Home / Health Impact Assessment of Coal and Clean Energy Options in Kentucky

Health Impact Assessment of Coal and Clean Energy Options in Kentucky

Abstract: If we Kentuckians value our health, and if Kentucky legislators are concerned with improving public health, it is imperative that community and state leaders examine the role of energy policy in determining health outcomes. Governments and institutions are increasingly using Health Impact Assessments (HIA) as tools to help make policy decisions in the best interest of public health. Using both quantitative and qualitative data, an HIA can arrive at policy recommendations or propose a specific course of action to create the best health outcome possible. Energy policy in Kentucky has typically been designed to maintain the use of coal, a resource that currently provides roughly 93-94% of Kentucky’s electricity. Kentucky legislators have given less attention to the speci!c health bene!ts and consequences of our energy options. “is HIA provides a health-based screening of coal, and of the energy efficiency and renewable energy options proposed in the Clean Energy Opportunity Act as introduced in the 2011 and 2012 Kentucky legislative sessions.

Resource URL: http://www.kyenvironmentalfoundation.org/uploads/1/8/5/9/18595042/kef_health_impact_assessment_energy_report_web.pdf