Attorney general says utility regulator can deny early coal plant retirements
The powerful Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission can—and should—investigate early retirements of coal-burning power plants, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita wrote.
Energy & Environment
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Indiana utilities earn collective ‘C’ grade on clean-energy goals
One Indiana utility company earned top marks and another pair nabbed no points in a national clean-energy assessment by the left-leaning Sierra Club.
In landmark move, EPA requires removal of all lead pipes within 10 years
The move comes nearly 40 years after Congress determined that lead pipes posed a serious risk to public health and banned them in new construction.
Fluoride in drinking water poses enough risk to merit new EPA action, judge says
Last month, a federal agency determined “with moderate confidence” that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids.
House OKs permit exemption for semiconductor projects, sending bill to Biden
The U.S. House approved legislation on Monday that would address concerns that environmental reviews and lawsuits will delay construction of domestic chip factories.
Airport planning $47M solar canopy for parking lot
The project, which would see the construction of a new solar-covered canopy over a portion of a lot south of the airport’s parking garage, is expected to generate about 10% of the terminal’s total energy needs.
McCormick seeks to bring back net-metering, Energizing Indiana program
Jennifer McCormick, the Democrat running for Indiana governor, proposes banning ratepayer dollars from being used for lobbying and reinstating a Mitch Daniels-era energy-efficiency program, according to her utility policy plan announced Thursday morning.
Holcomb joins GOP ‘energy choice’ coalition to address energy prices
A group of Republican governors are pushing back against clean energy mandates—and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has joined the effort.
Indy receives $15M federal grant to install public EV chargers
The project will prioritize fair and equitable placement to fill gaps left in the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, according to the city of Indianapolis and Congressman Andre Carson.
Sweaty corn making Midwest even more humid
Farmers are also planting more acres of corn, in part to meet demand for ethanol, which means more plants working harder to stay cool — pumping out humidity that adds to steamy misery like that blanketing much of the U.S. this week.
As AES Indiana abandons coal, capacity questions arise
If all goes to schedule, the huge power plant about 125 miles southwest of Indianapolis will convert to natural gas and burn its last load of coal by the end of 2026.
Tippecanoe County extends pipeline moratorium as IEDC eyes other options for LEAP district
Tippecanoe County Commissioners first enacted a stoppage to high-volume water withdrawals in November in response to an IEDC proposal to take 100 million gallons a day from Wabash River aquifers and carry it 35 miles away to the LEAP district.
Indiana green-energy fund begins lending for renewables, efficiency projects
The commercial lending program targets Hoosier businesses, not-for-profits and governments to help lower their energy costs.
Next challenge for U.S. charging network: congestion
From a potential congestion standpoint, the U.S.’s charger-to-EV ratio is one of the worst in the world.
IEDC seeks $50M in state support for new LEAP pipeline bond financing
The Citizens Energy-Lebanon Utilities project is one of several water and wastewater improvement efforts around the state that could be funded through $500 million in bonds approved by the Indiana Finance Authority.
Indiana Chamber study: State has enough water, but needs plan for future
A new water study released Monday by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce says the state has a “plentiful” but unevenly distributed water supply that will require a coordinated effort to manage in the future.
AES to spend $1.1B as it converts huge Petersburg plant from coal to natural gas, adds solar and battery projects
The investment would make AES Indiana the first utility in Indiana to abandon the use of coal as a fuel source, if state regulators agree, the company said.
Emergency fuel waiver issued for Indiana, 3 other states to alleviate soaring gas prices
The EPA is issuing the emergency waiver to help alleviate gasoline shortages in four Midwest states after the shutdown of a refinery in Illinois.
State utility counselor urges regulators to slash Duke Energy’s rate hike request
Duke Energy Indiana, the state’s largest electric utility, in April filed a request with state regulators for permission to raise rates by about 16% over two years.
GM to pay $146M in penalties because 5.9M older vehicles emit excess carbon dioxide
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement Wednesday that certain GM vehicles from the 2012 through 2018 model years did not comply with federal fuel economy requirements.