Cumberland | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Chapter: Cumberland

If you believe that Laurel, Knox, Whitley and Pulaski Counties would benefit from local people working together to make their communities better and stronger, then we invite you to be a part of the Cumberland Chapter of KFTC. 

Members from these counties and surrounding counties work together to create space for each other and work on four core areas. In addition to adding capacity to statewide issue campaigns, the Cumberland Chapter focuses on racial justice, voter rights, LGBTQ+ issues and fairness, as well as environmental justice. We bring people from the tri-county area and beyond together, and we make sure to have fun while doing it!

Our monthly chapter meeting is a great way to learn more, meet like-minded folks, and get involved.

Recent Activities

Despite challenges, Kentuckians make an impact in Frankfort

KFTC Staff on March 31, 2021 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Voting Rights, Racial Justice, Campaign For Our CommonWealth, , Energy Democracy, , Just Transition, , Kentucky Voting Rights Bill, , Sustainable Energy, , Tax Reform, Big Sandy, , Central Kentucky, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Jefferson County, , Madison County, , Northern Kentucky, , Perry County, , Rolling Bluegrass, , Rowan County, , Shelby County, , Southern Kentucky, , Western Kentucky, , Wilderness Trace, General Assembly

You’ve made an impact during the 2021 General Assembly. Some of these impacts have been on legislation – a key meeting with a legislator that changes the course of a bill, or a push of calls and tweets that makes the will of the people more visible and harder to ignore. We also set a goal this session to continue to build the power we need. So many impacts have been in our own communities, talking with neighbors and networks about the bills that impact us, and the work of our legislators. 

Kentucky communities face choice: risk new fossil fuel commitments or turn to clean energy

Andy McDonald, Director of Apogee – Climate & Energy Transitions on August 23, 2020 in New Energy and Transition, Energy Democracy, , Sustainable Energy, Cumberland, Climate Justice, , Empower Kentucky
Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KYMEA) Weighing New Investments in Coal and Natural Gas Power as One Existing Coal Contract Sunsets in 2022

As the cost of building clean energy systems drops lower and lower, Kentucky’s electric utilities have the opportunity to meaningfully shift their energy mix away from fossil fuels and towards affordable, renewable energy–if only they would take it. This question is playing out right now at the Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency (KYMEA), a wholesale supplier that provides energy to several cities and towns across Kentucky. 

The KYMEA is developing an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to determine how to meet its customer’s energy needs over the coming 10 – 20 years. In the process, it is considering whether to invest in new coal or natural gas power contracts to serve its municipal members. These potential investments would pose a significant financial risk to KYMEA’s member-communities, in addition to negative environmental and public health implications.

If you or someone you know live in a KYMEA member-community, your voice is needed to make sure KYMEA invests in a clean energy future, rather than risky fossil fuels.

RECLAIM Act and AML pass the House as part of The Moving Forward Act

KFTC Staff on July 3, 2020 in Coal and Water, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, Big Sandy, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Rowan County, Congress, , RECLAIM Act

Kentucky will have a better chance at seeing its $400 million backlog of mine reclamation projects move forward thanks to legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 1.

Both the RECLAIM Act and reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Lands Program were included in the INVEST in America Act (a.k.a The Moving Forward Act), a broad bill addressing the country’s infrastructure needs.

"I am overjoyed that Congress is finally helping to clean up abandoned mines and polluted waterways," said Joanne Hill, a retired nurse originally from Harlan County now living in Pulaski County. "For too long, Kentuckians have been pleading for action with no response.”

KFTC’s London office is on track to be completely solar-powered!

KFTC Staff on February 12, 2020 in New Energy and Transition, Energy Democracy, , Just Transition, Cumberland, Climate Justice, , Empower Kentucky

Solar panels on KFTC's London office building

Solar panels were recently installed on KFTC’s main office in London. This was the final step in a series of energy upgrades that the building had been undergoing in the last several months, which puts the office building on track to be completely solar-powered.

Many affected as Revelation Energy files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Lisa Abbott on July 9, 2019 in Coal and Water, New Energy and Transition, Community Science & Public Health, , Enforcement, , Just Transition, , Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Big Sandy, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Perry County

KFTC members and residents of many other coal producing states and regions have followed the activities of Revelation Energy, LLC with increasing alarm in recent years.

They watched closely as the company went a buying spree, acquiring hundreds of mine permits and hundreds of thousands of acres of mines in Kentucky alone from 2014 to 2018. They tracked notices of dozens of safety, health and environmental violations and overdue taxes charged against Revelation Energy, many of which remain outstanding. (According to the Lexington Herald Leader, Revelation Energy has been the top violator of reclamation and environmental rules in each of the last three years.)

And throughout this year, KFTC members actively organized against proposed mining permits and permit amendments sought by Revelation Energy that threaten water quality and community well-being in Harlan and Pulaski counties.

Enterprise Coal Co. "Big Branch" mountaintop removal mine Knott County KY

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Regular Meetings:

The Cumberland Chapter generally meets on first Sunday of every month from 2-4 p.m. EST. The location rotates between the four counties each month. See our events list for the location of our next meeting.

Chapter Organizer:

131 N Mill St
London, KY 40741
(606) 261-4955

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