ASHLAND, Ky. – January 24, 2025 – In a significant step to support energy efficiency improvements in eastern Kentucky, the Kentucky Power Foundation announced $1 million in weatherization readiness grants awarded to local Community Action Kentucky agencies. This funding will enhance existing weatherization initiatives by providing funding for critical home repairs that are necessary for homeowners to qualify for weatherization assistance.
Front Row (L to R): Cindy Wiseman, Kentucky Power president and COO; Renny Hall, Big Sandy Community Action Program; Annie Thompson, LKLP Community Action Council; Kim Tackett, Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency; Veronica Greene, Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency. Back row (L to R): Jared Newman (Big Sandy Community Action Program), Tony Sizemore, LKLP Community Action Council, Rick Baker, Community Action Kentucky executive director.
The Community Action Kentucky agencies receiving the grants, which will be paid out over a period of five years, are Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency, which was awarded $320,000; Big Sandy Area Community Action Program, which will receive $230,000; and $450,000 to support to LKLP Community Action Council (Leslie, Knott, Letcher, and Perry counties).
Cindy Wiseman, president and chief operating officer, said these funds will enable more extensive home repairs and ensure additional homes are adequately prepared for weatherization and energy efficiency measures under the federally funded Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program, which reduces energy consumption for low-income families and individuals.
“Eastern Kentucky has long faced the challenges of severe weather, and the recent cold temperatures have really highlighted the urgent need for weather-readiness programs to improve the energy efficiency of homes in our service area,” Wiseman said. “We are pleased to provide these grants to help our customers make necessary home repairs that will enable them to participate in the weatherization program.”
Weatherization improvements typically include the addition of quality insulation, upgrading or repairing heating and cooling systems, and providing access to energy-efficient appliances that use less electricity. According to LKLP Housing and Weatherization Director, Annie Thompson, many homes are in such disrepair that they require additional funding to make them safe and ready to accept these weatherization and energy efficiency measures.
“This Kentucky Power Foundation grant will allow us to expand energy-saving services to some of our most disadvantaged clients who would otherwise be unable to receive weatherization services due to the cost of structural repairs needed for their homes to quality,” explained Thompson. “In the counties we serve, this is largely due to the devastating flooding event that occurred in 2022, which created a housing crisis in eastern Kentucky.”
Statistical data shows that in the 14 counties served by the grant recipient agencies, 27 percent of residents live below the poverty threshold. Reports also show that residential customers in eastern Kentucky consume approximately 40 percent more electricity than the national average, largely due to inadequate weatherization of homes.
Renny Hall, associate director for Big Sandy Area, said the statistics help tell the story of how invaluable these grants are for the communities served by the agencies.
“This grant provides the flexibility and resources we need to address critical energy efficiency challenges while tailoring solutions to meet the unique needs of each home,” Hall said. “This support allows us to expand the reach of our Weatherization Assistance Program, ensuring that more families can live in safer, healthier and more energy-efficient homes.”
The Kentucky Power Foundation, part of the American Electric Power Foundation, awards grants within communities served by Kentucky Power. The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) and its operating subsidiaries, including Kentucky Power. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives in communities served by AEP and initiatives outside AEP’s 11-state service area. As an independent, non-profit philanthropic organization, the Foundation is funded solely through shareholder dollars.
The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger. Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, promote healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and civic vitality.
The AEP Foundation operates under the following names: Appalachian Power Foundation, AEP Texas Foundation, AEP Ohio Foundation, AEP Energy Foundation, Kentucky Power Foundation, Indiana Michigan Power Foundation, Cook Nuclear Plant Foundation, Public Service Company of Oklahoma Foundation and Southwestern Electric Power Company Foundation.