FRANKFORT — Wrapping up his third year in office, Gov. Andy Beshear told The Courier Journal Wednesday he saw Kentuckians push forward in 2022, despite all the crises they’ve weathered.
“This last year, in many ways … was our move from a deep, dark historical moment that started with this pandemic into a bright future with more opportunity for our next generations than we have ever seen.
“I truly believe we’re turning the page. And in turning the page, we’re not just coming out of something tough, we’re moving into something that can be exceptional.”
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In Wednesday’s year-end interview, here are three accomplishments Beshear highlighted from 2022 and one challenge he’ll focus on in the new year.
Achievement: Boosted economic growth
“We’re in the best two-year period for economic development in our history, and it’s not even close,” he said.
His administration’s biggest win actually came last year, when Ford Motor Co. chose Hardin County as the home of twin electric vehicle battery manufacturing plants. They broke ground on that project this week.
This year saw plenty more announcements, including the electric vehicle battery producer Envision AESC’s April reveal that it will build a $2 billion plant in Bowling Green.
Combined with Ford, Beshear said that “makes us the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States.”
