Beshear: Coal can solve energy crisis - Governor says Kentucky can become 'energy capital of the country'

Harlan Daily Enterprise

Writer: JOHN HENSON

HAZARD -- Coal and adventure tourism possibilities are plentiful in eastern Kentucky, and Gov. Steve Beshear touted both Tuesday during a stop at Perry Central High School as part of his town hall tour of the commonwealth.

The governor told the crowd in the Perry Central High School auditorium that "energy is going to be a top priority in the Beshear-Mongiardo administration."

Beshear said the energy crisis will continue until Americans take their destiny in their own hands by ending the dependence on foreign oil.

"I get sick and tired of watching every day as billions of American dollars flow overseas, mostly to countries that hate our guts. We have to have their oil to run our cars and trucks, heat our homes and run our factories.

"If there was ever a time for this country to become energy independent, that time is right here and that time is right now," said the governor to rousing applause.

Beshear said Kentucky must take its destiny in its own hands and "become the energy capital of the country, and even this world. We have all the resources it takes to help this nation become energy independent. We have the coalfields in eastern and western Kentucky."

The governor also promised to make "coal cleaner and greener."

"We owe it to our children and to their children to make sure that if we burn coal we clean it up as much as possible to make sure our atmosphere is what it should be."

Beshear added that Kentucky could also play a role in renewable energy sources and alternative fuels.

The governor also stressed the state's efforts to boost adventure tourism, which has been especially big in Harlan County with the Black Mountain Off Road Park and Verda Field hosting numerous events over the past several years.

"(Lieutenant governor) Dr. (Daniel) Mongiardo has led the charge there, and First Lady Jane Beshear has joined with him, and (state Sen.) and Brandon Smith got the bill passed, and we're really on the road to developing a new type of tourism for Kentucky -- outdoor tourism," Beshear said.

"It's going to bring in people from all over this country, because we're going to make Kentucky a premier destination for adventure tourism."