Recovery Act Backing to Jumpstart Construction of Waste-to-Energy Facility at Kentucky Horse Park

(ATLANTA - Mar. 29, 2010) During a ceremony today at the Kentucky Horse Park, the E.P.A. (EPA) joined the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) to recognize a $1.95 million plan funded in part through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 in Lexington, Ky. The Kentucky Horse Park received loans through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the purchase and installation of a manure bioenergy management facility.

"This plan is a prime example of how Recovery Act backing is helping local communities," said Acting E.P.A. Regional Administrator Stan Meiburg. "The construction of the new manure bioenergy management facility will provide an on-site solution for waste disposal, generating renewable electricity and protecting the environment."

"By taking these aggressive efficiency measures, the Kentucky Horse Park is demonstrating the value of energy conservation and how it has a positive impact on our environment now and in the future," said Mrs. Beshear. "As founder of Kentucky's Green Team, I am confident that when guests visit the Horse Park, they will be impressed not only with our world class facility but by our commitment to sustainability."

The Kentucky Horse Park spends an average of $200,000 per year to dispose of horse manure. The construction of the new manure bionergy management facility is a practical and sustainable solution that will eliminate costs associated with waste disposal while providing many environmental benefits. The productive reuse of horse manure to generate electricity is expected to substantially offset electric charges incurred. Energy from waste produces less greenhouse gases than the continued transport of manure to the landfill. The plan will serve the North Elkhorn Creek watershed and provide regional water quality benefits to the area. The on-site storage of manure will not contribute to ground or surface water pollution, which will help to maintain the unnamed tributaries to Cane Run that flow into North Elkhorn Creek.

In 2009, the E.P.A. distributed $49.9 million in ARRA backing to KIA to help the state finance overdue enhancements to water plans that are essential for protecting public health and the environment. The backing augmented Kentucky's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) program, which provides low-interest loans for water quality protection plans for wastewater treatment, non-point source pollution control, and watershed and estuary management. The Kentucky Horse Park plan received $1,950,000 in assistance through the SRF, including $950,000 in ARRA funds.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Feb. 17, and has directed the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at www.Recovery.gov.

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