Skip to main content

State energy pathway · Kentucky

Start with the energy systems shaping Kentucky.

Kentucky's electricity comes primarily from coal—generating 67 percent of the state's power—which keeps the price of electricity the lowest east of the Mississippi River. That low cost attracts energy-intensive industries, including battery manufacturing. That gives Kentucky students a clear view of how an older energy economy and a newer manufacturing economy can overlap.

Energy data is from the EIA State Energy Data System, EIA State Electricity Profiles, NCSL State Energy Legislation Database, and state economic development offices.

See why energy matters hereJump to the matched course

Why Energy Matters in Kentucky

Legacy Energy Roots

Coal has powered Kentucky for over two centuries—mined in the state since 1790. Today, coal generates 67 percent of Kentucky's electricity, second only to West Virginia, making Kentucky the nation's 7th-largest coal producer. Over the past decade, natural gas has grown from about 3 percent to 26 percent of the state's generation, showing how energy systems change while communities adapt and build new skills.

Facility Energy Measurement

Energy-intensive manufacturers like battery producers choose Kentucky because electricity is cheap. But cheap does not mean wasted. Precise measurement of how much electricity a facility uses—and where waste hides—becomes the difference between real savings and squandered capacity. Students who learn to monitor facility energy use gain practical skills that Kentucky's manufacturers depend on. That measurement skill is the same work engineers do in factories across the state.

Latimer Energy Academy helps students in Kentucky make industrial energy use visible so they can connect the state's legacy systems to the measurement habits newer facilities require.

Energy data is from the EIA State Energy Data System, EIA State Electricity Profiles, NCSL State Energy Legislation Database, and state economic development offices.

Start here for Kentucky

The Smart Meter: Energy Investigation

Kentucky's coal-powered, low-cost electricity grid and its established manufacturing base create a direct demand for precise energy measurement skills. Students who learn to find waste in energy data, and to verify the accuracy of electrical systems, gain hands-on experience with the technical work Kentucky's industries—from battery plants to other energy-intensive facilities—depend on.

Mission spotlight

Data Integrity & Efficiency

Students identify noise in energy data and learn what accurate measurements enable. In Kentucky, where electricity is cheap enough to attract energy-intensive industry, the ability to find waste in electrical systems becomes a marketable technical skill. Every facility's profit depends on using power efficiently—which means precise measurement of what is actually happening in the electrical system.

Included in LEA curriculum

Pilot proof

Students enjoy the work because it feels real.

In January 2026, 39 fourth-grade students in Indianapolis completed every lesson from start to finish — coding real pocket computers (microcontrollers), collecting live energy readings, and presenting findings to an audience.

4.6/5

Student enjoyment

72% of students gave it a 5-star rating

100%

Reported learning something new

Every student who took the survey said they learned something new

39

Students completed the entire course

Every student finished all five lessons, coded a pocket computer (microcontroller), and presented findings

Available to book today

Book the support that fits Kentucky.

Whether you want to get LEA into the hands of students this semester, plan for a pilot next year, or just learn more about the state-specific approach, you can book a session with our team to get the support you need.

School or district consultation

Review the state-specific entry point, pilot scope, and what implementation would look like for your classrooms.

Book this path

Founder-led instruction session

Bring Dr. Naeem Turner-Bandele in to teach a project and show what high-quality facilitation looks like with students.

Book this path

Family or community guidance

Get help choosing the right starting point for home learning, after-school use, or a community organization rollout.

Book this path

Utility or business partnership call

Discuss local workforce relevance, territory fit, and how we can collaborate to support energy education in your community.

Book this path

Find your path

Choose your next step based on how you want to use LEA in Kentucky.

Select your path below to see the approach designed for how you will use LEA in Kentucky — whether you run a classroom, lead a school, or support a student at home.

Find the right starting point

Schools

Curriculum and professional development for your district

Teachers

Lesson plans and resources for your classroom

Parents

Learn alongside your child with guided family activities

Community

Hands-on energy programs for clubs and community groups

Utilities

STEM outreach and workforce pipeline programs

Businesses

Partner with Latimer Energy Academy to build the energy and technology workforce