This article appeared in The Lane Report in September 2025, submitted by Anthony “Tony” Campbell. Mr. Campbell is the Tony Campbell is President and CEO is East Kentucky Power Cooperative, a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative providing wholesale electricity to 16 owner-member distribution cooperatives that serve 1.1 million Kentucky residents across 89 counties
Protecting, expanding power plants requires access to natural gas
Demand for electricity is growing among Kentucky’s homes, businesses, schools, shops, offices and industries. Over the next 15 years, electricity use by members is projected to grow at more than twice the rate of the past 15 years for EKPC’s 16 owner-member cooperatives. And that growth does not account for the possibility of big new factories, industries or data centers that might want to come to Kentucky. The same forecast shows if we do not add new power plants, normal day-to-day use of electricity will exceed the amount of power EKPC can generate by 2030. As a result, EKPC is adding new infrastructure now so we can continue providing reliable, cost-competitive electricity far into the future for the 1.1 million Kentucky residents in the 89 counties served by our owner-member electric cooperatives.