Kentucky Power co-hosted a legislative wrap-up event this week with the Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in downtown Ashland, bringing together community leaders and state legislators to discuss key outcomes from the 2026 legislative session in Frankfort and priorities for the region moving forward.
The event featured remarks from Sen. Robin L. Webb, Rep. Scott Sharp, Rep. Aaron Thompson and Rep. Patrick Flannery, who shared insights on legislation, economic development, data centers and investments impacting eastern Kentucky communities.
During opening remarks, Kentucky Power President and COO, Cindy Wiseman, discussed securitization and the importance of continued collaboration between business leaders and elected officials to support customers and communities across the region.
Rep. Flannery highlighted the passage of House Bill 869, legislation designed to restructure Kentucky’s economic development incentives program and provide additional opportunities for rural counties. He also noted that much of the legislative session focused on the state budget and securing appropriations for projects within his district.
Sen. Webb, who serves on the Agriculture Committee, shared that targeted economic investment tied to energy production remained one of her key priorities during the session. She also emphasized the importance of state appropriations aimed at improving quality of life in eastern Kentucky communities and discussed continued efforts to expand food access and create opportunities for Kentucky farmers.
Rep. Thompson noted that Boyd and Greenup counties currently rank first and second in the state for recent site-selection visits and requests for information, reflecting growing interest in the region for future development opportunities.
Healthcare access and workforce development were also major topics of discussion. Sen. Webb described eastern Kentucky as a healthcare hub and said she will continue pursuing opportunities for expansion and investment to help prevent depopulation.
“Events like this create valuable opportunities for open dialogue between legislators, business leaders and community stakeholders,” said Ryan Lake, external affairs manager. “Hearing directly from our elected officials about the work happening in Frankfort helps strengthen partnerships and keeps the focus on issues that matter most to the communities we serve, including economic growth, workforce development and quality of life.”