With the General Assembly over (finally), the Kentucky politics news firehose has slowed to a garden hose on full. But, still enough to do a News and Notes.
Utility regulators have no quorum to vote on $2.8 billion Kentucky Power sale
State utility regulators don’t have enough commissioners to oversee the $2.8 billion sale of Kentucky Power after senators failed to confirm commissioner Amy Cubbage on the last day of the legislative session. It was the second time in two months the state senate failed to confirm Gov. Andy Beshear’s picks for the three-person utility regulators board — leaving Chairman Kent Chandler as the sole commissioner serving on the state’s Public Service Commission. A spokesperson for Beshear said politics got in the way of the appointments, and the governor is looking for qualified people to appoint to the commission. (WFPL)
Metro Council Members call on LG&E to phase out fossil fuels faster
A half-dozen Louisville Metro Council members are calling on Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to hasten plans to phase out fossil fuels. In a letter sent to state utility regulators on Earth Day, they say LG&E’s plans to continue burning coal and natural gas over the next 15 years are inconsistent with the city’s goals of achieving 100% renewable energy for metro operations by 2030, and community-wide by 2040. “We don’t think it will help meet the goals that we need to help prevent catastrophic climate change,” said District 9 Council Member Bill Hollander. “We also think the reduction of harmful emissions from coal-generating plants can lead to better health outcomes.” (WFPL)
Trump hosting $75k-per person fundraiser at Kentucky Derby
The world’s most famous horse race will get a big shot of political horse race drama this year. Former president Donald Trump will be in attendance for the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby at Louisville’s Churchill Downs, according to multiple reports. New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman first broke the news on Thursday, tweeting out an invitation to a fundraiser for the Trump-aligned Super PAC “MAGA, Again!” Trump will be present, per the invitation, along with PAC leaders Kimberly Guilfoyle, Pam Bondi, Richard Grenell, and Matt Whitaker. The price to attend the event is $75,000 per person. (Herald-Leader)
Kim Holloway disqualified from 2nd Dist. House primary race
Kim Holloway, the 2nd House District Republican challenger to Rep. Richard Heath from Mayfield, has been disqualified from the GOP primary due to a technicality with her filing paperwork. A supporter of Heath’s filed a motion seeking to remove Holloway on the grounds that one of the people who signed her candidate filing paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office is not a registered Republican. (KY Fried Politics)
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