Beshear said he supports an "all-of-the-above" energy policy that includes nuclear energy. For generations, coal fueled the state's economy but its dominance has slipped. Supporters of adding nuclear energy to that mix had touted the bill's passage as a pivotal moment for Kentucky's energy future.
Senate Bill 198 was among a small batch of vetoes announced by the Democrat governor. The Republican supermajority legislature reconvenes in mid-April for the final two days of this year's session, when lawmakers can vote to override vetoes. Beshear has signed a number of bills and continues to review stacks of other measures.
When the nuclear energy bill cleared the legislature last month, it marked a milestone for Carroll, who has spent years striving to secure an eventual foothold for nuclear power as an energy supplier in a state where coal has long been king. The authority would delve into workforce and educational needs to develop the nuclear sector. And it would set criteria for voluntary designations as a "nuclear-ready community," signaling to the industry a community's willingness for nuclear-related development.
The debate about attracting nuclear energy projects comes as Kentucky's coal industry has declined drastically over the past two decades, producing about a quarter of the coal it mined 20 years ago.