By Angela Hatton
Paducah, KY – Five democrats met in Paducah last night in their only western Kentucky debate, and their final debate before the May 18th US Senate primary. Facing off were Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, Lieutenant Governor Dan Mongiardo, Darlene Price of Whitley City, Maurice Sweeney of Louisville, and James Buckmaster of Henderson. The candidates presented their views on a variety of energy issues, including nuclear power and Cap and Trade. Four out of five opposed Cap and Trade regulations, but Sweeney demurred. He says Kentucky will lose out if it doesn't get on board with the legislation.
"The democrats in those other states that don't care about coal, don't care about Kentucky like we do. You can't stick your head in the sand and think nothing's going to happen. So what you have to do, you either dictate change or change will be dictated to you."
All candidates noted the importance of the coal industry to Kentucky. Mongiardo called for lifting the state's moratorium on nuclear power plants.
"I think that it is safe. Uh, we haven't built a new nuclear plant in this country in over 40- years and we haven't had one death from a nuclear accident in the United States. And this is old technology. So, the new technology today is much more modern. It uses a different fuel, it's a much safer fuel."
Conway was more cautious in his assessment of nuclear power.
"I am not in favor of lifting the ban until the Kentucky General Assembly or a task force studies the issue and projects electricity rates out into the future."
Conway worries the cost involved in nuclear energy could reduce Kentucky's coal consumption and affect the state's low utility rates. Sweeney, Price, and Buckmaster also expressed concerns over increased nuclear power.