The Secretary of Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet has officially submitted his resignation to Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear. Secretary Len Peters’ last day in his position will be Dec. 7, which is also Beshear’s last day in office.
Peters’ resignation isn’t a surprise; as the head of a cabinet, his position is one that is typically appointed by the governor.
Although Governor-elect Matt Bevin, a Republican, hasn’t yet announced who he will choose to lead the Energy and Environment Cabinet, Peters included a farewell letter in the October issue of the cabinet’s magazine (which was published before the election) indicating he was planning on resigning no matter who took office.
Peters has led the cabinet since 2008. He’s a chemical engineer by training, and before working in state government he led the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He’s also held academic and administrative positions at the University of Kentucky and Virginia Tech.
Peters formally announced his resignation to staff in an email Thursday, where he outlined the cabinet’s successes, including energy efficiency, new oil and gas regulations, and the progress made in closing the Maxey Flats nuclear disposal site. A spokesman for the cabinet did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
