By Jenni Todd
Murray, KY – Media Release: Kentucky Public Radio Coal Ash Special on WKMS
Date: 10.12.11
Contact: Jenni Todd (jtodd14@murraystate.edu, 270-809-4748)
Hear a Kentucky Public Radio special produced by Louisville Public Media on the science and risks of coal ash Thursday, October 13, at noon on WKMS. It's a live call-in show so that listeners can contribute questions and comments. With its main signal at 91.3 FM, WKMS is Murray State University's listener supported public radio service.
Learn about what coal ash is, how it comes about, whether it's dangerous and what effects it has on health and the environment. Guests will discuss whether it get into groundwater, how it's regulated and what legislation has been proposed and or enacted regarding coal ash.
Coal power accounts for around half of the nation's electricity production and coal-burning power plants produce coal ash. Environmental groups say coal ash contains toxins that can seep into ground water at dump sites, and that it's happening in Kentucky. But power companies say they can safely store it.
The program includes guests like John Voyles, Vice President of Transmission and Generation Services with LG&E; Tom Robl, Associate Director for Applied Energy Research at UK; Tom Fitzgerald of the Kentucky Resource Council; and spokespersons for either EarthJustice or the Environmental Integrity Project, depending on whether the coal ash bill is on the House floor at the time of the program.
This news special is made possible in part by WKMS' partnership with the Kentucky Public Radio News Exchange which comprises seven Kentucky Public Radio stations. That organization also funds a reporter to work out of the state capitol in Frankfort.
See a schedule of WKMS programs at www.wkms.org. Send contributions to WKMS at 2018 University Station, Murray, KY 42071. Checks should be made payable to WKMS/MSU Foundation. The station's media services include 91.3 WKMS, Murray; WKMS HD-1 and All-Classical HD-2; 90.9 WKMD, Madisonville; 89.5 WKMT, Fulton; 99.5 Paris, TN; and All-Classical 92.5 Paducah and 101.5 Madisonville. The station also streams both WKMS HD-1 and HD-2 at www.wkms.org.