EKPC breaks ground on natural gas power plant
$500 million project expected to power 95,000 homes, create 23 jobs
East Kentucky Power Cooperative broke ground Wednesday on a new natural gas power plant in Casey County that will strengthen electric grid reliability and support growing energy demand in southern Kentucky.
The plant, known as Liberty Station, is designed to provide additional power during periods of high electricity demand and when other regional energy sources are unavailable.
EKPC executives, joined by local dignitaries, celebrated the impact of the $500 million infrastructure investment to systemwide capacity and reliability, economic growth, and local employment.
“Today’s groundbreaking marks an important step forward for this project,” said Don Mosier, President and CEO of EKPC. “Liberty Station will help strengthen our ability to provide reliable power for the communities we serve while supporting the region’s continued growth and energy needs.”
EKPC said the plant will generate enough electricity to serve about 95,000 Kentucky homes annually.
“Our mission is to safely generate and transmit competitive, reliable power to our owner-members, who serve over a million Kentuckians throughout the state,” said Alan Ahrman, EKPC board chair. “As energy needs increase both locally and nationally, investments like Liberty Station will help maintain reliable service during periods of high demand and severe weather.”
The facility will primarily use natural gas supplied through a nearby interstate pipeline, with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel available as a backup fuel source. Two onsite backup fuel tanks will allow the plant to operate at full capacity for up to 72 hours if needed.
Additional infrastructure at the site will include:
- A new 161 kilovolt switching station connected to EKPC’s existing electric transmission line located less than one mile away
- Two power plant stacks designed with noise mitigation features and positioned at least 1,000 feet from neighboring property lines
- A warehouse, and control and administration building
The Casey County community will reap major benefits from the innovative plant. EKPC is expecting to hire 23 full-time workers to operate the plant. Construction is expected to begin in June 2026, with the facility projected to begin operating in late 2028.
“The Liberty Station project represents a significant investment in the future of our region. What EKPC is bringing to Casey County represents a strong investment in the future of our community,” said Barry Lee, Superintendent of Casey County Schools and Chair of the local industrial development board.
“This project reflects confidence in our region, support for future economic development, and new opportunities for the people who call Casey County home,” he said.
