Energy research institute recognizes LG&E and KU for “championing technology”
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company recently earned two Technology Transfer Awards from EPRI for achievements in innovation, sustainability, research and development. The EPRI Technology Transfer Awards recognize leaders and innovators who have championed a technology within their company and across the industry, providing meaningful benefits for their company as well the society.
“The EPRI Technology Transfer awards further add to the distinguished reputation we, along with our parent company, PPL, have earned through a constant dedication to innovation and research,” said John R. Crockett, president of LG&E and KU. “We congratulate everyone involved in these efforts, and we’re thankful for our industry, university, and research partners, such as EPRI, who help us better serve our communities.”
EPRI, an energy research institute, evaluated more than 100 nominations nationwide before selecting, through a fiercely competitive process, only a handful of award recipients. LG&E and KU won for innovation in sustainable solar site management by carefully coordinating native plants and pollinator habitats while utilizing sheep as a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly means of maintaining vegetation. Partnering with LG&E and KU on this project were Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and Roundstone Native Seed Company.
The second award came for modernizing distribution planning using automated processes and tools, including computer models. These planning techniques will help LG&E and KU better evaluate the best investment strategies, including new technologies, to meet changing system demands.
Including these latest honors, LG&E and KU has won 16 Technology Transfer Awards from EPRI since 2013. Among the projects noted in the awards are the company’s energy storage site, universal solar farm and electric vehicle charging station program. Along with its parent company, PPL, LG&E and KU will continue to lead in the research and development space while progressing toward PPL’s sustainability goals.
Together with PPL, LG&E and KU has committed to achieve net-zero carbon (CO2) emissions by 2050, with interim reduction targets of 70% from 2010 levels by 2035 and 80% by 2040. Find out more information about LG&E and KU’s innovation and electrification at lge-ku.com/research.
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Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 333,000 natural gas and 429,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 566,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.
Sheep maintain vegetation at LG&E and KU’s 50-acre solar farm at E.W. Brown Generating Station in Mercer County. Download image
