Duke ignored water issue at Indiana plant, consultant says
Utility officials waited seven months to act on hazardous water concerns during construction of its costly Edwardsport plant and banked on winning an exemption, which the EPA later denied.
Energy & Environment
Articles
Conservancy installs turbines at eco-friendly HQ
Wind turbines, a rare sight downtown, have finally been added to The Nature Conservancy’s high-profile building on Ohio Street.
States cut programs to help poor cool their homes
Many states hit hardest by this week's searing heat wave have drastically cut or entirely eliminated programs that help poor people pay their electric bills, forcing thousands to go without air conditioning when they need it most.
Golf course manager suing DuPont over herbicide
R.N. Thompson, which operates several local courses, claims the company’s Imprelis herbicide caused “catastrophic tree loss.” R.N. Thompson has joined a Pennsylvania resident in filing the class-action suit.
Consumer group accuses Duke of ‘gross mismanagement’
“Gross mismanagement” and improper communications with ex-regulatory chairman are among evidence in testimony to make Duke, rather than ratepayers, swallow major cost overruns at Edwardsport power plant.
Carrier counts on new environmental regulations to drive sales
Carrier Corp.’s plan to invest $36.5 million in its Indianapolis plant hinges in part on how well consumers take to a new platform of high-efficiency furnaces.
Agency: Duke customers shouldn’t pay $530M in overruns
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor has filed a blistering rebuke of Duke Energy Corp. for the high cost of its Edwardsport coal-gasification plant and has asked regulators to deny Duke’s request to charge ratepayers $530 million for cost overruns.
Japanese industrialists tapped for Energy Systems Network board
The president and CEO of Toshiba Corp. is among those joining the board of the Indianapolis-based clean tech/energy initiative.
Larger-than-expected corn crop could slow food inflation
U.S. food prices may ease later this year now that farmers have planted the second-largest corn crop in nearly seven decades.
Lugar pushes energy savings, more oil production
Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar is pushing a national energy plan he says will save billions of dollars by increasing domestic oil production and improving energy efficiency.
Purdue wins $5M global warming crop-research grant
Purdue University scientists have won a $5 million federal grant to help corn and soybean farmers adapt to the various climate change scenarios global warming is forecast to bring in the coming decades.
Solar power company moving headquarters to Portage
Fronius USA will relocate to Portage, where it plans to lease 400,000 square feet of manufacturing space and create up to 512 jobs by 2016.
Congressmen back Carbon Motors’ loan request
Most of Indiana's congressional delegation is supporting an Indiana company's request for a federal loan they say would help create perhaps 1,500 jobs building high-tech police vehicles in Connersville.
Wind farm may fan economy in Madison County
E.ON Climate & Renewables North America is planning some 75 wind turbines as part of Madison County’s first commercial wind farm, one that could temporarily employ 150 construction workers and bring a dozen permanent jobs.
Actor Ed Begley to bring star power to Indiana energy conference
Begley is famously obsessed with making his home more energy-efficient—and for driving his wife nuts.
Challenger in Indianapolis mayoral race releases sustainability plan
Among Melina Kennedy’s priorities is educating residents and businesses about recycling and making it more convenient.
Eco-friendly downtown supply store closes
Green Way Supply, a pioneering green construction products store, has gone out of business, but one of its partners is planning a new building supply store with mix of green and traditional products.
Vectren’s plan to close field offices fuels complaint
Unions and public safety officials allege the utility’s move to home-based crews could delay responses to emergencies and reduce safety.
Massive recycling plant in Indianapolis pays off for Republic Services
A $4M machine sorts newspaper, glass, plastic quickly from as far away as Evansville.
Electric vehicles gain traction in region
Indianapolis has one of the highest concentrations of plug-in electric vehicle drivers in the nation, an industry official says.