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.
Regulation
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Regulators launch formal inquiry into IPL’s downtown explosions
Regulators are taking “extraordinary” steps to investigate the failure of Indianapolis Power & Light’s underground network, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Chairwoman Carol Stephan said at a special meeting Friday morning.
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.
FCC adopts strong new rules in bid for ‘net neutrality’
U.S. regulators invoked broad powers to ensure that Web traffic for all users is treated equally, adopting net-neutrality rules that supporters say will preserve a wide-open Internet and that opponents vow to fight in court.
Regulators slash proposed rate-hike request for BlueIndy plan
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission on Wednesday shot down the bulk of a plan by Indianapolis Power & Light to charge ratepayers $16 million for costs involving a proposed all-electric car-sharing service called BlueIndy.
Solar industry plots cooperative strategy
Imagine seeing the price of gas drop 50 percent, then finding out you couldn’t take advantage because of a law that excluded drivers who lease their vehicles or whose fuel tank is on the wrong side.
Senators weigh in on utility territory disputes
The Senate Utilities Committee on Thursday passed a bill that shifts leverage to Indiana’s largest utilities and electric cooperatives in their struggle to keep municipal-owned utilities from taking valuable territory.
Telecom firms fight over bill altering state powers
Opponents of the bill say it would give big companies more leverage in negotiating connection agreements with smaller firms. Supporters say it just reduces redundancy in laws already on the books.
Utilities favor legislation changing economics of rooftop panels
Investor-owned utilities are lobbying for a bill that would allow them to alter customers’ credits for net metering, or generating energy on-site and selling it back to the grid.
Senate panel passes energy-efficiency utility bill
The Senate Utilities Committee voted 7-3 Thursday in approving a bill that would reduce state oversight of major utility companies' energy-efficiency programs.
Legislation seeks to replace Energizing Indiana plan
The Indiana Senate Utilities Committee will consider a bill Thursday that could let power companies develop new energy-efficiency plans and then charge customers more to implement them.
Panel postpones action on bill to limit local livestock rules
Senate Bill 249, if passed into law, would ban communities from adopting an ordinance preventing the construction of livestock facilities.
U.S. Supreme Court to review EPA power-plant standards
The U.S. Supreme Court is stepping into a new case about Obama administration environmental rules, agreeing to review a ruling that upholds emission standards for mercury and other hazardous air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants.
Obama administration to propose stricter smog standard
The stricter standards could make it one of the most expensive regulations ever issued, with an estimated $19 billion to $90 billion price tag and double the number of counties in violation.
Indiana American water rates to rise slightly under settlement
Indiana American Water customers will see an increase in rates next year under an agreement the company reached with consumer advocates. But the hike won’t be as high as the company requested.
Consumer office opposes Duke Energy’s $1.9B Indiana plan
Indiana's utility customer advocate says regulators should reject Duke Energy Corp.'s proposal for a $1.9 billion electric grid upgrade in the state.
HALE, NEGELE: Bring more transparency to Indiana energy bidding
As legislators on committees dealing with energy and utilities, economic development, agriculture and state finances, we are hearing from a growing number of businesses, big and small, as well as schools and individual constituents, sounding an alarm over rising electricity rates.
Feds’ ruling could spur electricity rate cuts
In an Oct. 16 decision affecting Indiana and 14 other states, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said the utilities must negotiate with six customer groups that brought a complaint last year.
Dow Agro’s Enlist weed killer cleared by EPA
Enlist Duo can be used in six states, with approval pending in another 10, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday. Dow is counting on the system to help double earnings at Dow AgroSciences in five to seven years.
Court: IURC erred in approving Duke fee hike
The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled Monday that state utility regulators wrongly approved $61 million in ratepayer fees for the Edwardsport coal gasification plant.