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TUESDAY 9.1.15 ll COURIER-JOURNAL.COM ll METRO EDITION

M OV I N G B E YO N D C OA L Rowan
clerk loses
round in
high court
Justices deny request for a
stay in gay marriage case
Andrew Wolfson and Mike Wynn
@adwolfson, @MikeWynn_CJ

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled

against a Kentucky county clerk who
says her Christian faith should exempt
her from having to issue marriage li-
censes to same-sex couples, The Associ-
ated Press reported Monday night.
The Supreme Court on Monday de-
nied Rowan County Clerk
Kim Davis request for a
stay while she pursues an
appeal.
BY THE NUMBERS In the two months
since the court legalized
Solar homes and small businesses
gay marriage, Davis has
hooked up to LG&E:
refused to issue any mar- By the num
riage licenses. Four cou- Kim Davis
2008 ples sued her and the Su-
preme Courts rejection marks the end Solar home
of her legal options to refuse.
2015 Its not clear exactly what she willhooked
do up
MAGGIE HUBER, SPECIAL TO THE C-J when her office opens Tuesday. Her2008 at-
Jacob Bruce carries a solar panel to be installed on a home off Brownsboro Road. torney has said she will pray about it
overnight. 2

GOING
The couples attorneys might now 2009
ask
a federal judge to hold her in contempt 10of
court if she continues to refuse to issue
2010
the licenses. A contempt order could car-
ry steep fines or jail time. 42
On the state level, meanwhile, Davis
is headed toward another type of reckon-2011

SOLAR
90
ing, and it may include time behind bars.

See ROWAN, Page2012

2A
111
2013
Bullitt Utilities 139
2014

Tax breaks, net metering help make it

can abandon 166
2015
attractive in a leading coal state sewer system 189
Source: LG&
189

I think its kind State agencys decision
of sexy to be able affects 700 customers
James Bruggers to create your own James Bruggers
Environment
@jbruggers energy on your own @jbruggers

property. There is a The privately owned Bullitt Utilities

Imagine a solar city in a leading
coal state.
Increasingly, advocates and
some public officials are doing
just that in Louisville, as the price
of using the sun to keep the lights
on continues to fall.
While solar power is still a tiny
fraction of the regions energy
mix, solar panels on rooftops are
no longer an extreme rarity. More
people are calculating a solar bot-
tom line in the black, for their
household or business finances, as
well as for Mother Nature. LG&E
shows a 70 percent increase in
homes and small businesses
hooked up to solar since 2012,
from 111 homes to 189.
There were no such hook-ups
prior to seven years ago.
personal pride to say
you are doing the right
thing.
COLLEEN CRUM, co-chair of a council
committee coordianting the Solar Over
Louisville campaign
Wed been thinking about it
for a while, said Louisville resi-
dent and musician Tom Cunning-
ham, who had a solar power sys-
tem installed by the Louisville
business Avery and Sun last week.
The panels were bolted down to a
back roof on the Clifton home he
shares with his wife, Lorraine
Venberg. Its worth it economi-
See SOLAR, Page 7A
can abandon its sewer system that
serves about 700 customers in the Hunt-
ers Hollow and Hillview areas of Bullitt
County, the Kentucky Public Service
Commission has determined.
Its order Monday said the PCS will go
to Franklin Circuit Court as soon as pos-
sible to seek appointment of a tempor-
ary operator, to begin running the sys-
Freezing
tem prior to a Sept. 30 deadline,
rain
Freezing
when rain the
Ice
company would be allowed to walk away.
The commission intends to seek ap-
pointment of the Bullitt County Sanita-
tion District to take over, because it of-
fers the best opportunity for theChance
contin-
Chance of Chanceof Chance
Snow
uation of service to light
thesnow customers
of snow
light snow of of flurries
snow
Bullitt Utilities, according to a news re-
lease. The sanitation district is already
2009: 10, 2010: 42, 2011: 90,
treating wastewater from the failed pri-
2012: 111, 2013: 139, 2014: 166
vate system, and its director earlier told
Source: LG&E and KU Energy
See SEWER, Page 4A
Sunny Sunny
Fair Fair
Haze

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FROM PAGE ONE/DEATHS lll THE COURIER-JOURNAL
SOLAR
Continued from Page 1A
cally, and its something we wanted to do
for the environment.
The time it takes to recover the costs
from solar investments has been drop-
ping, helped out by federal and state tax
credits and improved technology, ac-
cording to solar installers and their cus-
tomers. But while Louisville and Ken-
tucky lag far behind the rest of the coun-
try in solar, advocates are seeing signs of
change in a state that gets about 90 per-
cent of its electricity from coal.
Solar farms have popped up in Bowl-
ing Green and Berea. Tennessee Valley
Authority policies are making solar
more affordable in western Kentucky
communities it serves.
Kentucky is going to get its first util-
ity-scale and largest solar array, a 10-
megawatt facility to be constructed with
tens of thousands of solar panels in Mer-
cer County, owned and operated by Ken-
tucky Utilities and LG&E.
And the Louisville Metro Council on
Thursday passed a strongly worded res-
olution in support of solar power, led by
council members Rick Blackwell and
Bill Hollander.
It encourages the discussion and
promotion of solar use on public and pri-
most expensive electricity. It also re-
duces transmission costs by putting
MAGGIE HUBER, SPECIAL TO THE C-J
Jon Bruce secures a rail to hold a solar panel.
PUSHING SOLAR
The nonprofit Louisville Sustainability Council
with a membership that cuts across business,
government and nonprofit groups, is prepar-
ing a Solar Over Louisville campaign.
Organizers have tentatively set a goal of
adding 2 megawatts of solar power by the
end of 2016, when a 30 percent federal tax
break on solar power is due to expire.
have 25-year warranties and are expect-
ed to last even longer.
The system was expensive, Klein
said. But he added that in addition to be-
ing a good financial investment, he said
he feels better about not relying on coal
and helping to reduce his familys contri-
bution to climate change.
KY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 lll 7A
stalled by homeowners and businesses establishing citywide renewable energy
actually help the utilities by avoiding goals and strategies. But that plan is
costs of buying coal or other fuels. more than two years old and those goals
It puts energy on the grid they dont have yet to be worked out.
have to purchase, she said. It really At the end of the day, its all about the
helps with peak demand, which is the math, and getting the math to add up,
said Maria Koetter, the citys sustainabil-
ity director. Thats harder due to our
electricity on the grid closer to where its historically cheap energy.
used. Citizens should keep making re-
Givens and others, including Wallace quests, she said, and she welcomes a ro-
McMullen of the Sierra Club, were cele- bust community renewable energy dis-
brating Metro Councils solar power res- cussion. We are going to get there. We
olution adopted on Thursday as a mile- cant be at the back of the pack forever.
stone and a way to push Louisville ener-
gy policies in a greener direction. Reach reporter James Bruggers at 502-582-
Fischers sustainability plan calls for 4645 and at jbruggers@courier-journal.com.
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vate buildings, Hollander said.
Dixie Do-Over
Metro Council is turning its attention
toward a possible ordinance to increase
financing options to businesses that
want to invest in solar power, or other en-
ergy efficiency measures, while Black-
well is promoting a vision for solar-pow-
ered street lighting on Dixie Highway.
The ordinance would allow for Louis-
ville to have what are called Energy Pro-
ject Assessment Districts, which open
up financing that can be paid back over
as many as 20 years as part of property
tax assessments. It would not involve
public subsidies, Hollander said. Over
30 states have done this, and progressive
states and communities have made this
work, and I think we should, too.
Blackwell envisions an Interstate
264-Dixie Highway interchange filled
with wildflowers and dozens of solar
panels, enough to power hundreds of
streetlights along a corridor he said is il-
luminated now only by lights in business
parking lots.
Its part of a Dixie Do-Over to make
part of Dixie Highway more attractive
and safer. He said the Kentucky Trans-

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Jeremy Coxons SunWind Power Sys- *HRUJH*LYHQV7DWXP =RUD(6OD\WRQ
+RDJODQG'UH[OHU
tems of Floyd County, Ind., did the work. 5D\PRQG-6U7KRPDV -HII6WUHHSH\
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Coxon said the economics varies accord- 'HERUDK*DLO)UHHPDQ
ing to the size of a home, its location and &ODUHQFH&DO*HWPDQ ,1',$1$ .(178&.<
its efficiency. Typical systems can cost -RKQ/*ULIQ 5XWK*&ROOLHU 6HHSDJH$
as much as a car, ranging from $10,000 to
$30,000, and with good credit, financing
can be found, Coxon said.
ALEXANDER, JANET LOUISE,
passed away on Au-
In addition to the federal tax credit, gust 25, 2015 unex-
there is also a $500 state tax credit pectedly at her home.
through Dec. 31. She leaves behind
Installing solar in Indiana can be even her companion of 30
more complex, he said, as there is no years, Larry Flem-
state law requiring uniform net-meter- ing; her sons, Tim and
Christopher Alexan-
ing policies. You can be neighbors and
one person can be net-metered and other ABERNATHY, WILLIAM HEN HENRY JR., der; grandchildren,
Tim Alexander Jr.,
71, passed away
wont (be allowed) to connect. Friday, August 28, and Taevon Alexander
New power plant rules unveiled in 2015. and Taelor Alexander;
early August could also boost the solar He served in the and a host of extended
industry. U.S. Army and retired family of hundreds of special needs children
The U.S. Environmental Protection from Philip Morris. and adults.
Agencys Clean Power plan set a goal of He is survived by Visitation: noon 2 p.m. Tuesday at Portland
his wife, Angela; chil- Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, 3800
cutting carbon pollution from power West Market Street, Louisville, KY 40212 with
plants by 32 percent by the year 2030, dren, William Aber-
nathy, Tinika Young, funeral service to follow. Rodgers, Awkard &
compared with 2005 levels. It is expected Dayo Watkins and Lyons is in charge.
to reward states and utility companies Antonio Tiofil.
that move quickly to expand their invest- Funeral will be 1
ment in solar and wind power, while fac- p.m. Thursday at Highland Park Missionary
ing a legal and political challenge from Baptist Church, 3700 Shanks Lane,
Kentucky and Indiana by political lead- with visitation from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Thursday, with burial in Kentucky Vet- 

 







portation Cabinet and the citys public ers who argue President Barack Obama
erans Cemetery on Friday. Arrange- 









works department have been pushing
back, citing cost and safety concerns.
But the lack of streetlights is also a
safety matter, Blackwell said.
Chris Poynter, the spokesman for
Mayor Greg Fischer, said city officials
are trying to work through the issues.
At the same time, the nonprofit Louis-
ville Sustainability Council with a mem-
bership that cuts across business, gov-
ernment and nonprofit groups, is prepar-
ing a Solar Over Louisville campaign.
Organizers have tentatively set a goal
of adding 2 megawatts of solar power by
the end of 2016, when a 30 percent feder-
al tax break on solar power is due to ex-
pire.
That could add a few hundred new
residential solar power systems, sup-
porters said. Currently, LG&E counts a
little less than 1 megawatt of solar power
from residential and small commercial
customers. By comparison, LG&E and
KU Energys new Cane Run natural gas
power plant in Louisville produces 650
megawatts of electricity.
As envisioned, Solar Over Louisville
would be a strategic, focused, collective
effort to integrate solar thinking across
the city, said Colleen Crum, co-chair of a
council committee that is coordinating
the campaign.
A solar push is important for public
health and economic development, mak-
ing Louisville more attractive to young
people and others seeking a cleaner envi-
ronment.
I think its kind of sexy to be able to
create your own energy on your own
property, she added. There is a per-
sonal pride to say you are doing the right
thing.
But Louisville has a long way to go.
A recent report out of North Carolina
State University ranked the city 50th of
the 50 biggest cities for solars value to
consumers, in part because of a history
of having cheap electricity powered by
coal, and because state, local and utility
policies supporting solar power have
lagged behind other parts of the country.
We figure we have nowhere to go but
up, Crum said.
How it works
Customers who have solar power sys-
tems installed on their homes sign up for
net metering. As panels collect energy
from the sun, they run the home or busi-
nesses electricity meter backward.
When the sun sets, the meter goes the
other direction, and for many homes,
systems supply all the electricity need-
ed, wiping out electricity bills.
Thats what LG&E customer attorney
Robert Klein, who had a solar power sys-
tem installed on his Louisville home ear-
lier this month, said hes counting on. He
said he expects a payback in about nine
or 10 years, down from as many as 14
years just a few years ago. And, he said,
hes convinced the solar power will boost
the value of his home.
Installers say the panels typically
is carrying out a war on coal. ments by G.C. Williams
Still, some cities and states have been
working to develop solar power for
years, and those that rank better for so-
lar have stronger renewable energy pol-
icies, and they often have utilities that
provide more incentives for people to
use solar.
State officials say there is plenty of
sunshine. But they also note how solar
energy can be politically polarizing in
Kentucky, the nations third largest coal
producing state. In the most current En-
ergy and Environment Cabinets Land,
Air & Water magazine, they explain
some of that tension that exists between
the states utilities and solar advocates.
People who install their own panels
tout the benefits of cleaner power for
their communities and the utility. For
their part, utilities see more solar panels
on customers homes as less electricity
they can sell, while they still need to pro-
vide power lines and other overhead.
Balancing act
LG&E spokeswoman Natasha Collins
described a balancing act to make sure
all customers are treated fairly while the
utility provides low-cost electricity. Her
company sees net-metering as a subsidy
to customers with solar panels because
those customers are, she said, getting
credits valued at the higher retail price
of electricity as opposed to the actual
cost to produce it, which is lower.
One battleground is over Kentuckys
30-kilowatt limit to residential and com-
mercial solar power systems for partici-
pation in net metering. Nancy Givens,
marketing director for Avery and Sun
Solar Installations, said that shuts out
most commercial businesses, which
BUY 3 SIDES
need more power.
Collins said LG&E will work with any
business that wants to install solar pan-
els, but acknowledges the financial in-
centives for systems larger than 30-kilo-
watts are not as great.
Solar advocates also point to some-
thing as community solar as another
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way to boost its use. It allows people to
invest in solar panels in their community
and get credit on their bills, as if the pan-
els were on their rooftops. Its helpful for
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people whose homes may not be suited
for solar power, because of shade, struc-
tural issues or historic preservation pol-
icies, installers said.
That could become more important as
Louisville also pushes to restore a de-
pleted tree canopy.
Berea has such a project, allowed by
its locally controlled municipal power
provider. LG&E is evaluating communi-
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