Kentucky Power was the only utility statewide to earn a D grade from the Sierra Club in its latest scorecard, released this week.
All others earned an F.
The environmental advocacy group failed most of Kentucky’s electric utilities because of their commitment to coal and natural gas.
Natural gas produces about half the carbon dioxide as coal, but it is also a source of methane, another planet-warming gas.
The Sierra Club gave U.S. utilities overall an F as they walk back commitments to replace coal generation with renewables.
Kentucky Power received a slightly higher grade because of its plans to build wind and solar generation as part of its 2022 integrated resource plan.
The region's Tennessee Valley Authority also received a D in 2025, but fell to an F on the latest scorecard. The federal electric utility has delayed the retirement of its coal plants, including Shawnee in Western Kentucky.
Big Rivers Electric, Duke Energy Kentucky, East Kentucky Power, and Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities all received an F.
Though coal has fallen to 16% of electricity generation nationwide, it remains dominant in Kentucky, producing two-thirds of the commonwealth’s power.
Nationally, solar surpassed coal in May for the first time. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts an 8% decline in coal generation this year and 6% in 2027.
President Donald Trump has made numerous attempts to turn around coal’s fortunes, but those efforts have so far changed little. Hundreds of coal workers have lost their jobs in Kentucky over the past 18 months.
Note: LG&E and KU is a financial supporter of WEKU.
