‘DEFENDING KENTUCKY’S ELECTRICITY FUTURE’: Rep. Comer, local leaders discuss affordable, reliable power
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 27, 2026) — Leaders from the Commonwealth’s government and power sectors gathered on Feb. 23 for “Defending Kentucky’s Electric Future,” a virtual discussion hosted by Dependable Power First Kentucky examining how federal and state priorities can ensure affordable, reliable electricity while supporting economic growth and competitiveness.
The event featured keynote remarks from Congressman James Comer (KY-01), followed by a panel discussion with Don Mosier, President/CEO of East Kentucky Power Cooperative, and Don Gulley, President/CEO of Big Rivers Electric Corporation. Throughout the conversation, speakers emphasized that maintaining reliable, dispatchable generation – particularly coal – remains essential as Kentucky and the nation face rising electricity demand driven by industrial growth, artificial intelligence, and data center expansion.
In his opening remarks, Congressman Comer highlighted renewed federal focus on strengthening domestic energy production and ensuring reliable electricity supplies.
“The Trump Administration and Congress are working together to implement policies that unleash American energy, including Kentucky coal, and reverse the disastrous energy legacy of the Biden administration.”
He emphasized Kentucky’s longstanding energy advantages and the importance of continuing to leverage those resources to support economic growth and national competitiveness.
“Kentucky benefits from our abundant oil and gas and coal resources. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and the administration to advance American energy – especially Kentucky coal.”
Comer also pointed to a growing recognition that reliability must remain central to energy policy.
“I think people are starting to realize we must have an all of the above energy policy. It can’t all be natural gas. It sure as heck can all be wind and solar, and you must have coal.”
In the following discussion, panelists described how changing market conditions, extreme weather events, and rising electricity demand are placing increasing strain on the electric system. Don Mosier noted that operators are already seeing reliability pressures across regional markets.
“These issues in PJM and MISO are very real. Here in Kentucky, our baseload is vital. It has been vital for every winter storm the past four years – it’s kept the lights on. And we’re very concerned about the continued rate of announced retirements.”
He also underscored the operational realities utilities face when maintaining system stability, emphasizing that not all generation resources provide the same reliability value.
“We do support all of the above… but you cannot replace dispatchable energy with those forms of [renewable] energy. It’s not a one-for-one tradeoff.”
Don Gulley concluded the event by warning that premature retirements of baseload resources could increase risks during severe weather events.
“We have to keep our coal plants open. That’s what you heard from Congressman Comer. That’s what you heard from Mr. Mosier. And without the coal plants sustaining the baseload that we have, we’re going to continue to see winter events like we saw two weeks ago.”
Michelle Bloodworth, President and CEO of America’s Power, who moderated the discussion, further highlighted coal’s critical role as a stabilizing force within a balanced electricity system.
“Coal is that hedge, it’s that insurance policy when either natural gas prices are higher, or it’s not available. So obviously, the more coal that exits the market, the less competition there is, and that’s why it’s important, certainly, to maintain coal.”
Throughout the discussion, speakers returned to a central theme: defending Kentucky’s electricity future requires an all of the above approach that balances innovation with practicality, preserves existing dispatchable resources, and ensures families and businesses continue to benefit from affordable, dependable electricity.
Dependable Power First Kentucky is a statewide coalition working to promote a reliable, resilient, and affordable electricity supply for all Kentuckians by bringing together diverse stakeholders from across the state to shift the conversation around reliability and support policies that achieve this goal.
To learn more about Dependable Power First Kentucky, please visit DependablePowerKY.com.
A link to an archived video recording of the full “Defending Kentucky’s Electricity Future” webinar is available at: bit.ly/DPKvideo
PRESS RELEASE Contact: Woody Maglinger
For Immediate Release woody@runswitchpr.com
270-302-6642
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Dependable Power First Kentucky works to promote a reliable, resilient, and affordable electricity supply for all Kentuckians by bringing together diverse stakeholders from across the state to shift the conversation around reliability and support policies that achieve this goal. For more information, please visit dependablepowerky.com.
