Some Indianapolis fountains shut off amid drought
A watering ban sparked by Indiana's prolonged drought has prompted operators of several fountains in downtown Indianapolis to take steps to conserve water.
Energy & Environment
Articles
Indiana creates new rules on utility tree-trimming
Changes include requiring Indiana utilities to provide at least two notices to owners two weeks before the scheduled trimming.
State delays expanding water shortage warning
Indiana officials on Thursday decided against expanding a water shortage warning even though more than 80 percent of the state is in a severe drought.
Fire, water worries grow worse amid Indiana drought
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is banning lawn watering in the city beginning Friday, and all smoking has been banned during a county fair in central Indiana because of the conditions caused by this summer's drought.
USDA reports corn in 18 states hurt by drought
Corn and soybean prices surged Monday after the latest government report showed a widespread drought in the middle of the country is hurting this year's crop. Indiana and Illinois have been particularly hard hit.
City parks foundation chooses new president
The Indianapolis Parks Foundation has selected Tanya Husain as its new president, the group announced Monday. Husain will replace retiring parks foundation president Cindy Porteous.
Sudden Duke Energy CEO shift puts Rogers in spotlight
Three former board members of Progress Energy Inc. said they would have voted against Duke's $17.8 billion takeover offer had they known Rogers would remain in charge of the combined companies.
IPL pulling plug on renewable-energy effort
Indianapolis Power & Light says beginning next March it will stop offering to buy electricity from customers who generate it from renewable sources—a blow to advocates of wind, solar and other clean forms of energy.
Drought brings added challenges for not-for-profit farms
The parched conditions have forced staff and volunteers at dozens of not-for-profit farms and community gardens to struggle with problems as basic as finding water.
Drought deals blow to ethanol industry
Indiana’s 13 plants distilling the automotive fuel ethanol could soon be sputtering as drought dries up the supply and boosts the price of corn, their main ingredient.
Purdue: Food price increases likely after long drought
The persistent hot, dry weather has hit farm production in Indiana, the nation's fifth-largest producer of corn, harder than any other major corn and soybean producing state.
Rogers stays in charge at Duke Energy after CEO resigns
Duke Energy Corp. on Tuesday unexpectedly announced the resignation of Bill Johnson, previously named to be the CEO after its $17.8 billion takeover of Progress Energy Inc. James Rogers has been named CEO of the merged companies effective immediately.
Drought could have mixed impact for Indiana farmers
Agriculture experts say some Indiana farmers are already facing big crop losses because of this summer's drought.
Drought sets records for Indianapolis, Evansville
Last month was the driest June on record for Indianapolis and Evansville, the National Weather Service says. Weather service figures show both cities received less than half as much rain as their previous records.
Abound failure raises questions anew about Obama policies
The failure of a second solar manufacturer that received loan guarantees from the U.S. Energy Department adds to pressure on President Barack Obama to justify incentives for the clean-energy industry that’s being undercut by Chinese competition.
Duke foes skeptical about Edwardsport price tag
Utility denies claim it is trying to sidestep $2.6 billion cap on costs that can be passed along to ratepayers.
Abound Solar set to close doors, file for bankruptcy
Abound Solar Inc., a Colorado-based solar manufacturer that once hoped to hire 1,200 people in Indiana by the end of 2013, will close its doors and file for bankruptcy.
Valero Energy idles central Indiana ethanol plant
Valero Energy Corp. has temporarily stopped production at a central Indiana ethanol plant because of rising corn prices.
Heat wave wilting corn supplies, boosting prices
Corn supplies in the United States, the world’s biggest exporter, are declining at the fastest pace since 1996 just as a Midwest heat wave damages the world’s largest harvest for a third consecutive year.
Anderson’s former GM plants getting second look
Anderson officials said they are excited that companies have been showing interest in some of the industrial or commercial properties left by General Motors that need or are undergoing environmental cleanups.