Gov. Steve Beshear wants to replace much of Kentucky’s current energy production with conservation, renewable energy sources, coal-to-liquids and even begin discussing the use of nuclear power.

Beshear released a 144-page “Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future” report Thursday which lists seven strategies: improving energy efficiency; increasing renewable energy usage; bio-fuel production; development of coal-to-liquid fuels; increasing natural and synthetic gas supplies, including coal-to-gas production; develop technology to sequester or capture CO2 emissions from coal burning plants; and examine the use of nuclear power.

The governor said improving energy efficiency is the first priority, and this drew approval from some with concerns about coal and nuclear power.

“I appreciate the fact that the first two strategies the governor offers are where the most gains can be made with the least investment and with the quickest gains,” said Tom Fitzgerald, director of the Kentucky Resource Council. “Energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit. It pushes out by a number of years the need for new (power) plants.”

But Fitzgerald said, “Without an effective carbon capture and management strategy” investing public money in coal-to-liquid and coal gasification technologies “is unsound public policy.” He said the administration is well aware of the council's reservations about clean coal technologies and nuclear power.

“We’re very pleased to see energy efficiency places so highly in the governor’s plan,” said Doug Doerrfeld of Elliottville, past chairman of the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. “But it’s apparent the plan is upside down – way too strong on advances in new coal technology and not nearly strong enough with the renewables.”

But Beshear said any “realistic long-term plan for energy” will include coal because 50 percent of the country’s electricity is generated by coal-fired plants.

“That’s not going to change overnight,” Beshear said. “It’s not going to change for a long, long time – if ever. So the effort must be made to clean up the burning of coal.”

He said he is “a strong supporter of coal and coal mining. But make no mistake - I'm a strong supporter of doing it responsibly.” He said the plan offers ways to protect Kentucky’s coal industry, provide affordable power and protect the environment.

Beshear said developing technologies will address concerns about emissions. “We will clean up the way coal is burned. We’ll solve the CO2 problem.”

The plan relies heavily on legislation already on the books, much of it sponsored by Rep. Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, and pushed in the Senate by Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. Adkins said he’d only seen an executive summary of the plan, but he liked what he saw.

“I’m glad to see the governor is making energy a top priority,” Adkins said. “There is no more important issue for our state and nation than energy.”

He said Kentucky’s natural resources and research into coal technologies can produce jobs and make the state a national leader in achieving energy independence.

Beshear said it is time for a discussion about nuclear power. Presently, Kentucky law bars construction of nuclear power plants unless a disposal site for nuclear waste already exists or would when the plant is operational. Beshear said he wants conversations with lawmakers, the public, power companies and environmental groups to discuss whether it’s time to lift that ban.

“We feel like nuclear power has had enough advances that we need to have that discussion,” Beshear said.

Dr. Len Peters, Beshear’s Energy Cabinet secretary, said investors are “waiting for regulatory certainty,” explaining why no new nuclear plants have gone online in the U.S. in more than a decade. But he noted that all but two of the seven states surrounding Kentucky have issued licenses for nuclear power plants.

But Fitzgerald said, “The private sector is simply not putting investment into nuclear plants.”

Doerrfeld and KFTC said a recent poll conducted by Opinion Research for the group indicates a majority of Kentucky residents prefer renewable forms of energy and more energy efficiency over coal-fired and nuclear plants. They also called for a focus on creating jobs through green construction programs and an emphasis on providing affordable energy for Kentucky’s lower-income families.

Fitzgerald said the plan is a “draft and inviting public comment. This is the beginning of a conversation.”

Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. He can be reached by e-mail at rellis@cnhi.com.