Beshear announces drop in gas tax, $6M to bolster electric grid for severe weather

Gas Prices will see a drop beginning July 1st

(Story Courtesy of Kentucky Today)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – A drop in the state’s gasoline tax and grants to improve the state’s public power system as well as brownfield areas were among the announcements made by Gov. Andy Beshear during his weekly press conference on Thursday (June 5).

Starting July 1, the state gas tax will drop by 1.4 cents per gallon. As a result, the gas tax will have dropped by a total of 3.7 cents, or 12 percent, over the last two years.

“Right now, things that our families need cost too much,” Beshear said. “As Governor, I am laser-focused on helping bring down costs for our Kentucky families. I know every penny counts, and these savings can really add up. Whether you are driving to school or work – or setting out on a family trip – you should see these savings at the pump.”

He also announced the awarding of more than $6 million in grants to improve the dependability of the electric grid and keep the lights on during disruptive events such as extreme weather, wildfire or natural disasters.

“In Kentucky, we’ve been through too many severe weather events,” said Gov. Beshear. “As we continue to rebuild, we’re also investing in our electric grids to make them more prepared during emergencies, so that fewer people lose power and our public power utilities are stronger.”

Recipients of the Kentucky Grid Resilience grants include:

--Hopkinsville Electric System – $1,451,443

--Princeton Electric Plant Board – $1,752,207

--Owensboro Municipal Utilities – $1,668,750

--Williamstown Utility Commission – $1,143,588

Over $6 million was also awarded to help Kentucky communities restore previously blighted and unused property.

Those receiving the awards were:

--Ballard County Economic & Industrial Development Board, a $1,081,850 Cleanup Grant for the Old Barlow School.

--City of Frankfort, $500,000 to inventory, assess and develop cleanup plans in the Holmes Street Corridor.

--Gateway Area Development District, $500,000 to cleanup planning in the cities of Salt Lick, Frenchburg, Mount Sterling, West Liberty and Morehead.

--Cumberland Valley Area Development District, $1.2 million for clean-up on the cities of Lynch, Benham and Cumberland.

--Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection – $2 million to inventory, assess and conduct engagement activities across the state, focusing on Louisville, Maysville and Scottsville.

--Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government, a $750,000 supplemental revolving loan fund (RLF) award through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for brownfield cleanups.

Since 2007, $40.5 million in EPA brownfield funding has been awarded.