The Elmer Smith Power Plant was a coal-fired power plant owned and operated by the city of Owensboro, Kentucky. Unit 1 opened in 1964 with Unit 2 opening 10 years later in 1974[2]
The power plant was the main source of power for the city of Owensboro during the years it was active.
History
As a result of the Owensboro Municipal Utility Commission approving a contract with Big Rivers Electric to supply electricity for Owensboro,[3] Elmer Smith Power Plant closed on June 1, 2020, and was demolished on December 4, 2022, making it two years, six months and three days later after the power plant's closure.
In 2010, The Clean Air Task Force conducted a study to identify and quantify deaths and other injuries attributed to fine particle pollution from coal-fired power plants[5] and found there to be an estimated 10 deaths annually as a result of fine particle pollution from the Elmer Smith Power Station as well as other negative effects on the health of those affected by the pollutants.
Type of Impact
Annual Incidence
Valuation
Deaths
10
$75,000
Heart attacks
16
$1,700,000
Asthma attacks
170
$9,000
Hospital admissions
7
$170,000
Chronic bronchitis
6
$2,800,000
Asthma ER visits
11
$4,000
Closing
In 2019, the city of Owensboro made the landmark decision to close the plant as part of its economic evolution and effort to attract more tourism (5) By closing the plant, the city plans on switching primarily to solar power by 2022 by purchasing energy from the Ashwood Solar Station [6] which is set to open in Lyon County, Kentucky
