Curtis Tate
@tatecurtis.bsky.social
Reporter, WEKU. Son & grandson of immigrants. Dog dad. Rail enthusiast. He/him.
The latest in an unusual court case filed in the Western District of Kentucky. A federal judge decided in favor of Oakland, California, which was sued by a bankrupt coal company over the city’s opposition to a coal export terminal near the Port of Oakland. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Kentucky judge throws out suit bankrupt coal company brought against California city
The coal company was contracted to ship 13 million tons of coal a year from a new West Coast terminal.
weku.org
The Kentucky Public Service Commission said Tuesday it will not allow a group of stakeholders to intervene in an audit of Kentucky Power's operations and management. From @tatecurtis.bsky.social at @weku.bsky.social
State commission limits outside groups from weighing in on Kentucky Power audit
Byron Gary, an attorney representing the groups, says it’s unusual for the PSC to exclude them from filing testimony and offering evidence.
weku.org
It might not surprise anyone that the Sierra Club flunked most of Kentucky’s electric utilities for their commitment to coal and gas. But it might surprise you that not all of them got an F on the group’s latest scorecard. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Sierra Club gives all but 1 of Kentucky's electric utilities an F on latest scorecard
The environmental advocacy group failed most of Kentucky’s electric utilities because of their commitment to coal and natural gas.
weku.org
Kentucky Power was the only utility statewide to earn a D grade from the Sierra Club in its latest scorecard, released this week. All others earned an F. From @tatecurtis.bsky.social at @weku.bsky.social
Sierra Club gives all but 1 of Kentucky's electric utilities an F on latest scorecard
The environmental advocacy group failed most of Kentucky’s electric utilities because of their commitment to coal and natural gas.
weku.org
This is 2/3 of the way there. Let’s bring it home, and exceed the goal. www.gofundme.com/f/support-la...
Donate to Support laid off Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, organized by Ryan Hermens
On Thursday, Sept. 10, 13 journalists were laid off from the Lexin… Ryan Hermens needs your support for Support laid off Lexington Herald-Leader journalists
gofundme.com
A new intervention on coal’s behalf as the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects an 8% decline in coal generation this year and a 6% decline next year. And as the courts have started to weigh in on other measures, not favorably. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
As coal declines in KY and across US, Trump's EPA drops CO2 emissions limits for power plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will abandon Biden-era rules that force coal-burning power plants to capture most of their CO2 emissions.
weku.org
Congressman Thomas Massie currently attempting to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will abandon Biden-era rules that force coal-burning power plants to capture most of their CO2 emissions. From @tatecurtis.bsky.social at @weku.bsky.social
As coal declines in KY and across US, Trump's EPA drops CO2 emissions limits for power plants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it will abandon Biden-era rules that force coal-burning power plants to capture most of their CO2 emissions.
weku.org
The Trump administration has made multiple interventions on coal’s behalf. Those efforts appear to have fallen flat. Coal generation is forecast to decline 8% this year and 6% in 2027, according to the Trump administration’s own energy information agency. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Are Trump's policies helping KY coal? Not much, new federal outlook shows
Coal generation is expected to decline in 2026 and 2027, according to a recent federal outlook.
weku.org
I was appalled by the cruelty and callousness with which my Dow Jones colleagues were culled in the summer of 2008. I took a buyout rather than being subjected to a reality-TV style elimination round. Now, everyone does it. Callousness and cruelty is standard.
In a filing with state regulators, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office says TeraWulf’s proposed data center near Ashland could help offset the cost of the cooling tower at a West Virginia coal-fired power plant. From @tatecurtis.bsky.social at @weku.bsky.social
Data center could help lower cost of Kentucky Power cooling tower project, AG says
In a filing, Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office says TeraWulf’s proposed data center near Ashland could help offset the cost of the Mitchell cooling tower in West Virginia.
weku.org
At a hearing in Frankfort last month, the Kentucky PSC chair called Kentucky Power’s Mitchell cooling tower replacement project ‘unpopular’ because of its impact on bills. Would data center demand make it more popular? www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Data center could help lower cost of Kentucky Power cooling tower project, AG says
In a filing, Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office says TeraWulf’s proposed data center near Ashland could help offset the cost of the Mitchell cooling tower in West Virginia.
weku.org
A federal judge has dismissed the bankruptcy case of an Eastern Kentucky coal operator, leaving a lawsuit by hundreds of workers seeking to recover 60 days of unpaid wages and benefits unresolved. From @tatecurtis.bsky.social at @weku.bsky.social
Judge dismisses Pike County coal operator's bankruptcy case, leaving workers in limbo
About 300 former employees sued in March, seeking to recover 60 days of wages and benefits they say Clintwood JOD LLC should have paid them under federal labor law.
weku.org
As the bankruptcy case of this Pike County coal operator winds down, its 300 laid-off workers remain in limbo. The sale of the company’s assets at auction last month for $1.1 million leaves them with little to collect. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Judge dismisses Pike County coal operator's bankruptcy case, leaving workers in limbo
About 300 former employees sued in March, seeking to recover 60 days of wages and benefits they say Clintwood JOD LLC should have paid them under federal labor law.
weku.org
Sen. Robby Mills, a Henderson Republican, said in an Energy Policy Inventory Commission meeting that Kentucky lawmakers could shorten the life of the tax breaks previously enacted for data centers in the next year's legislative session. #kyga26 From @tatecurtis.bsky.social of @weku.bsky.social
KY General Assembly could revisit tax breaks for data centers, top lawmaker says
Sen. Robby Mills, a Henderson Republican, says state lawmakers could shorten the life of the tax breaks previously enacted for such development.
weku.org
Kentucky lawmakers may be second-guessing the tax breaks they enacted to encourage data center development; 10 years instead of 50? www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
KY General Assembly could revisit tax breaks for data centers, top lawmaker says
Sen. Robby Mills, a Henderson Republican, says state lawmakers could shorten the life of the tax breaks previously enacted for such development.
weku.org
Maryland-based TeraWulf, which wants to build hyperscale data center projects at both ends of Kentucky, told the Beshear administration in a filing that it would meet their requirements to limit impacts on the environment and ratepayer utility bills. From @tatecurtis.bsky.social @weku.bsky.social
Developer says KY data center with Anthropic ties meets new limits on environmental, energy impact
The company says the project it is building in Hancock County will not increase electric bills.
weku.org
Justice-owned Kentucky Fuel appeals district judge’s order to pay millions: www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Justice coal company appeals district court’s order in long-simmering Kentucky case
In July, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ordered company associates to pay $18 million in a 2012 lawsuit filed by New London Tobacco Market and Fivemile Energy.
weku.org
Last week, Gov. Andy Beshear directed state agencies to deny permits for data center-related projects if they increased costs for residents or harmed the environment. Kentucky Utilities’ application for an air permit for a gas plant could test that executive order. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Kentucky Utilities' Mercer gas plant could test Beshear's data center executive order
Gov. Andy Beshear’s Aug. 6 order directs the state Energy and Environment Cabinet to deny air quality permits for any data center project that worsens the environment.
weku.org
At least in Kentucky, we now have six month of coal data to compare with last year. In jobs terms — and really, what matters most — June ended with more than 300 fewer workers than at the end of last year. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Coal jobs continue to decline, especially in Eastern Kentucky, latest figures show
The declines come amid a surge in the growth of solar power and despite Trump administration policies intended to boost coal use.
weku.org
Residents across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia have packed public meetings in recent months to speak out against data centers, with a recurring concern being how they could affect the cost of electricity. From @tatecurtis.bsky.social at @weku.bsky.social
With more data centers on the horizon, communities worry about rising electricity bills
Residents across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia have packed public meetings in recent months to speak out against data centers, with a recurring concern being how they could affect the cost of ...
weku.org
Our look at data center expansion in Kentucky and its impact on electricity costs. I have a feeling we’ll be returning to this one soon. www.weku.org/amsn/2026-08...
With more data centers on the horizon, communities worry about rising electricity bills
Residents across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia have packed public meetings in recent months to speak out against data centers, with a recurring concern being how they could affect the cost of ...
weku.org
A data center developer looking to build a campus in Eastern Kentucky told investors Wednesday it could double the size of the project to requiring 2 gigawatts of electricity From @tatecurtis.bsky.social at @weku.bsky.social
TeraWulf tells investors it could double the size of one of its KY data center projects
Wednesday, Chairman and CEO Paul Prager told investors the company is looking to double the power of what it calls the Muskie Data Campus.
weku.org
Since the public seems to love the idea of a 1 GW data center, how about a 2 GW data center? TeraWulf looks to double the size of its project in Eastern Kentucky: www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
TeraWulf tells investors it could double the size of one of its KY data center projects
Wednesday, Chairman and CEO Paul Prager told investors the company is looking to double the power of what it calls the Muskie Data Campus.
weku.org
These workers sued for back pay and benefits. Coal company’s assets then sold at auction for pennies on the dollar. Now they’re told there’s nothing left for them even if they won a judgment. www.weku.org/the-commonwe...
Bankrupt KY coal operator tells court there’s nothing left to pay laid-off workers who sued
Three hundred former employees of Clintwood JOD LLC sued in March, seeking 60 days of pay and benefits they say they should have received under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notificatio...
weku.org
