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Hoosier Energy reaches settlement with EPA

 IBJ Staff
July 23, 2010
Keywords
Air Quality, Coal, Electric, Emissions, Energy & Environment, Environment, Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Regulation
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Bloomington-based Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative will pay a $950,000 civil penalty and spend $5 million on environmental projects to settle a complaint by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA previously alleged that Hoosier in 2008 modified its Merom power plant in southwest Indiana without complying with so-called New Source requirements. Those modifications required pre-construction permits and emissions reductions based on the “best available” control technology.

Hoosier also plans to upgrade Merom and its Ratts generating plant with new equipment to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, at a cost of $250 million to $300 million.

Among environmental projects required under the settlement, Hoosier will harness coal-bed methane to generate at least 10 megawatts of electricity, and install solar power systems at public schools and on buildings of not-for-profit groups in its service territory.

Hoosier isn’t the only utility in the region to be targeted by EPA for allegedly violating New Source rules. Last year, the agency issued a 16-page notice of violation to Indianapolis Power & Light, saying the utility updated three generating plants over 23 years without adding the most modern pollution controls.

The IPL case is still pending.

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  1. First, the Athenaeum is going to have to get past the hurdle with the Lockerbie residents and the agreement that the parcel would be residential. Second, and in my opinion, this prime piece of property should include parking, PLUS, a black box theater(s), some market rate and affordable artist housing and a plan to renovate and reconfigure the second story theater. I would negotiate to add the DeHaan property surface parking lot into the development mix, place a one story surface parking garage on the DeHaan lot on the street level (for the Dehaan tenants use during the daytime) and add a second story to the garage that would become an addition to the current second story theater and then change the direction of the theater by moving the stage across the alley and on top of the DeHaan lot parking. You can add all the stage elements that are currently missing from the Athenaeum stage to make it more attractive for use by Ballet, Opera and traveling productions. Plus, the theater changes would probably help solve some of the soundproofing issues. Alas,it does not seem to be a part of the strategic plan to conduct a study to determine best use of the property. Seems like the current plan is a quick and easy move that ignores the property best use/potential and any strategic property planning for the effect on future generations.

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