Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, subsidiaries of PPL Corporation, have partnered with Rye Development to evaluate a 266MW pumped storage hydropower project in eastern Kentucky.
The Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project, under development by Rye Development, is planned for Bell County on former coal mining land. If completed, it would be the first pumped storage facility in Kentucky and among the first new projects of its type built in the US in more than three decades.
“The Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project is a compelling initiative to explore with Rye Development because it would be the first of its kind for Kentucky and would further diversify our flexible, sustainable power generation fleet supporting the commonwealth’s economic growth momentum,” said John R. Crockett III, President for LG&E and KU. “Pumped storage hydro has been used for decades around the world, and we’re proud to be part of an effort that could introduce it here in Eastern Kentucky.”
The proposed facility would operate as an eight-hour storage system, generating up to 266MW of electricity by cycling water between two reservoirs at different elevations. The project is intended to provide dispatchable capacity during periods of peak demand.
“Large-scale energy storage systems like Lewis Ridge not only strengthen the grid; they are significant long-term investments, providing economic benefits to communities and stabilizing energy prices for decades,” said Paul Jacob, CEO of Rye Development. “We’re excited to partner with LG&E and KU to advance the Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project in a region with a proud legacy of powering the nation.”
Rye Development estimates the project cost at $1.3bn, including $81m in funding from the US Department of Energy. Construction is expected to support approximately 2,300 jobs over four years and generate around $1.65m annually in local tax revenue once operational.
The project received a preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2022 and is currently progressing through the federal licensing process.
LG&E and KU are undertaking a technical and economic evaluation. Subject to a positive outcome, the utilities would seek approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission to proceed. Construction could begin in 2027, with commercial operation targeted for 2031.
The utilities currently operate more than 7,200MW of generation capacity across coal, natural gas, solar and hydro assets, including the Ohio Falls and Dix Dam hydro plants in Kentucky.
