From a Christian perspective, the future of the Bluegrass is green.
As a Kentuckian, the greatest sense of appreciation I have felt for my home state comes from being able to see its magnificent landscapes from the sky. I always savor the sight of the green rolling hills and pastures as the plane makes its descent. However, a plane ride over the eastern part of our state would constitute a much different spectacle, characterized by destitute landscapes stripped of their greenery and luscious topography by coal mining.
Kentucky has a longstanding tradition of coal, but it has become increasingly clear that it is not a viable future for our state. Once a booming industry, competition from cleaner fuels has rendered coal a dying horse. From 2015 to 2016 Kentucky coal production decreased by 29.9 percent, which was unprecedented in the 21st century and has been dwindling ever since.
This has been detrimental to communities that once thrived off the industry but are now barren. In addition to facing job loss, these communities are also suffering from polluted groundwater from the careless disposal of mining by-products, leading to high levels of carcinogens and heavy metals including an arsenic content of twice the federal standards. This problem encompasses an interest in preserving the integrity of the environment and the well-being of our fellow Kentuckians. Both matters need to be taken into account to find a solution that matches the scope of the problem.
Matters of coal require a holistic approach, and as a Christian my faith is what emboldens me to advocate for both its human and environmental components. Biblical theology relating to creation care has long been twisted to mean that humans have a right to exploit and degrade the earth, but the truth is environmental stewardship is inextricable from the way of Jesus. It encompasses our calling enumerated throughout scripture to take care of the blessing of natural resources and of one another. Examining contemporary attitudes concerning the environment points to a dissonance not only between scientific fact and the partisan divide in approaching such matters, but also between God’s commandments to His followers and how we have failed to live them out.
There are hopeful prospects with renewable energy offering a very promising future. By investing in the solar and wind industry we could harness Kentucky’s 2.4 million gigawatt hours of potential- enough to power the state for 34 years- create jobs within a fast-growing sector, and pave the way towards greater outcomes for people and the environment alike. Additionally, there are provisions for a just transition from coal to renewables outlined in the RECLAIM Act as well as the Green New Deal that focus on funding the economic revitalization of distressed communities and the surrounding land and bailing out the pensions of coal miners, promoting an equitable and sustainable future.
That being said, an opportunity to make drastic changes is encroaching. The coming November election means a chance to decide what trajectory we want to take in rebuilding our state and national economy. Presently we have few incentives for renewable energy in Kentucky and lack statewide standards for renewable development. Senators McConnell and Paul are both backed by the fossil fuel industry and have challenged legislation that pushes for renewable energy, advocating for coal industry barons in place of Kentuckians. Acting in an informed manner requires recognizing that the cost of new wind and solar development is now competitive with existing coal-fired power plants, and by next year, renewable generation will likely surpass coal generation nationwide. All of this leads to one conclusion: The future of the bluegrass is green.
Isadora Koch is a student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. majoring in Environmental Sustainability Sciences and is a Young Christians for Climate Action Fellow.