Community - The News-Herald

Butler, Ky. — A new power plant at Pendleton County Landfill will produce clean, renewable electricity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the landfill.
“This week, as we celebrate Earth Day, we should recognize the local efforts that are making a difference for our environment,” said Bob Hood, president and CEO of Owen Electric Cooperative, during the recent dedication ceremony at the plant. The plant will produce enough electricity to supply about 1,900 Kentucky homes.
Hood was joined by officials from East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), Blue Grass Energy, EnviroWatts and Rumpke, Inc., as they dedicated the 3.2-megawatt plant, which will be fueled by methane from decaying landfill waste.
“This power plant provides members of Owen Electric and cooperative members across Kentucky with the opportunity to power their homes or business with electricity from renewable sources,” said Hood. Owen Electric is one of 15 Kentucky cooperatives that own EKPC. “At the same time, this plant is helping to eliminate greenhouse gases that would otherwise be released from the landfill.”
As an added benefit, Hood said, the plant will provide a local source of electricity, improving reliability for Owen Electric members. Owen Electric distributes electricity to 55,000 members in nine Northern Kentucky counties.
The plant will be owned and operated by EKPC. The landfill is owned and operated by Rumpke, Inc., which will provide landfill gas under an agreement with EKPC.
The power generated by EKPC at the Pendleton County plant and other landfill-gas plants is sold through the EnviroWatts program, which is available from 14 Kentucky electric cooperatives, including Owen Electric.
This is the fifth landfill gas plant established in Kentucky by EKPC. The additional four plants are located at the Bavarian Landfill in Walton, the Pearl Hollow Landfill outside of Elizabethtown, the Green Valley Landfill outside of Grayson and the Laurel Ridge Landfill outside of London.
EKPC is a not-for-profit organization providing wholesale electricity to 16 distribution cooperatives that serve 500,000 Kentucky homes, farms, businesses and industries across 89 counties. EKPC provides power through plants located in Mason, Clark and Pulaski counties, renewable energy plants in Boone, Laurel, Greenup, Hardin and Pendleton counties, along with gas peaking units, hydro power and more than 2,800 miles of transmission lines. Together, EKPC and the member cooperatives are known as Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.
Kentuckians joined others across the world in celebrating Earth Day on April 22. Spearheaded by the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet, a number of state agencies, local governments, businesses and organizations joined together to celebrate Earth Day in the Commonwealth. Some of these partners organized environmental activities throughout the month of April while others were providing information and resources on protecting Kentucky’s environment. The state government theme for Earth Day this year was “Energy for Kentucky’s Unbridled Future.”
This was the fourth year in a row for a month-long, organized campaign in celebration of Earth Day. Among activities planned were hikes, special events, college campus programs, environmental award presentations and demonstrations of new, environmentally-friendly technology. Visit the state Earth Day Web site at www.earthday.ky.gov to learn more about Kentucky’s Earth Day celebration.

Monthly Activities

• The monthly free day at the dump is usually the last Saturday of each month. Tires and construction debris are not included in the free day. Household garbage is 50 cents per bag.
• The Owen County Industrial Authority usually meets the first Friday of each month at the Smith House.
• Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 8 p.m. every Wednesday at the library. For more information call 484-5755.
• Al Anon meets every Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the library. Call 484-0788 for more information.
• The Masonic Lodge meets at 7:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month.
• Owen County Rotary meets each Monday at noon at the Smith House.
• The Rebekahs meet the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Oddfellows Hall at 3 p.m. December through March and at 7:30 p.m. April through November. A potluck supper is on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m.
• The Owen County Republican Party meets the third Monday of every month at Owen Electric.
• The Oddfellows meet the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Oddfellows Hall.
• The Conservation District Board meets the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the NRCS building on Perry Street.
• The Chamber of Commerce meets the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at the Smith House.
• Country Rodders Car Club meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Pat’s Body Shop, Hwy. 22 W., Owenton.
• The Owen County Public Library’s board of trustees regularly meets the third Friday of each month at 10 a.m. at the library.
• The Owen County Historical Society meets the second Thursday of each month at the Owen County Public Library. A potluck dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Regular board meetings will continue to be the fourth Thursday of each month.
• Owen County High School Band Boosters will meet the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the high school band room.
• A veterans benefits field representative with the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs will be at the Owen County Clerk’s office from noon to 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. For more information, call (800) 747-9963.
• The Lions Club meets the second Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Smith House.
• Gifted and talented committee meets the third Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m.
• Weight Watchers meets each Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. at the First Christian Church.
• Low-income housing applications will be taken the first Tuesday of every month at the FSA office, 205 W. Perry St., from 9 a.m. to noon. The program is administered through the USDA Rural Development.
• The DAR meets the second Saturday of each month, September through December and March through June, in the Owen County Public Library, except when otherwise announced. Refreshments are served at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting begins at 10 a.m. For more information, call 484-5382.
• The Republican Party of Owen County meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. The group gathers in the community room of the Owen Electric facility on Hwy. 127 N.
• Narcotics Anonymous meets in the Owen County Public Library each Wednesday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. For more information call 484-5891.
• The Owen County Friends of Animals meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Bowling Middle School.
• The Owen County Story Tellers will meet the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Owen County Public Library.
• The Spouse Loss Support Group meets from 5:30-7 p.m. the second Monday of each month at the Hospice office, 208 Steele St., Frankfort. Call (800) 926-1302 for more information.
• The Owenton-Sparta chapter of the Kentucky Motorcycle Association meets at 1 p.m. the first Saturday of each month at Sugarbay Boat Dock. For more information, contact Bob McMillen at 484-8205.
• R.E.A.C.H. volunteers meet the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. For more information call Trent Holbert at 484-0393.
• The 4-H Dreamer Horse Club will meet on the second Monday of each month. The next meeting is Monday at 6:30 at Gatewood Arena. For more information, call 484-5625.
• Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon during the school year at First Baptist Church. If there is no school, MOPS will not meet. For more information call 484-2430.