Central Indiana power plant suffers second worker death this year
Coroner Annette Rohlman says the death Monday afternoon at the Eagle Valley Generating Station is being investigated as an accident.
Utilities
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Vectren plans to retire most coal-burning units, shift mix of power sources
In the latest move by an Indiana utility to reduce its use of coal, the Evansville-based utility plans to build a solar farm and substantially increase the use of natural gas as a fuel source.
Indiana utility watchdog Stippler set to retire
David Stippler, Indiana’s official advocate for utility customers, who often pushes back against utilities that want to raise rates, plans to retire Jan. 1 after 11 years in office.
IPL battery installation sparks tiff with MISO
A dispute has broken out over the financial terms under which IPL connects its new, $25 million, energy-storage system to the grid.
Feds pitch in to help Citizens with plan to redevelop coke plant
The plant closed in 2007, taking 300 jobs. It opened in 1909 and at one point produced all the gas used for heating Marion County.
Citizens taking over operations of two local wastewater plants
Citizens Energy Group says it plans to hire a “vast majority” of the 180 workers at two local wastewater-treatment plants after Suez Water Indiana LLC loses its contract to manage the facilities.
Indiana wind turbines slow down to protect bats during migration
A study from academic journal Bioscience said 600,000 to 900,000 bats are killed by wind turbines each year in the United States.
Oesterle joins board of utility-tech startup MeterGenius
The former CEO of Angie’s List Inc. has accepted an invitation to sit on the board of a startup launched by a former Angie’s List employee.
U.S. appeals court hears arguments in Clean Power Plan case
Lawyers for a coalition of states and businesses reliant on fossil fuels, including Indiana, made their case Tuesday to a federal appeals court that President Barack Obama’s plan to curtail greenhouse gases is an unlawful power grab.
State seeking input on IPL’s $100M plan to upgrade Petersburg plant
The utility says the move would allow it to keep burning coal at the Pike County plant and meet strict environmental regulations for sulfur dioxide and coal ash.
Hamilton County school district switches to solar power
Sheridan Community Schools, a small district of about 1,000 students, expects to save millions of dollars in power costs over 20 years with the move.
The Interview Issue: Jeff Harrison
The decisions Jeff Harrison makes affect 400,000 customers in central Indiana—when they turn on their kitchen faucets, flush their toilets, heat their homes with natural gas, or pay their utility bills.
Utility rates could rise for Westfield firms, residents
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is accepting written requests and comments on the gas rate increase until Sept. 21 and wastewater rate increase comments until Nov. 10.
Longtime attorney named to fill open IURC position
Gov. Mike Pence on Friday named Sarah Freeman as a commissioner on the five-member Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
IPL targets 25 city locations for new streetlights
Indianapolis plans to install another 25 streetlights by the end of the year, continuing Mayor Joe Hogsett’s push to light up neighborhoods with higher accident and crime rates.
Regulators OK final settlement over controversial Edwardsport plant
A bitter, costly fight over who will pay for Duke Energy’s $3.5 billion coal-gasification plant, one of the most expensive projects in Indiana history, is finally over.
Three finalists named for open spot on state’s powerful utility board
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission hears hundreds of cases a year and regulates $14 billion worth of electric, natural gas, telecommunications, steam, water and sewer utilities.
Former utility CEO charged with embezzling $500K for jewelry, iPads, pizza
Donnis Mizelle, former CEO of Avon-based Hendricks Power Cooperative, defrauded the company to buy jewelry, electronics, sports tickets, and even meals for his own entertainment, according to federal officials.
IPL’s hiring of Sanchez as CEO shows utility ‘embracing change’
Rafael Sanchez, who took over in June as CEO of Indianapolis Power & Light Co., is a decidedly nontraditional pick to lead a company facing big challenges and difficult choices.
Judge allows Peabody Energy to pay property taxes
The decision in federal court in St. Louis should help end uncertainty for communities in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Indiana.