforestation and reclamation efforts in and around Kentucky’s coal industry. Working with the University of Kentucky and coal operator companies, I have secured funds to revitalize thousands of acres of flora and fauna.
We must also protect our overall water quality and improve the quality of our drinking water. I will continue to support funding for clean water programs, as well as authorizing language to improve environmental protections and address health and safety concerns with our water.
I have also successfully pushed for more funds to expedite the cleanup of contaminated materials in and around the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. For too long the federal government has ignored its responsibility to the Paducah area to ensure a swift and thorough cleanup of these contaminants, and my colleagues and I have worked to encourage the Department of Energy to secure more funds for the better protection of the health and safety of Kentuckians and their environment.
Sometimes it takes firsthand accounts and testimony for lawmakers in Washington to understand complicated issues. That is why on December 6, 2003, I chaired a field hearing of the Energy Committee in Paducah to discuss the progress of the cleanup. Members of the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, General Accounting Office and even the Mayor of Paducah testified to evaluate the cleanup progress. There is more work to be done in the Paducah area and I am committed to fighting for federal funds, streamlining regulations, and expediting clean up of this area safely.
It is important to balance conservation and environmental concerns with safety and economic priorities. A beautiful environment, clean water, vibrant coal industry and cheap electricity are traditions in Kentucky. We need to make sure that we preserve this legacy and ensure that future generations can continue it. |
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