Drugs in our water
Researchers are finding a host of pharmaceutical residues in tributaries to the White River, from which Indianapolis and other
cities draw drinking water.
Energy & Environment
Articles
EPA: Indiana must rewrite BP refinery air permit
Federal officials ordered Indiana on Monday to rewrite an air permit for BP PLC’s Whiting refinery, concluding the state may
not have fully assessed all the new emissions a big expansion of the refinery will produce.
Vectren expects lower gas bills for many customers
One of Indiana’s largest natural gas utilities predicts customers’ bills in its largest service territory might be 25 percent
to 30 percent lower this heating season compared to the last one.
Consultant: Indianapolis water utility lax in overseeing Veolia
The city too often relied on the Department of Waterworks’ board, on consultants and on the private
operator, Veolia Water, rather than on the department’s own staff “to ensure safe and efficient
operation, maintenance and management” of Indianapolis Water. That’s one of several critical
findings of a consultant hired by the department and filed as part of a 35-percent rate-hike request
pending before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
Local junkyard gets green recognition from state
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management says an Indianapolis junkyard is the first in the state to receive its recognition for environmentally friendly practices.
USDA forecasts huge soybean, corn harvests
Record harvests are being forecast for corn and soybean farmers, and now the focus turns to bringing the giant crop in from
the field.
West Lafayette delays switch to metered trash pickup
West Lafayette’s city council has delayed implementation of a new “pay as you throw” garbage collection system.
Stimulus to brighten city’s traffic lights
The bright lights of Indiana’s largest city are getting brighter—at hundreds of street intersections, anyway.
Green year for city hall, businesses
It’s been a year since Republican Mayor Greg Ballard launched the City’s Office of Sustainability. On Oct. 6,
Ballard and his sustainability director, Karen Haley, outlined accomplishments in the first year.
Remy unveils ‘off the shelf’ electric motor
Pendleton-based Remy International today formally unveiled its ‘off the shelf’ electric motors for hybrid vehicles.
More accurate count sought on Indiana billboards
The Indiana Department of Transportation is trying to get a better handle on exactly how many billboards sit along the state’s
highways after a federal agency found problems in Indiana and threatened to withhold $90 million.
More Americans growing food on small farms
Most evenings, Gary Mithoefer can be found at the end of a long gravel driveway off a busy highway, tending two garden plots. He’s one of a growing number of Americans digging into the dirt to raise crops on a small scale.
American Water wants to raise rates
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is seeking public input on a proposed rate hike by American Water Inc.,
which has 283,000 customers in the state, including in Noblesville and Greenwood.
City receives host of sale, privatization ideas for water, sewer utilities
Officials grappling with a water utility deep in debt and a sewer infrastructure needing upwards of $2 billion in
upgrades were swamped with proposals about how to fix the mess.
Indiana governor expresses green-energy doubts
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels told a conference of industrial energy customers that the pursuit of green jobs and alternative fuels could increase energy costs without improving the environment.<
City becomes hub of ‘cryo-cooling’ for truck trailers
Indianapolis is the new operating headquarters of a Ukrainian-American venture producing refrigeration units for semi trailers.
The move comes with the naming this spring of Thomas Roller as president and CEO of Ukram Industries. Roller is known locally
as former CEO of Indianapolis-based Norwood Promotional Products and of Fruehauf Trailer, which was based here in the 1990s.
Indiana mine operations to close, costing 80 jobs
Peabody Indiana Services LLC notified the Indiana Department of Workforce Development on Monday that it will close its surface
mine operations at Francisco in southwestern Indiana, putting about 80 employees out of work.
Toll road operator among water-utility suitors
Among 23 firms that have expressed interest in operating Indianapolis’ water and sewer systems is Macquarie, the Australian
firm that operates the Indiana Toll Road under a 75-year, $3.8 billion lease. In July, the city asked companies to express
interest in operating the systems.
Tipton County approves perks for mystery company
A central Indiana county is trying to attract an unidentified renewable energy company to take over a sprawling factory that
a Chrysler supplier stopped building last year.
Indiana panel OKs tougher golf course pesticide rule
A state panel has approved a new rule requiring workers who apply pesticides at Indiana’s golf courses to be certified
and licensed.