Community dinner conversations about Kentucky’s energy future
By Jerry Hardt
Residents of Lawrence County will help shape a new Empower Kentucky Plan to map out an energy future for Kentucky that grows jobs, benefits health and addresses racial and economic inequality while also addressing the risks of climate change.
These questions will be addressed at a community dinner conversation next week, Tuesday, April 19 in Hindman at the Hindman Settlement School.
Called “A Seat At The Table,” the gathering will allow participants to enjoy a locally sourced meal, consider their relationship with energy, and share their vision and ideas about Kentucky’s energy future. Each event will feature fun and interactive presentations, cultural performances, and facilitated discussions.
The event is sponsored by Kentuckians For the Commonwealth and its eastern Kentucky chapters that include Lawrence and surrounding counties.
“We all have something to contribute in this move toward a clean energy economy,” said KFTC Executive Committee member Elizabeth Sanders of Whitesburg. “These ‘Seat At The Table’ events will be inclusive of a broad spectrum of Kentuckians, and will allow us to lead and shape the conversations about the clean energy future we want to see, which is how it should be.”
The eastern Kentucky community conversation is the second of six being held throughout the state in April and May. These regional gatherings will be supplemented by smaller community gatherings, house parties, online surveys and listening sessions that began last fall.
The ideas shared at these events will inform the writing of a people’s plan, called the Empower Kentucky Plan, that will describe steps for transitioning to a new clean energy economy in Kentucky. Emphasis will be given to creating new jobs and investments, improving community health, addressing racial and economic inequality, and meeting the goals of the Clean Power Plan.
“The community conversations are designed to bring together diverse people to think about and help build a bright energy future for Kentucky,” said KFTC Chairperson Dana Beasley Brown of Bowling Green. “A Seat At The Table provides a chance for all Kentuckians to help shape a just transition to a clean energy economy – one that is good for all of us.”
These events are free, but seating is limited and tickets must be reserved in advance. Free tickets are available through www.EmpowerKentucky.org/events. The gathering will take place from 6 to 9 p.m.
KFTC is a grassroots social justice organization
