Beshear Says Landowners Can Raise PREA Concerns in Court

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said property owners opposing a proposed natural gas pipeline may bring their easement concerns before a court.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Utilities

Beshear Says Landowners Can Raise PREA Concerns in Court

Live Poll

Should local governments use eminent domain to build private pipelines?

Governor Andy Beshear said landowners can raise concerns about the Pennyrile Regional Energy Authority's easement negotiations in court. He said his administration would follow up on reporting requirements tied to PREA's $30 million state appropriation.

Why it matters

The dispute involves eminent domain and public money for a proposed 53-mile natural gas pipeline crossing five western Kentucky counties. Beshear described expanded natural gas capacity as essential infrastructure for industrial recruitment and growth.

PREA has spent between $7 million and $8 million of its $30 million state appropriation as of February, according to board chairman Eston Glover's deposition testimony. The reporting requirements for how the remaining funds are tracked and disclosed have not been publicly identified.

The players

Andy Beshear

Andy Beshear is the Governor of Kentucky, who signed House Bill 1 and publicly backed the PREA project's state funding.

Pennyrile Regional Energy Authority (PREA)

The Pennyrile Regional Energy Authority is a public entity created by Guthrie and Trenton to develop a regional natural gas pipeline in western Kentucky.

Eston Glover

Eston Glover is the chairman of the PREA board, who gave deposition testimony about oversight of the state funding.

The details

PREA, formed by the cities of Guthrie and Trenton through a June 1, 2022 interlocal agreement, is pursuing a proposed 53-mile natural gas pipeline from Lyon County through Caldwell, Trigg, Christian and Todd counties. Beshear said good-faith negotiations are an important part of the eminent domain process and that he did not know the circumstances of each dispute.

June 1, 2022: Guthrie and Trenton signed the PREA interlocal agreement.
June 29, 2022: The Department for Local Government approved the agreement.
September 21, 2022: Beshear announced $30 million in state funding for the project during a Guthrie visit.
February 2026: Glover testified about oversight of the state funding in a deposition.
November 5, 2026: Beshear addressed landowner concerns during his Team Kentucky update.

Utilities Context

The PREA dispute follows the funding path set by House Bill 1, which lawmakers approved in 2022 with $15 million in each of two fiscal years. Questions about oversight now test how that appropriation is administered as the pipeline moves toward its 2027 service goal.

Landowners along the proposed route may face easement negotiations and must decide whether to pursue court action over their property rights. Residents in the affected counties should watch for further reporting on how the $30 million appropriation is tracked.

The takeaway

Public funding for private-facing infrastructure projects like PREA's pipeline depends on transparent reporting, and landowners' legal options remain a key check on how eminent domain is used.