LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington is hosting the 47th annual Governor’s Conference on energy and the environment.

What You Need To Know

  • Monday and Tuesday the 47th Governor's Conference on Energy and Environment is happening in Lexington 

  • Kentucky Habitat for Humanity awarded Governor Andy Beshear as an outstanding leader for his response during '21 tornadoes and '22 flooding 

  • Beshear has partnered with Habitat for Humanity and other agencies to help with the rebuild 

Kentucky Habitat for Humanity was one of many stakeholders that convened to discuss everything from EV batteries to community resilience. While speaking at the conference, Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., was awarded an Outstanding Leadership Award from Kentucky Habitat for Humanity.

“Here’s the man who stepped up with great enthusiasm immediately and helped raise funds; over 150,000 people donated to the fund he started, and we were able to share in some of that money to build houses,” said Lyle Hanna, chair of Kentucky Habitat for Humanity. “We have houses going up right now.”

In Dec. 2021, an EF4 tornado ravaged Western Kentucky. Six months later, in July 2022, floods ravaged 13 eastern Kentucky counties. Since then Hanna said the governor has partnered with Habitat for Humanity and other organizations to provide long-term recovery.

“I’ve had the pleasure to go with him to dedicate some of these houses and he makes a great speech. But what’s cool is after the speech is over, he wants to meet the family and hear from the family,” Hanna said.

Before receiving the award, Gov. Beshear remarked the people gathered at the conference were just as much responsible for Kentucky’s rebuild as he is.

“Thanks to the people in this room, we dedicated our 100th home to families that lost their homes in the tornadoes in western Kentucky, 100 homes,” Beshear said.

Beshear said that number only includes homes funded from the Team Western Kentucky relief fund.

In Eastern Kentucky, Beshear says over 120 houses will be built in Hazard and 10 in Whitesburg after the federal department of Housing and Urban Development approved environmental reviews.

“Yes, this all takes too long, but we have to do it right and we have to do it in a way that doesn’t put our people in harm’s way,” Beshear said.

Beshear says the rebuild in Eastern Kentucky is unique because they’re rebuilding homes on higher ground and out of floodplains.

Beshear says they’re also working on new high ground communities in Knott and Floyd Counties and expects to announce a new housing project in the coming.

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