Indiana Senate panel advances bill allowing small nuclear reactors
The vote represents a major shift for Indiana, which has never had commercial nuclear power and has long relied on coal to power homes and factories.
Energy & Environment
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Majority of states pursue nuclear power for emission cuts
As climate change pushes states in the U.S. to dramatically cut their use of fossil fuels, many are coming to the conclusion that solar, wind and other renewable power sources might not be enough to keep the lights on.
American Resources partners with Heritage Group venture arm
Fishers-based American Resources Corp. said the effort will put the partners on the path to becoming the first and lowest-cost producer of domestically-sourced, purified and sustainable battery and magnet metals.
EPA moves to crack down on dangerous coal ash storage ponds
Plants in four states, including Indiana, will have to close the coal ash ponds months or years ahead of schedule, the EPA said Tuesday, citing deficiencies with groundwater monitoring, cleanup or other problems.
Businesses want statewide standards for renewable-energy-farm siting
The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is again calling for legislation that it says would remove some of the local hurdles such projects now face.
Franklin College receives $1.8M gift of real estate
The college intends to use the 29 acres for a biological field station focusing on botany and field ecology studies.
Carmel-based company bringing ‘floatovoltaics’ to Midwest
Solential Energy Solutions LLC is partnering with France-based Ciel & Terre to secure solar arrays engineered to float on the surface of reservoirs and treatment lagoons.
Donors’ $1M gift to help reforest, protect conservation area in Johnson County
In recognition of the contribution from Leonard and Kathryn Betley and their family, Glacier’s End Nature Preserve near Trafalgar will be renamed Betley Woods at Glacier’s End.
Biden boosts fuel-economy standards to fight climate change
A final rule being issued Monday would raise mileage standards starting in the 2023 model year, reaching a projected industry-wide target of 40 miles per gallon by 2026
Climate change shrinking odds of white Christmas (but not in Indy)
Our warming climate appears to be eating away at white Christmas chances, newly available data shows. But Indianapolis appears to be an exception.
Q&A: Looking out for an Indianapolis waterway
Kevin Hardie has dedicated decades of his life to the White River, primarily through his work with Indianapolis-based not-for-profit Friends of the White River.
Critics urge Duke Energy to green up more quickly
The state’s largest electric utility wants to retire much of its coal-fired generating fleet by 2035, but critics say Duke Energy lags all other Indiana utilities in the green-energy transition.
Biden administration unveils plan for electric vehicle charging network
The Biden administration released an ambitious federal strategy Monday to build 500,000 charging stations for electric vehicles across the country and bring down the cost of electric cars with the goal of transforming the U.S. auto industry.
EPA lowers ethanol requirements, citing reduced demand
The lower production targets are a win for the oil industry, which argues that biofuel blending is costly and raises gasoline prices.
Not-for-profit catalogs, rates Indy’s urban forests
The Indiana Forest Alliance was scheduled to release Dec. 3 a report that maps all 4,237 private forests in Indianapolis that are larger than one acre—and evaluates them for environmental, ecological and social benefits.
Nature Conservancy finds new way to protect bat habitat from wind farms
Generating electricity using gigantic wind turbines is a massive win for green energy. But the huge blades are deadly for migrating Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats.
Local companies eye big opportunities in federal infrastructure package
The $1.2 trillion law could be a boon for huge corporations like Cummins Inc. and Allison Transmission Inc. and smaller ones like Telamon Corp., 120Water Inc. and BCA Environmental Consultants LLC.
Duke Energy Indiana seeks to raise rates 1% yearly until 2029 to upgrade grid
Duke Energy Indiana wants to spend about $1.9 billion to upgrade its electric grid, a move it says would result in few and shorter power outages and would harden the grid against severe weather.
U.S. to release 50 million barrels of reserve oil to ease energy costs
The move is aimed at global energy markets, but also at U.S. voters who are coping with higher inflation and rising prices ahead of Thanksgiving and winter holiday travel.
Indiana environmental chief leaving for federal agency job
Bruno Pigott is taking a new job as deputy assistant administrator in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water.