- Home
- NEWS
- REGIONAL
- THIS WEEK'S PAPER
- BLOGS
- Multimedia
- OPINION
- A&E
- LISTS
- PEOPLE
- EVENTS
- Classifieds
- Subscribe
Utilities
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Indiana needs to get energy-wise
September 10, 2007
As the 14th-mostpopulous state in the union, Indiana generates a gross state product that is 16th-largest of the 50 states.
Unfortunately, despite significant investments in equipment and processes by manufacturers and public-policy efforts to encourage
the attraction and growth of knowledgeand technology-focused industries, our economy remains energy-inefficient. In 2003,
Indiana was the country's sixthlargest consumer of energy per capita, according to the Indiana Energy Report. Ninety-seven
percent of Indiana's electricity is generated by coal. Indiana is the fifthlargest emitter of...
MoreSteam plant ups reliance on coal
September 3, 2007
Chris O'MalleyCitizens Gas & Coke Utility shuttered its coke manufacturing plant earlier this summer, much to the relief of neighbors and
health officials who warned that its benzene emissions were a cancer threat. But regulatory filings show closing the plant
at Keystone Avenue and Prospect Street could result in more pollution downtown.
MoreVOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Choosing renovation or new construction a tough decision
September 3, 2007
Fred J.Sooner or later, in the life of almost every building owner, there comes a time when a structure has outlived its usefulness
in its current condition. A choice between two options must be made. Do we renovate or do we demolish and build something
totally new? The answer is by no means easy or automatic. Confronted with these options, an owner must grapple with a host
of issues. The following sample is not exhaustive but may prove helpful as a...
MoreHeating-assistance program on the bubble: Agency urges improvements, questions accounting
August 20, 2007
Chris O\'malleyThe Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor has filed a lukewarm response to plans from a pair of local utilities to
continue a program intended to reduce gas disconnections in the upcoming heating season. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
is weighing whether to continue the 20-month-old "universal service" programs offered by locally based Citizens Gas & Coke
Utility and Evansville-based Vectren Corp. The programs are funded by the utilities and ratepayers. They amount to the secondlargest
source of funds in...
MoreUtilities seek new sources of renewable electric power
August 13, 2007
Chris O'MalleyThe glacial-but-steady move to renewable-energy sources by Indiana's coal-dominated electric utilities is picking up speed
and could spur demand for locally manufactured power-plant components.
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: Taxes pay for what Hoosiers want
July 23, 2007
Morton MarcusGood people, me included, have been making dumb statements about the property tax mess in Indiana. The problem is that we
don't know enough to talk or write intelligently on the topic. The result is that we can be led by our noses into an even
worse mess. "Abolish the property tax!" some demand. Then what? Abolition of the property tax means raising some other taxes
or fees, unless government spending on services decreases. The state has been urging counties...
MoreCity's water system wasted a billion gallons last year
July 16, 2007
Chris O'MalleyRecords show 17 percent of the 51 billion gallons Indianapolis Water treats and pumps from its plants never so much as moves
a digit on customers' water meters.
MoreLandlord handling of water, sewer bills under scrutiny: Utility commission examining charges to see whether owners operate
as utilities
July 16, 2007
Chris O\'malleyState utility regulators are examining whether operators of apartments and trailer parks are hosing tenants with excessive
bills for water and sewer service. The inquiry by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission takes aim at decades-old billing
practices that include dividing up a complex's total water and sewer bills among all tenants. The commission said it's received
a handful of complaints over the years alleging rental property owners, or their billing agents, are assessing tenants higher
rates than the commission permits...
MoreIndustry takes deep breath over ozone: Tougher EPA standards could force costly emission controls, choke economic growth
July 16, 2007
Chris O\'malleyJust when the nine-county metro area appeared back in the good graces of the federal government where ozone levels are concerned,
the feds want to tighten the standard once more. Manufacturers and other businesses that pump pollutants into the air that
combine with sunlight to produce ozone are "apprehensive" about the proposed new rules, said Patrick Bennett, vice president
of environmental, energy and infrastructure at the Indiana Manufacturers Association. Businesses in non-attainment counties
face possible restrictions on expansion of facilities...
MoreUnion targets IPL over efficiency, customer programs: Is workers' group taking on utility advocacy role?
July 2, 2007
Chris O\'malleyA union that's aggressively sought to organize the city's janitors unsuccessfully tried to intervene in an Indianapolis Power
& Light case before state utility regulators. IPL's lawyers mopped the floor with the tenacious union-this time, anyway. The
Service Employees International Union Local 3 wants IPL to expand its energy-efficiency and low-income customer assistance
program, arguing that IPL and other utilities need to do more to help lower-income workers afford service. Attorneys who argue
before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission said...
MoreVOICES FROM THE INDUSTRY: Infrastructure is costly to improve, but costlier to ignore
May 21, 2007
Don AltemeyerA recent article in Strategy+business magazine estimated that "the world's urban infrastructure needs a $41 trillion makeover"
between now and 2030. The article explained that $41 trillion is roughly equivalent to the "2006 market capitalization of
all shares held in all stock markets in the world." Some experts think that "new technology" will be the answer, and it may
be when nanotechnology takes over the world. For now, however, the trend usually reinforces the trend, and we do the same...
MoreCommentary: A plea for bio-focused policies:
May 14, 2007
Brian WilliamsCommentary A plea for bio-focused policies On April 2, in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that carbon dioxide
is a pollutant under the Clean Air Act and can be regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. While the ruling acknowledges
the obvious, it offers a compelling rationale for Indiana elected officials to create an economic development strategy that
leverages Hoosier intellectual capital and one of the state's greatest assets, our farmland. With the scope of the twin challenges...
MoreWinning bidder plans mixed-use project: Plan for state-owned parcel would add new neighbors for Bourbon Street Distillery,
Musicians' Repair & Sales
April 30, 2007
Cory SchoutenThe winning bidder for a prime piece of state-owned land on the west side of downtown hopes to break ground later this year
on a residential and retail complex. The project would replace a shabby parking lot on a triangle-shaped block that is now
anchored by The Bourbon Street Distillery and Musicians' Repair & Sales. The U-shaped, 0.75-acre property at 340 N. Capitol
Ave. touches Indiana Avenue, Capitol Avenue and Vermont Street. The development likely would include condos above a...
MoreSoftware firm finally making name for itself: Fusion quietly becomes giant in local tech industry
March 5, 2007
Scott OlsonDoug Brown might not know how to name a company, but he sure knows how to grow one. CEO Brown, 46, co-founded Fusion Alliance
Inc. in 1994 along with Tim Shaw, who is no longer active in the firm. The company has since blossomed into the Indianapolis-area's's
largest software developer, with 196 staff and contract software engineers and programmers. Much of the growth coincides with
the decision in 2000 to rechristen the northwest-side company from its original and less glamorous...
MoreSnowstorm meant long hours, extra bucks for some: Plowing works as a side gig, but no one's getting rich
February 26, 2007
Jennifer WhitsonWhen the snow started flying during central Indiana's impressive winter storm this month, some residents bought bread and
eggs and hunkered down to wait out the white stuff. Others tuned up their trucks and revved their snow blowers in hopes of
seeing a lot of green. Many area city and town officials had private contractors on their speed dial-reinforcements who would
help clear the foot of snow that fell in the Indianapolis area Feb. 13-14. The workers ranged from a...
MoreBill would let utilities pass on more costs without rate hearings
February 26, 2007
Chris O'MalleyUtility ratepayer groups say House Bill 1496, which is stuck in committee, is typical of what they see as a disturbing trend:
allowing utilities to pass the cost of mandates directly to consumers. HB 1496 would require Indiana's coal-reliant electric
utilities to generate at least 10 percent of their power from renewable energy sources like wind and landfill gas.
MoreNOTIONS: Can you look at the world through others' eyes?
February 5, 2007
Bruce HetrickFor the past few months, I've served on a search committee for a large not-forprofit organization. We're hoping to select
and hire a senior public relations executive. During interviews for this position, many finalists have said the same thing:
The organization needs to do a better job of "getting its message out." This doesn't surprise me. As head of a marketing communications
consultancy, my phone rings frequently with prospective clients wanting help "getting our message out" because "we're the
best-kept...
MoreGenerator-maker finding new ways to get energy
January 29, 2007
Chris O'MalleyI Power Energy Systems, which makes natural-gas-powered electric generators that are the primary power source of corporate
and college campuses, is a novelty in Indiana. After all, coal is still a cheaper source of electricity than is natural gas.
But I Power is developing applications for electric generators that burn biogas from sources ranging from garbage to ground-up
corn.
MoreEYE ON THE PIE: Time for progressive Indiana income tax?
December 11, 2006
Morton MarcusThere is growing agreement that the rich are getting richer faster than the poor are improving their lives. If you believe
the trickle-down theorists, the poor will get the runoff as wealth is showered upon the few. If you look about, however, you
will question this charming opinion held by the comfortable. At the same time, policies at the national and state levels continue
to emphasize cutting the most important means we have of correcting this growing imbalance in America....
MoreIPL plan secrecy brings rebuke from watchdog group
December 4, 2006
Chris O'MalleyThe state's public access counselor says Indiana's utility regulators failed to make a legal case for keeping information
about Indianapolis Power & Light's controversial "Elect Plan" out of public view.
MorePlant to be a real gas for price stability?: Utilities betting gasification will ease volatility
December 4, 2006
Chris O\'malleyTwo gas utilities serving central Indiana say they want to buy synthetic gas from a proposed coal gasification plant downstate
to provide a hedge against price volatility. Citizens Gas & Coke Utility, which serves 266,000 Marion County customers, plans
to buy up to 3 billion cubic feet of gas a year from Indiana Gasification LLC. The amount is equivalent to about 10 percent
of Citizens' annual demand for natural gas. Meanwhile, Evansville-based Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana, which has 550,000...
MoreIPL seeks to expand green plans
September 4, 2006
Chris O'MalleyElectric customers would gain new payment options and more access to "green power," and Indianapolis Power & Light would have
more opportunities to profit, under a plan the utility filed Aug. 23 with state regulators.
MoreBRIAN WILLIAMS Commentary: The heat will hurt more next winter
August 14, 2006
Geopolitical instability and increasing worldwide demand for fossil fuels have caused high energy prices. Indiana tax policies
in support of the creation of ethanol and biodiesel production facilities are part of an effort to help wean our transportation
infrastructure from fossil fuels. While ethanol may be a poor alternative to fossil fuels, Hoosier entrepreneurs' and policymakers'
efforts in this area reflect a broad awareness that we need a sensible, comprehensive energy policy. A corollary to $3-per-gallon
gas is increasing home-heating...
MoreButler juniors to stay on campus next year: University wants to boost campus, fill apartments
August 7, 2006
Jennifer WhitsonButler University underclassmen got what some saw as very bad news last week: Starting in the fall of 2007, juniors-like freshmen
and sophomores-will be required to live on campus. The university claims the new rule will make for a stronger on-campus community,
but the change coincides with Butler's struggle to fill a new 500-bed apartment facility, where rents are higher than offcampus
rental houses. Butler President Bobby Fong said a change has been underway for years to try to align...
MoreNew fiscal year, no cuts for IU School of Medicine: But concern remains about funds for future growth
July 24, 2006
Tom MurphyNo layoffs. No seven-figure budget cut to sweat through. IU School of Medicine Dean Dr. Craig Brater had many reasons to raise
a toast this month, when a new fiscal year began and the school left behind an old one marked by the worst budget cuts in
decades. Indeed, Brater said he is breathing a little easier as the school starts fiscal 2006-2007 with a budget of more than
$815 million. An increase in clinical revenue and grant money helped...
More
Sponsored by
ADVERTISEMENT
on Facebook & Twitter
on Facebook & Twitter
 Follow IBJ's Tweets on these topics: |
||
| @IBJNews | @Propertylines | @IBJTheScore |
| @IBJArts | @IBJHealthcare | @IBJDining |
| @IBJLists | @IBJSmallbiz | |
ADVERTISEMENT
Back to TopCopyright © All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.
Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing.
Additional Hosting & Delivery by
These higher rates Co. e about only because physicians are now hospital employees. otherwise physicians couldn't charge these rates and share the windfall with the hospital. Community/rural hospitals probably not buying physicians practices and thus weren't getting the windfall anyway.
The incentive for poor people to get themselves off public assistance and "no longer be poor" is even with help...they're STILL POOR! Being poor, even with some assistance, isn't all that pleasant. (I speak from experience) It's a stubborn myth that poor people, who are on public assistance, are sitting in the lap of luxury. You should try living on just those "freebies" that you mentioned and see how meager they actually are. By the way, I didn't mean you had to buy/own a puppy...just pet one. :)
As near as I can tell the minority has ZERO constitutional obligation to offer a quorum to the majority. A requirement for quorum was inserted into the constitution so that tyrannical majorities could not simply shove through odious and objectionable legislation (which is exactly what they did.) By allowing a tyrannical majority to charge fines against the minority for exercising their constitutional prerogative to deny quorum the court as made a mockery of constitutional governance in the state of Indiana.
The voters elected the Reps to make a vote not walk out on the vote. They had to the right to exercise their opinion and vote "no" to the bill. Let me ask you this if you walked out of your job for 5 straight weeks would you get paid? Would you even have a job to go back to? If any elected official walks out on the people they should be arrested for stealing tax dollars from the public. They were elected to do a job and not leave when the job gets stuff.
I have been to several of their locations in Pennsylvania and always go in for 1 item and leave with a basket full of things. I'm very happy they decided on Indiana, now if only they would put the other store in eastside.