GOP sponsor cites Russia, China for why higher bar is needed to intervene in utility cases

By: Liam Niemeyer

Outlets: Kentucky Lantern

Published: March 4, 2026

Words: 952

Last Updated: 6 days, 10 hours ago

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FRANKFORT — A Republican committee chair defended making it harder for Kentuckians to be heard in utility regulatory cases by blaming “outside groups” for causing delays, an apparent reference to debunked claims that Russia has funded the Sierra Club through a third-party foundation.

“Russia and China have gone through other organizations to fund groups that come and stall projects across the United States,” Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, told members of his Senate Natural Resources and …

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