Prairie Public Broadcasting

Wind for Watts LEXINGTON (WEKU) - Cold, northerly winds are not usually welcome in Kentucky. But officials with Kentucky Utilities say wind power is another story.

KU recently announced its plan to petition the state Public Service Commission to expand its renewable energy sources. If approved, company spokesman Cliff Feltham says electricity from wind power would be purchased from a northern Illinois utility. He says the energy alternative could some day eliminate the need to build new coal fired power plants.

"If we get several of these together, it will come very close to offsetting the megawatts produced at a coal fired plant."

Feltham says Kentucky's wind profile is not suitable to consider establishing wind farms in state. KU is joining with Louisville Gas and Electric in the proposal to add almost 10 megawatts of wind energy.

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