Lawmaker: Recording of abuse at Indiana farm politically driven
State Sen. Travis Holdman questioned the motivations of a group that says it is concerned about animals but didn’t attempt to halt the abuse at Fair Oaks Farm.
Energy & Environment
Articles
IndyGo faces challenges as early adopter of electric fleet
The transit system has hit some speed bumps as it works to implement a new model of electric bus that will be its fleet for the Red Line, the rapid-transit route that begins service Labor Day weekend.
Biofuels haven’t lowered gas prices or emissions, GAO report says
The study conflicts with a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that found corn-based ethanol’s greenhouse gas emissions were 39% lower than gasoline over the entire life cycle.
UPDATE Authorities investigate animal abuse at well-known dairy farm
Retailers began pulling Fair Oaks Farms products from their shelves Wednesday after an anti-cruelty investigative group released graphic video showing workers kicking and throwing young calves.
Q&A with John Bales, founder of Biodynamic Ventures
Bales is among a growing number of entrepreneurs trying to get in on the ground floor of what is being called the “green rush.”
Leaders unveil plans for developing White River in Marion, Hamilton counties
The White River Vision Plan, unveiled Monday morning by community leaders from Marion and Hamilton counties, makes key development recommendations to seven "anchor areas" along a 58-mile stretch of the river.
Rains leave most Indiana farmers well behind in planting
The federal government's weekly crop report for Indiana shows that just 22 percent of Indiana's corn acreage was planted by May 26.
Indiana, Michigan farmers eager to begin growing hemp
Farmers in Indiana and Michigan are preparing to start growing hemp as a legal agricultural commodity following the declassification of industrial hemp as a narcotic with the passage of the federal Farm Bill in 2018.
USDA researchers quit in droves as Trump administration plans relocation
A plan to move U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers out of Washington, D.C., has thrown two small but influential science agencies into upheaval. Indiana is one of three finalists to land the agencies.
$175 million solar power project planned for central Indiana
Officials announced Tuesday that plans call for Brooklyn, New York-based Ranger Power to build the solar project in Shelby County starting in 2022.
China’s ban on scrap imports a boon to U.S. recycling plants
U.S. paper mills are expanding capacity to take advantage of a glut of cheap scrap. Some facilities that previously exported plastic or metal to China have retooled so they can process it themselves.
Indianapolis Power & Light names Ohio utility exec as CEO
Vincent Parisi will become the fourth leader of IPL since 2015, managing a utility that serves about 500,000 customers in central Indiana.
Indianapolis-based wind-farm developer loses $22.9M in first quarter
Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives Inc. chalked up the loss to several expensive acquisitions and the cost of finishing projects delayed by weather.
IDEM to hike permit fees for first time in decades
The cost of Indiana environmental permits on everything from incinerators to wastewater-treatment plants is just a fraction of what nearby states charge.
Indiana farmers’ crops being hindered by frequent rains
U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics show just 6% of this year's expected corn crop was planted as of May 12, far below the five-year average of 57%.
U.S. farmers who sell to China feel pain of Beijing’s tariffs
On Monday, President Donald Trump told reporters that a new program to relieve U.S. farmers’ pain is being devised and predicted that they will be “very happy.”
Q&A with Austin Broadwater, who urges building owners to think about the birds
Austin Broadwater encourages owners and managers of large buildings downtown to turn off or dim their lights at night during the spring and fall bird migration seasons.
Mexico says tariffs will send tomato prices soaring in U.S.
Mexico’s Economy Department said Tuesday that U.S. consumers could pay 38% to 70% more for tomatoes if the U.S. Commerce Department re-imposes anti-dumping duties on Mexican imports.
Indiana among 3 finalists for USDA divisions, but proposed location unknown
Indiana’s short-listed proposal—submitted by Purdue University and state officials—was one of 136 received by the USDA last year from 35 states. Relocating the two research divisions to Indiana could bring 570 federal jobs.
International joint venture planning $29.5M plant in Rushville, up to 250 jobs
The facility would process maize straw from as many as 150,000 acres of cornfields annually into a peat moss substitute for agriculture and foam products for material science uses.