Kentucky House passes energy bill

The Kentucky House of Representatives has passed a bill that expands tax incentives for companies interested in locating alternative fuel facilities in the state.

The vote was 87 to 10, according to the Legislative Research Commission.

The bill also includes funding for energy research and initiatives to improve energy efficiency in small businesses.

The bill also appropriates: $100 million in bond funds to establish an energy projects economic development bond pool, $2 million to the Center for Applied Energy Research for alternative fuel production technology research, and $300,000 to the Kentucky Department of Education for an energy technology career track program.

The bill would pave the way for St. Louis-based Peabody Energy to build a coal conversion facility that will produce 100 to 200 million cubic feet of synthetic natural gas per day. The project would bring an investment of $1.8 billion to $3 billion and would create 500 to 1,000 construction jobs and 375 to 800 plant and mine jobs.

To read a summary of the bill, click here .