Kara Colton, with the Energy Communities Alliance, will be the featured speaker for the community education meetings scheduled for next week to provide information and discussion on topics related to nuclear energy. Dr. Patrick White will no longer be attending due to unforeseen circumstances.
Colton has been associated with the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) since 2007 and serves as the Director of Nuclear Energy Programs. ECA was founded in 1993 and brings together local government officials to share information, establish policy positions, and promote community interests to address an increasingly complex set of constituent, environmental, regulatory and economic development needs. ECA provides local government officials accurate, up-to-date information on developments in federal policies and priorities across the Department of Energy sites.
The two community education meetings, scheduled for McCracken County residents, are to provide information and discussion on several topics related to nuclear energy.
The meetings are scheduled for Thursday, June 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Friday, June 12 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Paducah-McCracken Co. Convention and Expo Center.
Colton’s presentation will include information on advanced nuclear energy technologies; the siting, regulation and oversight of nuclear facilities; the nuclear energy ecosystem and supply chain; the potential role and benefits of nuclear energy development for communities; and what it means to be designated as a Nuclear-Ready Community.
Members of the public and McCracken County residents are invited to attend. McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer and Paducah Mayor George Bray will provide opening remarks. Time will also be allocated for public comments.
The meetings are being held as part of the process for a community to obtain state designation as a Nuclear-Ready Community through the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA).
KNEDA was established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024 through Senate Bill 198. The Authority serves as a non-regulatory state agency focused on supporting and facilitating energy development, coordinating strategy, and expanding energy education in the state. KNEDA is administratively attached to the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research.
The Nuclear-Ready Community program was developed to help communities demonstrate their preparedness to support potential nuclear energy-ready development.
Additional information about KNEDA and the Nuclear-Ready Community program is available at KNEDA.
###
