Coal mine woes may mean environmental bills for taxpayers
As more coal companies file for bankruptcy, it's increasingly likely that taxpayers will be stuck with the very high costs of preventing abandoned mines from becoming environmental disasters.
Energy & Environment
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Fertilizer firm plans $450M coal-gasification plant conversion
A Connecticut-based company is planning to convert a closed coal-gasification plant in Indiana into an ammonia fertilizer production facility.
Electric cooperative planning more Indiana solar farms
The latest of 10 solar farms that Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative is developing is planned for 10 acres along Indiana 135 near the Johnson County town of Trafalgar.
U.S. industrial output jumps by most since November 2014
Industrial output—which includes factories, mines and utilities—rose 0.7 percent from March. It had dropped the previous two months.
National FFA Organization names new chief executive
Mark Poeschl, of Brookville, Ohio, will take over leadership of the Indianapolis-based National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation on Aug. 1, succeeding Dwight Armstrong, who is retiring after leading the organizations for seven years.
Compendium Software alumni to launch water-testing startup
Megan Glover and Compendium Software founder Chris Baggott have teamed to launch 120WaterAudit, a subscription-based water-testing service that will be offered to residents across the country.
Egg prices near 5-year low as farms recover from bird-flu crisis
The cost of making everything from quiches to cakes is less than before avian influenza killed more than 35 million laying hens and the government spent $1 billion to prevent the disease from spreading.
Report: Indiana’s coal-power use falls 37 percent since 2007
A new federal report says Indiana’s consumption of coal for electricity plunged between 2007 and 2015 as utilities retired older coal-fired plants and embraced more natural gas and renewable energy sources.
Whiteland farmer chosen for Indy 500 Milk Man tradition
Indiana has more than 1,000 dairy farms, and the Milk Man tradition is designed to spotlight the state's dairy industry.
Feud pits Highland Country Club against neighbors
Homeowners who live just south of the golf club’s southern border fret about the future of the White River bluffs if Highland proceeds with controversial plans to sell 20 acres for residential development.
Dow Agro’s revenues slide ahead of DuPont merger
Indianapolis-based agricultural Dow Agro on Thursday said revenue in the first quarter was $1.6 billion, down 16 percent from a year ago, as the company was hurt by high inventories, currency headwinds and lower prices.
Report: Indiana’s solar power policies among nation’s worst
A new report by a conservation group says Indiana has one of the nation's worst regulatory atmospheres for fostering the development of the rooftop solar power industry.
Citizens seeks rate reduction for downtown steam customers
Citizens Energy Group on Friday filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to reduce rates for its downtown steam-distribution system by 6 percent. The request comes two years after Citizens won approval to raise rates by 10 percent.
Purdue: Late cold snap didn’t damage state crops
Purdue University agricultural experts say Indiana's winter wheat, forage and fruit crops appear to have survived the blast of cold weather that struck earlier in April.
Safety, revenue motivate desires for more streetlights
Joe Hogsett said more streetlights, for safer streets, would be one of his first priorities as mayor. Nearly four months after taking office, the administration is still in discussions with Indianapolis Power & Light Co.
Telamon suffers new setback in $5M insurance lawsuit
The Carmel-based provider of telecommunications services sought to collect on insurance after discovering it was the victim of a massive theft by a high-level manager in New Jersey.
Peabody, largest U.S. coal miner, seeks bankruptcy protection
Peabody Energy Corp., which filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday, has at least six mines in Indiana that employ more than 1,250 workers, including Bear Run Mine in Sullivan County, the largest surface mine in the eastern United States.
Utility offers solar panels for lease to customers
NineStar Connect, a Greenfield-based not-for-profit utility provider, is preparing to unroll a new program allowing customers to begin leasing solar panels.
Analysis: 38 Indiana water systems topped EPA lead limit
The heightened lead levels in the water for North Vermillion High School near Terre Haute and Baugo Community Schools in Elkhart are particularly troubling because of the harmful effects it can have on the development of children.
Citizens Energy spends $350K to soften rate-hike request
The utility’s ad campaign comes as state regulators are considering Citizens’ request to raise water and sewer rates by double-digit percentages on about 400,000 customers.