A partnership between LG&E and KU and a Kentucky company could help both the energy and agriculture sectors, Kentucky leaders announced Monday.
Kentucky company Charah is opening up a facility in Louisville that will take leftover gypsum from the Mill Creek Power Station and turn it into a sulfur product —such as fertilizers—for Kentucky farmers.
Kentucky agriculture is in need of sulfur products to help grow strong crops, state agriculture leaders said. The new venture will also help reduce a byproduct from coal-fired power plants.
Many of Kentucky's top leaders turned out for the announcement, including U.S. Senator Rand Paul, who says the new product is great for multiple needs, including the economy and the environment.
"This is a great example on Earth Day of doing something good for the environment, of recycling, of doing a green project, but also creating jobs and creating profit and we shouldn't be ashamed we're doing both," Paul says.
Charah founder Charles Price says the new pellet his company will make will help replace the massive amounts of sulfur farmers must currently use.
"The product manufactured here at Mill Creek will be high purity product, will provide the 16 pounds of sulfur needed and will allow farmers to increase crop yields and reduce nutrient costs," he says.
The new Charah plant will be up and running soon.