Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company were recently recognized for their innovative, sustainable, and research-driven efforts, earning two Technology Transfer Awards from EPRI.
The EPRI Technology Transfer Awards honor individuals who have gone above and beyond to promote technology within their company and across the industry, resulting in substantial benefits to their company and society as a whole.
After a nationwide competition involving an extensive evaluation process, LG&E and KU received the award for their innovative approach to sustainable solar site management by coordinating native plants and pollinator habitats and using sheep as a cost-effective and eco-friendly way of maintaining vegetation. Officials indicate Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and Roundstone Native Seed Company partner with LG&E and KU on this project.
Officials announced that the second award was earned through the modernization of distribution planning with automated processes and tools, such as computer models. These techniques, they claim, will help the companies to assess the best investment approaches, including modern technologies, to fulfill evolving system needs.
Since 2013, LG&E and KU have been awarded 16 Technology Transfer Awards from EPRI, including honors for the company’s energy storage site, universal solar farm, and electric vehicle charging station program. Along with its parent company, PPL, officials indicate LG&E and KU will continue to spearhead research and development and move closer to achieving their sustainability objectives.
Together with PPL, LG&E and KU have committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with interim reduction targets of 70% from 2010 levels by 2035 and 80% by 2040.
LG&E serves 333,000 natural gas and 429,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 566,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties, including 1,306 customers in Caldwell County. KU also serves five counties in Virginia.
