Farmers fear record years will send taxes soaring
High demand for ethanol in 2007 and 2008 sent commodity prices to a record level, which could make taxes spike.
Environment
Articles
Groups want feds to act on Indiana water rules
Environmental activists who are upset about Indiana’s water-pollution rules say they’ll ask the federal government to take
action against the state.
Hoosier Energy avoids financial brownout
Hoosier Energy, which supplies electricity to customers in 48 counties in central and southern Indiana, has settled a dispute
that had threatened to plunge the utility into bankruptcy.
Indiana regulators order greater conservation push
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s goal is annual statewide energy savings of 2 percent within a decade.
Parks Foundation gets $7.3M Lilly Endowment grant
Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded the Indianapolis Parks Foundation a $7.3 million grant to fund improvements that include
a new pool at Bethel Park on the near-southeast side.
Boone County shoots down $35M rezoning plan
Carmel-based Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator said it would continue to scout for sites in the Indianapolis
area.
HICKS: Scandal may put chill on global-warming research
A long series of leaked or hacked e-mails strongly indicate that several prominent climate scientists have hidden data, conspired
to hide unfavorable findings, and doctored scientific evidence.
Duke Energy wants ratepayers to fund carbon dioxide storage site study
The state’s utility consumer agency is opposing Duke Energy’s request to have customers pay $121 million to
study where to inject underground the carbon dioxide to be produced by its Edwardsport plant.
Carp, shipping and a lawsuit
A lawsuit aimed at stopping invasive carp from reaching Lake Michigan could bring some forms of shipping to a grinding halt.
Indiana e-waste collectors, recyclers face deadline
Collectors and recyclers of obsolete electronics have until Jan. 1 to enroll with the state’s E-Waste Program.
Plant would pipe carbon dioxide to oil rigs
Carbon dioxide produced by a proposed coal gasification plant near the southern Indiana town of Rockport would be used to
help boost oil production in the Gulf of Mexico under a plan by the company leading the project.
EPA: IPL electric plant upgrades were deficient
Indianapolis Power & Light faces potential fines and capital expenditures after allegedly updating three generating
plants over 23 years without adding the most modern pollution controls.
Indianapolis Sustainability Awards will honor green projects
Deadline for nominations is Dec. 15 for projects in the categories of air, energy, land, water and “reduce,
reuse, recycle.”
Advisory panel urges EPA to back plan to pay for green projects via property tax
By issuing “voluntary environmental improvement bonds,”, local and state governments could
create special taxing districts that finance homeowner purchases of everything from solar panels to rain
gardens.
Coal-gasification plant price tag climbs to $2.5 billion
Duke Energy Corp. said the cost of the plant it’s building in southwestern Indiana has risen another $150 million.
Denison light-replacement project shows expanding base of green vendors in region
Indianapolis parking garage operator Denison shuns sexy LED lighting for Fishers supplier’s induction lights.
Egg industry debates ethics of cage sizes
The answers could have big implications for the egg industry, which counts Indiana as one of its leading producers. The Hoosier state ranked third in egg production in 2008, trailing only Iowa and Ohio.
Job prospects drawing more students to ag schools
Enrollment in bachelor’s degree programs in agriculture across the country grew by 21.8 percent from 2005 to 2008. Purdue
University has 2,575 ag students this fall, up 40 from last year.
Sestertii Solar leasing panels to make solar power more affordable
The electricity they generate may be free, but most home- and business-owners can’t justify the upfront cost of solar
panels. A price tag of $25,000 to $50,000 for a modest system puts the cost close to luxury car territory.
Companies reap rewards on irrigation investments
Mike’s Express Carwash uses a lot of water. There’s just no getting around it. So when automated systems engineer
Ryan Binkley looked for ways to conserve resources, he focused on the company’s irrigation systems.