FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

For more information contact:
Bill Clary

(502) 564-4696

RENEWABLE ENERGY MEETINGS START AUG. 27

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky citizens can give their opinions and share information on renewable energy in a series of town hall meetings.

The Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium has scheduled the meetings to gather information for developing a “25X’25 Roadmap for Kentucky.” The national 25X’25 initiative is intended to build grassroots support for an energy policy in which America’s farms, forests and ranches will provide 25 percent of the energy consumed in the United States by 2025.

“I support development of a prosperous renewable energy policy for Kentucky,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said. “Renewable energy sources like biofuels and biomass help farmers make a better living, help the environment, and help the country reduce its dependence on foreign sources of energy.

“At the same time, our energy needs have to be balanced with the needs of livestock farmers for a reliable and affordable source of feed. I think we can achieve this balance if all sides come to the table and develop an energy policy that’s good for everybody. I urge all Kentucky farmers to come to one of these town hall meetings.”

The public is invited to the town hall meetings. There is no charge, but registration is recommended. The schedule of town hall meetings is:

• Aug. 27, 4:30-7 p.m. EDT, Frankfort Convention Center; registration deadline is Aug. 24
• Sept. 18, 1-4 p.m. EDT, Center for Rural Development, Somerset; registration deadline is Sept. 14
• Oct. 16, 4:30-7 p.m. CDT, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, Princeton; registration deadline is Oct. 12

The Kentucky Rural Energy Consortium is administered by the Kentucky Pollution Prevention Center at the University of Louisville.

For more information on the town hall meetings, or to register, go to www.kppc.org or call (502) 852-0965.

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