Bill would force owners of electric cars to pay fee
Special charge would help offset lost gas-tax revenue.
Environment
Articles
U.S. says new rules would cut thousands of coal jobs
The Obama administration's own experts estimate their proposal for protecting streams from coal mining would eliminate thousands of jobs and slash production across much of the country
Universal curbside recycling program looks iffy
Finding a way to cover the cost of expanding the program with revenue from sales of recycled goods such as aluminum, plastic and glass has proved tough, even as commodities prices rise with the improving economy.
Bill would let Indiana pharmacies collect old meds
A bill authored by Republican Rep. Kevin Mahan of Hartford City would revise state law so that pharmacies could accept unused prescription drugs from customers and dispose of them securely and safely.
Purdue professor says ethanol consumption has its limits
Current infrastructure for delivering the alternative fuel isn’t adequate to use all that the federal government says must be produced.
New law prohibits disposing of electronic gadgets in household trash
Marion County residents should dispose of electronics at so-called “ToxDrop” locations.
State’s big polluters spewed less last year
EPA data show an 18 percent decrease in toxic emissions among big manufacturers and electric utilities, but it’s unclear to what degree better practices—or the slow economy—had on declining levels.
Conservationists blast Newport depot reuse plan
The Newport Chemical Depot Reuse Authority hopes to develop a business and industrial campus on 11 square miles at the Vermillion County site that once produced and stored the deadly VX nerve agent
Abound Solar completes financing for Tipton plant
Company closes on a $400 million federal loan to help it take over the empty Getrag plant on U.S. 31 near Kokomo, where it wants to hire as many as 1,000 workers. The plant was acquired for $25 million.
Indiana resists call for renewable energy mandates
The state is one of only 14 nationwide without a renewable energy standard, according to the Pew Center of Global Climate Change.
Ethanol’s future clouded by potential loss of tax breaks
The fortunes of Indiana’s 12 ethanol plants, and the farmers and truckers who supply the corn to make the motor fuel additive, hinge on two decisions facing Congress and federal regulators in the weeks ahead.
PRINCE: Why iPad could save investment firms money
The device is projected to save Prince Group office at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. more than $3,000 in paper alone.
Carp czar has huge task of fighting invasive fish
John Goss, a Hoosier who helped create the Great Lakes Compact to conserve water, is coordinating federal, state attack.
Indiana environmental activists to push bipartisan agenda
Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, said the new Legislature will make it more challenging to sell environmental initiatives mainly because there are more than two dozen freshmen lawmakers he and others will have to court.
PCBs a concern at bankrupt ESI Environmental plant
The EPA says 300,000 gallons of sludge at the firm’s northwest-side site are suspected of containing carcinogenic PCBs. A recent court ruling could expedite clean-up efforts.
Indiana farmers expected to enjoy near-record income
Many Indiana farmers who had been worrying about a late summer drought are now looking forward to some extra spending money thanks to high grain prices.
City commission set to approve refinery plans
The Metropolitan Development Commission is expected Wednesday afternoon to approve Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc.’s plan to build its first used oil re-refinery, on West 10th Street. The project is estimated to cost $40 million and should create 55 jobs by 2013.
State getting $25M to clean up old GM sites
Indiana will benefit from a $25.2 million environmental trust established to clean up and redevelop eight former General Motors plants throughout the state, officials said Wednesday.
IURC to re-examine Duke project amid ethics flap
The commission is summoning the CEO of North Carolina-based Duke Energy to justify the $2.9 billion Edwardsport plant on the same day the state ethics board filed formal charges against a former IURC attorney hired by Duke.
Indianapolis wins state “Green Community of the Year” award
Mayor Greg Ballard has unveiled a number of green initiatives, ranging from widespread use of hybrid vehicles to making the City-County Building more energy-efficient.