Residents will have an opportunity Thursday evening to learn more about Lewis County’s participation in Kentucky’s Nuclear Energy Ready Community certification process during a public meeting and educational seminar at Lewis County High School.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium and is open to the public. State officials will explain the certification program, answer questions, and discuss what participation could mean for Lewis County’s future economic development, workforce opportunities, and infrastructure planning.
Featured speakers include Kenya Stump, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, and Christine King, director of Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN).
The educational seminar follows recent action by both Lewis County Fiscal Court and Vanceburg City Council supporting the county’s participation in the state certification program.
The resolutions approved by both governing bodies do not authorize construction of a nuclear power plant or approve any specific project. Instead, they allow Lewis County to begin the certification process while establishing community principles for any future nuclear-related development.
During his presentation to Fiscal Court, Buffalo Trace Area Development District Executive Director Kevin Cornette emphasized that the certification process is centered on education and planning, not approval of a nuclear facility.
Cornette explained that Lewis County is the first of the district’s five counties to begin pursuing the designation, which is designed to help communities prepare for potential advanced nuclear energy-related opportunities should they arise in the future.
“This is not approving a nuclear power plant,” Cornette told magistrates during the July 13 meeting. “This is simply the first step in educating the public and determining whether this community wants to pursue the certification process.”
Cornette said community education is one of the program’s primary requirements, making Thursday’s meeting an important part of the certification effort.
He also noted that obtaining the designation does not obligate the county to pursue a project in the future, nor does it eliminate future public review or approval requirements if a specific proposal were ever presented.
The certification program was established by the Kentucky General Assembly to help communities prepare for potential advanced nuclear energy development by focusing on workforce readiness, infrastructure, public engagement, and local planning.
Supporters have pointed to the possibility of future high-paying jobs, expanded workforce training, and increased economic development opportunities if Kentucky continues to pursue advanced nuclear technologies.
Fiscal Court unanimously approved its resolution following Cornette’s presentation. During discussion, Magistrate Woody Underwood questioned whether action should be delayed to allow additional review, but no motion to table the resolution was made.
Judge Executive George Sparks subsequently made the motion to approve the resolution, which was seconded by Magistrate Mark Horsley and passed unanimously.
One week later, Vanceburg City Council approved a similar resolution by a 5-1 vote after hearing additional discussion about the certification process.
Mayor Joe Billman stressed that the resolution was intended only to begin educating the public.
“The only thing we’re passing is to educate the public,” Billman said before the council vote.
He also pointed to the potential long-term economic benefits of participating in the certification process.
“In my opinion, it’s a win-win situation,” Billman said. “Are we going to say ‘no’ to Lewis County possibly getting 500 jobs in the future? Are we going to say ‘no’ to maybe our electric rates being cut and getting cheaper electricity? That wouldn’t be very smart, would it?”
Council Member Richard Walje cast the lone dissenting vote. Walje said he believed the proposal was moving too quickly and that additional time should have been allowed to research the issue before the city acted. He also said he wanted stronger protections to ensure Vanceburg would have a formal role in future discussions should nuclear-related development ever occur in Lewis County.
Thursday’s seminar is intended to provide factual information about the Nuclear Energy Ready Community certification process, explain how the program works, answer questions from the public, and encourage open community discussion.
Organizers say the meeting is designed for residents, business owners, educators, students, elected officials, and community leaders interested in learning more about the certification process and what it could mean for Lewis County.
Admission is free, and the public is encouraged to attend.
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