Some eastern Kentucky officials believe Kentucky should use coal to lead not only the nation, but lead the world in developing clean energy.

Some who attended the coal forum at the University of Kentucky yesterday believe clean coal technology will boost the economy and help the state go green.

Coal could be a hero - that's how one official describes it.

Several lawmakers say clean coal technology is possible and say Kentucky should jump at the chance to create new jobs during the recession.

Lawmakers and local officials say Kentucky cannot afford to lose cheap electricity and all the coal jobs along with it.

“Coal is really the backbone of our economy here in Kentucky. We're a coal state, and we should be proud of it,” Representative Rocky Adkins said.

State Representative Rocky Adkins wants the state to use coal to boost the economy and help the nation become energy independent.

“The foundation, the stabilizer of any energy policy has to be coal. Coal has to be part of that equation. So Kentucky really has an unbelievable opportunity. We have a chance to be the national leaders in the energy field, the international leaders,” Adkins said.

Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford says coal was a basis for the industrial revolutions in the past and believes clean coal technology could create another one during the recession.

“Coal is not the villain, coal is the hero,” Rutherford said.

Adkins agrees says developing clean coal technology would create thousands of new jobs in Eastern Kentucky and is lobbying to get projects started.

“During this recession, we ought to be building, re-building the energy infrastructure of this great nation to be able to provide the energy we're going to need in the future and that in my opinion will put trillions of dollars back into our economy,” Adkins said.

Something coal supporters say would help the state for decades.
Officials say coal is burned cleaner now than it was just five years ago.

University of Kentucky researchers are looking at ways to make it burn even cleaner and greener.