Wealth and Opportunity in Northwest KY

One of the targets for Northwest Kentucky Forward is Alternative Energy. While for many communities that may mean wind or solar or biofuels, for energy rich Northwest Kentucky that means any source of energy that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

As a result, we focus on

• biofuels (NW KY is the heart of Ky’s bread basket producing more than half of the state’s corn, wheat, and soybeans);
• natural gas (the region has rich natural gas deposits and is crossed by 3 interstate gas pipelines);
• oil (more than 13,000+ wells are within 50 miles of Henderson);
• support (dozens of energy-related companies and support services maintain offices in the region); 
• components (the region’s strong metal mfg background makes the area ideal for production of components for the vast spectrum of energy equipment); and
• clean coal (looking at ways that our massive coal reserves can used cleanly and efficiently).

One example of Clean Coal is our support for the Cash Creek project. This 700 MW merchant power plant will be located in eastern Henderson County and will be the cleanest coal burning power plant in North America.  The plant is wrapping up the permitting phase now.  The key to the project is the capture of CO2 for Enhanced Oil Recovery, industrial CO2, and sequestration.

A major sequestration test project is now underway in Hancock County.  A consortium of energy companies has contracted with the Kentucky Geological Survey to drill an 8000’ test well.  Drilling should be complete this summer.

This comprehensive approach to energy attraction is key to Northwest Kentucky’s strategy of enhancing our cluster of energy-related firms.