EPA adds Kokomo site to priority cleanup list
A nearly 300-acre plume of tainted groundwater in Kokomo has been added to the federal Superfund program's priority list that seeks to move along investigations of industrial contamination.
Energy & Environment
Articles
Foes of central Indiana reservoir plan urge end to proposal
Opponents of a proposed reservoir stretching from Anderson to Muncie are urging an economic development group to abandon its push for the $450 million project.
UPDATE: Emergency meeting called on underground blasts downtown
Explosions shot manhole covers into the air at a busy downtown Indianapolis intersection on Thursday, raising safety concerns as the city prepares to host the Final Four next month. IPL said the explosions caused “significant damage to the electrical infrastructure.”
House panel passes utility energy-efficiency bill
An Indiana House committee has approved a proposal that would reduce state oversight of the energy-efficiency programs of major utilities.
Mass Ave blast traced to underground electrical vault
Indianapolis Power & Light says an explosion that startled patrons Monday night in the downtown district occurred in a chamber where transformers became over-pressurized.
Local tech firm Blue Pillar moving headquarters to East Coast
Blue Pillar, which just landed nearly $14 million in equity funding, agreed to move its headquarters from Indianapolis to Maryland after getting $500,000 from a state-sponsored venture capital fund.
Bill to ban microbeads headed to governor’s office
Legislation that would prevent the sale of any products containing microbeads in Indiana, is headed to the governor’s office for final approval.
Fast-growing Blue Pillar lands nearly $14M in funding
With the new infusion, the maker of energy-management software has brought in about $25 million in venture capital.
Ballard: Polluters dawdling on brownfield cleanup
The owners of more than 20 polluted industrial sites in Indianapolis are hiding behind the legal protections of a state-run voluntary program to delay cleanup, Mayor Greg Ballard alleges in a letter to state regulators.
Young firm aims to clean up in ‘green’ laundry niche
Brandon Evans and Andrew Insley hope their laundry detergent startup sets itself apart from the crowded field of competitors that say they use “natural” ingredients. Their point of differentiation: truly making good on that claim.
Senate panel advances bill to ban microbeads
Senate Commerce and Technology Committee members voted 6-0 Thursday to advance the measure that would gradually phase out the sale and production of cosmetics with microbeads. The House unanimously passed the legislation last month.
Republicans fail to override Obama veto of Keystone pipeline
Eight Democrats joined 54 Republicans in voting to overturn the veto, short of the two-thirds super majority needed. Obama said he opposed the bill because it would circumvent his administration’s review, now in its sixth year.
Senate leader puts fenced-hunting bill on hold
The leader of the Indiana Senate said Wednesday that a bill to legalize and regulate fenced deer hunting will remain in the rules committee he controls until the GOP caucus finds a solution “that’s fair and reasonable.”
Record beef prices not expected to ease any time soon
After shrinking supply sent beef costs surging last year, the government still expects output to drop to a 22-year low in 2015.
Speaker kills bill criticized as detrimental to solar usage
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, has killed a bill that critics say would have depressed the use of solar and other alternative energies.
U.S. charges Duke with illegal pollution from coal ash dumps
Duke Energy said Friday that it has already negotiated a plea agreement under which it will admit guilt and pay $102 million in fines, restitution and community service.
Developer gives up 37-year fight for landfill near Anderson
Bex Farms Inc. and an affiliate have withdrawn their application to renew the landfill permit for a 13-acre site near Mallard Lake and Killbuck Elementary School.
Conservative groups oppose Indiana net metering bill
Like Common Core to the education world, the utility issue of net metering is drawing opposition from conservative groups with a libertarian bent.
New Indy transit center balances utility, dignity, design
The team charged with designing and engineering downtown’s $20 million transit center—which has begun to emerge south of Washington Street between Delaware and Alabama streets—took on three core challenges.
Bill that riles solar industry passes House committee
A controversial bill to change the guidelines governing Hoosiers using alternative energy sources – including solar and wind power – passed a House Committee on Wednesday.