State panel backs legalizing fenced-in hunting preserves
Indiana’s four current high-fenced deer-hunting preserves would be the only ones allowed in the state under a bill endorsed by a legislative committee.
Energy & Environment
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Public comment sought in IPL rate-hike case
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is inviting written comments from Indianapolis Power & Light customers about the utility’s pending request to raise electricity prices.
House panel backs bill seeking to boost industrial hemp crop
The House agriculture committee unanimously passed the proposal that would specify the exemption of industrial hemp from its illegal cousin marijuana to include the "fiber, seeds, resin, and oil or any other compound," from an industrial hemp plant.
Senators weigh in on utility territory disputes
The Senate Utilities Committee on Thursday passed a bill that shifts leverage to Indiana’s largest utilities and electric cooperatives in their struggle to keep municipal-owned utilities from taking valuable territory.
Senate panel delays bill targeting livestock farm limits
Indiana lawmakers on Monday chose to hold off on a bill that would limit local governments' control over large livestock farms and instead replaced it with a proposal for further research.
Utilities favor legislation changing economics of rooftop panels
Investor-owned utilities are lobbying for a bill that would allow them to alter customers’ credits for net metering, or generating energy on-site and selling it back to the grid.
Senate panel passes energy-efficiency utility bill
The Senate Utilities Committee voted 7-3 Thursday in approving a bill that would reduce state oversight of major utility companies' energy-efficiency programs.
Legislation seeks to replace Energizing Indiana plan
The Indiana Senate Utilities Committee will consider a bill Thursday that could let power companies develop new energy-efficiency plans and then charge customers more to implement them.
Indiana Senate panel endorses farmland tax relief bill
The Senate Agriculture Committee voted 6-0 on Monday for a bill that would require property assessors to use 2011 soil-quality figures in this year's land-value determinations.
Green BEAN grows to Tennessee market
Expansion to the southeast marks the first move outside the Midwest for the organic-produce and grocery-delivery firm.
Panel postpones action on bill to limit local livestock rules
Senate Bill 249, if passed into law, would ban communities from adopting an ordinance preventing the construction of livestock facilities.
IPL’s pitch: Tie less of bill to energy usage
No matter how little energy customers use, Indianapolis Power & Light would be guaranteed more revenue under a recent proposal to raise rates and fees.
Pence proposes utilities set own energy-efficiency goals
Last year, a new law scuttled Indiana’s program for reducing energy use statewide. Gov. Mike Pence’s alternative would allow energy companies to set their own targets.
Fracking boom, gas-pipe replacement drive growth for pipeline firm
Miller Pipeline has seen its head count grow from 1,700 to 3,600 since 2008, partly because of its investment in the shale-oil fracking boom. But it also has a lucrative fallback line of business: replacing aging natural-gas pipes.
Company not backing down on quarry near Lafayette
A company is pushing ahead with plans for a limestone quarry along the Wabash River near Lafayette despite a new county ordinance meant to block the project.
Reservoir or riverside trail system: Which is best for Madison County?
Economic development officials are advancing a plan to dam the White River in Anderson and create a seven-mile lake, but environmental groups are pushing the idea of a riverside trail as an alternative with equal promise but less expense and environmental destruction.
Canadian investor to pay $593M for stake in IPL
The parent company of Indianapolis Power & Light Co. plans to use the investment to help fund $1.4 billion in capacity improvements and environmental upgrades for IPL.
Wind farm companies make $650 million deal
German utility company E.ON has sold most of its minority ownership stake in a 126-turbine central Indiana wind farm to majority owner Enbridge Inc.
Local recycling companies land grants, plan jobs
Indiana is awarding $600,000 to four companies, including two in Marion County, that recycle metals, wood and other materials.
Indiana high court deciding where to hold hog farm fight
The Indiana Supreme Court has been tasked with deciding which county court will hear a lawsuit filed by the Camp Tecumseh youth camp that seeks to stop a farmer from raising more than 9,000 hogs on nearby land.