Some Indiana environmental groups suffering during pandemic
Without spring events that usually attract members and donors, some of Indiana’s environmental organizations are struggling to stay afloat.
Energy & Environment
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Proposed study commission on climate change advances to full City-County Council
The proposal was penned by Democrats in early January and has been opposed by council Republicans who believe creating a commission to study climate change is a redundant effort.
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Herbicide causing Hoosier farmers, state regulators big problems
The Office of Indiana State Chemist reports the number of dicamba-related complaints has skyrocketed in the last three years—and it’s costing the state millions of dollars to respond.
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Plans forming for public-private river education center at Conner Prairie
Visit Hamilton County launched a feasibility study Thursday to determine the best way to align the county’s River Road Park, Carmel’s River Heritage Park and Conner Prairie as a river-centric district.
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Sullivan’s Hardware buys Fishers garden-and-home center for $5M, plots growth
After more than 40 years as the nursery’s founder and owner, Jeff Gatewood decided last fall to retire and put his five-acre business at 11405 Allisonville Road up for sale.
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Articles
Vectren seeking to pay customers less for excess solar power
A utility that serves about 145,000 customers in Indiana wants approval to significantly reduce financial credits given to people who send excess solar-generated electricity into the power grid.
Lawsuit claims IDEM official ‘maliciously targeted’ environmental company, gas stations
Claiming an IDEM official gave “disparate treatment out of sheer vindictiveness” and “orchestrated a campaign of official harassment,” environmental consultants and business owners have filed a lawsuit against the Indiana Department of Environment Management and a deputy assistant commissioner.
Lawsuit claims U.S. plan for Indiana forest could taint water supply
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in federal court, alleges that the Forest Service violated several environmental acts when it decided to proceed with the project in the Lake Monroe watershed, which serves all of Monroe County.
Indiana coal company with ties to Trump administration gets $10M rescue loan
The federal rescue measure was designed for companies with fewer than 500 workers, but Small Business Administration guidelines allow some bituminous coal mining firms with up to 1,500 employees to qualify for the loans.
Oil prices see record plunge, falling below $11 per barrel
Despite OPEC’s unprecedented output deal agreed a week ago, the oil market remains massively oversupplied as the lockdowns to fight the spread of the coronavirus reduce global crude demand by about a third.
1,400-acre solar farm proposed in northwestern Indiana
The Lake County Council voted 6-1 to support a zoning change that would allow construction of the estimated $200 million project in a rural area, about 20 miles south of Gary.
OPEC, oil nations agree to nearly 10M barrel cut amid virus
OPEC, Russia and other oil-producing nations on Sunday finalized an unprecedented production cut in hopes of boosting crashing prices amid the coronavirus pandemic and a price war, officials said.
Federal spending makes more energy assistance available
But an administrator of energy-assistance programs says the funding “only scratches the surface” of what’s needed.
Global pact to contain oil price crash takes shape
The deal paves the way for cuts that experts estimate could reach 15 million barrels a day. Such a move would be unprecedented both in its size and the number of participating countries, many of whom have long been bitter rivals in the energy industry.
Trump administration rolls back future mileage standards for vehicles
The Trump administration says the looser mileage standards will allow consumers to keep buying the less fuel-efficient but safer-to-drive SUVs that U.S. drivers have favored for years.
Companies are seeking to reduce their environmental impacts and increase sustainability
Increasingly, as the planet warms, pressure is building from environmentalists, investors, consumers and the general public for corporate America to do something about it.
Tom Easterday: Subaru’s zero-landfill effort is example of what’s possible
In addition to helping eliminate risks to your operations, being a good environmental steward has many other benefits to businesses large and small. Having a successful environmental stewardship program can boost employee morale, enhance a company’s brand image, promote creativity and innovation among employees, increase community awareness of environmental stewardship and generate cost savings.
Q&A: Jeremy Lipinski on using solar power on the farm
Emergent Solar Energy opened in 2014 in the Purdue Research Park with the goal of helping local governments, schools, manufacturers and other companies make the switch to renewable energy. But it didn’t take long for agriculture to emerge as a key sector.
Saudi-Russia oil fight melts markets, targets U.S. oil patch
Oil prices fell Monday by the most in one day since the 1991 Gulf War. The price of U.S. crude fell as much as 34%, to $27.34 a barrel, the lowest price since early 2016. Here’s what’s driving the price drop.
Oil plunges 25% as another virus-fueled trading week begins
Oil prices are plunging amid worries that an OPEC dispute will lead an economy weakened by COVID-19 to be awash in an oversupply of crude.
IPL gets OK to spend $1.2B on grid upgrade, setting stage for seven years of rate increases
IPL said a typical household customer would likely pay an extra $1.50 a month in the first year. That monthly amount would increase by $1.50 each year, or by a total of $10.50 a month by the seventh year.
Controversial coal bill gets green light from Indiana Senate
The legislation, House Bill 1414, comes as large utilities across Indiana have announced plans to shut down thousands of megawatts of coal-fired generating capacity in favor of cheaper fuel sources.
Indiana Senate panel advances controversial coal bill with some changes
The legislation to slow down the exodus from coal comes as large utilities across Indiana have announced plans to shut down thousands of megawatts of coal-fire generating capacity in favor of cheaper fuel sources, such as natural gas, solar and wind.
Mitch Daniels: There’s plenty that’s fishy about fight against salmon
Ultimately, the worst damage of anti-science lies in its opportunity costs. Because they are not yet apparent to ordinary citizens, such costs do not generate an outcry commensurate with the harms they impose.