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Op-Ed by Mayor Andrew H. Scott, City of Coal Run, KY
The electrification of everything from transportation to heavy industry is creating unprecedented demand for energy. Data centers, which underpin the growing digital economy, are particularly energy-intensive, requiring vast amounts of uninterrupted power.
These sectors represent Kentucky’s economic future, but companies will not choose a state where electricity is neither dependable nor affordable.
Unfortunately, recent federal policies have been blind to this reality. Over the past four years, sweeping environmental regulations enacted under the Biden administration have jeopardized Kentucky’s ability to attract emerging industries by shutting down coal plants needed to power them. These policies, designed to force a transition to less reliable and more expensive renewable energy sources, have hurt energy-rich states like Kentucky to the advantage of liberal ones that have taken billions of dollars in federal subsidies and tax credits to build wind and solar farms.
Kentucky voters have consistently supported policies that prioritize a balanced approach to energy – one that incorporates renewables but does not abandon traditional baseload power sources like coal and natural gas. Coal in particular is a critical pillar of Kentucky’s economy, not only as an energy source but as a provider of thousands of jobs. By sidelining it without viable alternatives, the federal government is placing Kentucky’s economic future at risk and ignoring the will of its citizens.
In 2025, the new presidential administration should take decisive action to help get Kentucky and other states back on track. Harmful regulations that force the premature closure of coal and natural gas plants must be revoked and replaced with a regulatory framework that recognizes the unique energy demands of industrial growth and provides flexibility for states to chart their own paths. Environmentalism cannot come at the expense of economic stability and energy security.
Within Kentucky, we must prioritize investments in baseload power capacity. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar have a role to play, but they cannot provide the constant, reliable power that our emerging industries demand. Ensuring a robust baseload – anchored by coal and natural gas – is essential for attracting new jobs and growing our economy. Without it, Kentucky risks falling behind.
Finally, Kentucky must proactively market itself as an energy-secure state. With the right policies in place, we can leverage our natural resources, geography, and skilled workforce to become a hub for data centers, manufacturing, and other emerging industries. This requires a coordinated effort between state leaders, utilities, and industry stakeholders to ensure that companies see Kentucky as a place where their investments will thrive thanks to a cheap, abundant, and dependable electricity supply.
Kentucky’s economic future hinges on a straightforward equation: affordable and reliable electricity equals industrial growth. Federal policies of the past four years have ignored this reality, and the consequences are already becoming apparent. By making the necessary course corrections, we can position Kentucky as a national leader in economic development and industrial innovation. The time to act is now.
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Andrew H. Scott has served as Mayor of the City of Coal Run (Pike County) since 2014. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for both the Big Sandy Area Development District and the Kentucky Fire Commission.
