Kentucky Governor Steve Beshar has developed an energy plan for the state that will improve the state’s economy. The primary tenent of the plan is energy independence for Kentucky and the nation. The plan is titled “Intelligent Energy Choices for Kentucky’s Future”.

The plan includes adopting carbon capture and sequestration technology for the state’s existing coal power plants. The plan states that Kentucky needs to develop end products with its abundant coal reserves. This increases the value received for the coal and also is a buffer against a decline in the coal industry if there was a decline in coal demand outside of the state. This is important, because Kentucky exports most of it’s coal.

The plan includes development of coal gasification Fischer-Tropsch facilities to produce liquid fuels that can be used for transportation and off-road vehicles. The typical products produced from FT are naptha (gasoline) and diesel.

In addition, the plan will use coal gasification to increase production of substitute natural gas (SNG) to augment the existing natural gas supply system.

A Kentucky energy plan press release and a Kentucky energy plan fact sheet were issued to provide a summary of the plan. The Governor of Kentucky has established a road map for energy independence for Kentucky.