A solid majority of subscribers to IBJ Daily believes climate change is a serious problem, thinks carbon emissions
should be regulated, and wants Indianapolis to pursue mass transit on a broad scale, according to a poll conducted in July
by IBJ.
Indianapolis truck dealer Utility-Peterbilt leased its first hybrid medium-duty truck this summer after enduring months of
tire-kicking but no action from fleet buyers and plenty of interest from television-news types.
Bright Automotive and EnerDel are well known for their development of components for hybrid cars, but the region has several
other players poised to be big players in the sector. In fact, few realize that North America’s largest producer
of electric motors for hybrid vehicles is based northeast of Indianapolis, in Pendleton.
A panel of energy and legal experts will gather tomorrow evening to discuss what the climate change bill now before Congress
could mean for Indiana businesses.
Indiana will use nearly $132 million in federal stimulus funding to help more than 30,000 low-income households weatherize
their homes and obtain more efficient appliances.
Indianapolis Power & Light Co. has agreed to a 20-year contract with a state agency to potentially draw millions of gallons
of water from southern Indiana’s Lake Monroe.
A company planning to build a $285 million plant that would turn trash into ethanol has narrowed its site search to three
locations in northwestern Indiana.
Chemical-maker Vertellus Specialties Inc. will spend up to $1.1 million and change air-emission monitoring practices at its
plant on the southwest side of Indianapolis under a proposed settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Veolia Water Indianapolis, which manages the city’s water utility, has appealed an order issued by state utility regulators
that limited a major rate increase sought by the city.
I urge Sen. Evan Bayh to vote against the “cap and trade” legislation pending in the Senate.
Federal stimulus funds and greenhouse-gas legislation have the potential to spark a green version of the Gold Rush. Many Indiana
firms are retooling to sell products or services that are or might soon be in demand.
EnerDel, an Indianapolis-based producer of automotive lithium-ion batteries, will receive $118.5 million in a matching grant
from the federal government.
Calumet Specialty Products Partners L.P. this morning reported a loss of $26 million in the second
quarter due to high crude oil prices and flagging product demand.
Carbon Motors this morning officially selected Connersville for its proposed headquarters and manufacturing operations.
Even after a string of acquisitions, Dow AgroSciences is a bit player in the seed business. But the new genetically
modified corn it developed with St. Louis-based giant Monsanto Co. finally provides the breakthrough product that could grow
its seed sales substantially.
A municipality has filed the first formal complaint against a cable television operator since state telecommunications reform
three years ago unplugged local government oversight of operators.
Duke Energy has proposed spending $121 million to study the feasibility of injecting carbon dioxide deep underground, adding
1 percent to the average ratepayer’s bill between 2010 and 2013.
Hoping to spur alternative vehicles, lawmakers want to double the size of tax breaks on cars that run on natural gas. That
could be good news for Indiana, where Honda Motor Corp. produces the natural-gas-powered Civic GX in Greensburg.
Resigned to inevitable government curbs on their carbon dioxide emissions, about
all Indiana utilities could do was say which poison they’d prefer to swallow. They’re closer to
getting their favorite poison, with the U.S. House passage June 26 of a bill that would create a market
for trading carbon dioxide permits.
A Michigan company that supplies solar energy systems to Fortune 500 companies and educational and government buildings has
tapped two local entrepreneurs to establish a beachhead in Indianapolis.
