Green Build Kentucky

Gov. Steve Beshear, First Lady Jane Beshear and Secretary Vance discuss energy conservation with Matt Fiscus of Ideal Homes.	EPPC Secretary Robert Vance addresses the audience.	Gov. Beshear uses an insulation wand in the new ENERGY STAR home in Lexington.

Gov. Beshear and EPPC Secretary Bob Vance, along with the Governor's Office for Energy Policy, helped the Home Builders Association of Kentucky kickoff its statewide Green Build Kentucky program. Green Build Kentucky encourages home builders to incorporate green building guidelines and the federal ENERGY STAR program into projects.

Panther Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Gov. Beshear and Mark Rust of Rust of Kentucky	Gov. Beshear and Secretary Vance	Gov. Beshear

Gov. Beshear and EPPC Secretary Bob Vance traveled to Panther in Daviess County to announce the funding of a 181-acre reclamation project to eliminate the effects of an abandoned mine site. The $1.6 million project, administered by the Kentucky Division of Abandoned Mine Lands, will be completed by Rust of Kentucky. The project is financed through a forfeited Green Coal Co. bond, a state supplemental reclamation fund and a state acid mine drainage abatement account.

City of Uniontown

Gov. Beshear speaks to Uniontown Elementary School students	Gov. Beshear poses with Uniontown community leaders

Students of Uniontown Elementary School listened quietly as Gov. Beshear discussed the importance of environmental stewardship and the school's grant to fund a crumb rubber application to their playground. The city of Uniontown received a $38,820 grant from the state Tire Trust Fund managed by the Kentucky Division of Waste Management. Crumb rubber, made from recycled tires, is used for mulch on playgrounds, for fitness and walking tracks, landscaping and for reduction in soil degradation on athletic fields.

Webster County

Gov. Beshear listens as Webster Judge-Executive Jim Townsend addresses the audience.	Gov. Beshear talks about the importance of recycling and environmental stewardship in Webster County.

Gov. Beshear made a stop in the city of Dixon during Kentucky's Earth Week celebration to announce the funding of two projects: The city of Providence received $15,816 to apply crumb rubber on the Westerfield Park playgound; Clay Elementary School received $16,466 for a crumb rubber application on the school's playground.

Banklick Water Shed Council Presentation

Gov. Beshear greets employees of Northern Kentucky Sanitation District No. 1; Below left: Secretary Bob Vance addresses the crowd.	A demonstration of how porous pavement treats water is given in the community education park at Sanitation District No. 1 in Covington; Below right: Members of the Banklick Watershed Council receive the $1 million ceremonial grant check.

The Banklick Watershed Council received a $1 million grant for  improving water quality and preventing nonpoint source pollution in Banklick Creek in Boone and Kenton counties. The grant consists of $600,000 in funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and $400,000 in nonfederal matching funds. The council will establish a comprehensive watershed-based plan that identifies the sources of pollution impacting the creek and projects needed to improve its water quality. 

Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear has unveiled greenteam.ky.gov, a public education effort to empower all Kentucky families with the knowledge they need to implement energy and cost savings strategies in their own homes and enlisting them in a statewide effort to beautify Kentucky and preserve our planet. Check it out for simple projects to cut energy costs and consumption in your home.