Bill creating water withdrawal regulations expected to pass House committee amid LEAP concerns
The legislation would add a new permitting process for utility developers looking to move large amounts of water to support their projects.
Energy & Environment
Articles
Braun issues orders on environmental justice, overregulation
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun made dual executive orders Wednesday—and said President Donald Trump’s timber production goals aren’t aimed at Indiana or its Hoosier National Forest.
‘All roads point to nuclear’: Reactor incentive package moves forward in House
Supporters hold up nuclear power as more efficient and cleaner, but say the cost to get that power connected to Indiana’s grid is too great to be borne by utility companies alone.
Facing competition from Big Tech, states dangle incentives, loosen laws to attract power plants
The spike in demand for electricity is being driven, in large part, by the artificial intelligence race as tech companies are snapping up real estate and seeking power to feed their energy-hungry data centers.
New EPA guidance says spending items greater than $50,000 must get OK from DOGE
The guidance, issued this week, escalates the role that the new efficiency group, known as DOGE, plays in EPA operations.
Lawmakers seek path to remediate brownfields through inventory
Senate Bill 307 would allow the Indiana Brownfields Program to be used to study brownfields and to create a statewide inventory, although the bill provides no funding for the task.
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful says it won’t get $400K grant due to federal spending cuts
The Trump administration’s overhaul of federal spending has put at least one local green program on the chopping block, while several others remain in limbo.
EV, battery manufacturers moving ahead on projects despite Trump’s views, actions
Potential rollbacks of Biden-era policies that incentivized electric vehicle production and ownership have stirred apprehension among some local economic development officials across the state.
Calumet subsidiary draws down $782M as part of first Trump-approved energy loan
Montana Renewables said the money will help make it become the biggest producer of sustainable aviation fuel in the world.
UPDATE: Duke Energy Indiana seeks OK for natural-gas units at Cayuga in $3.3B project
Customers will see a rate increase of about 5.4% between 2026 and 2031 if Duke receives approval to add to electricity rates over time rather than at once.
Trump OKs $782M loan to Indianapolis company’s sustainable jet fuel subsidiary
Montana Renewables is a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP. Calumet launched Montana Renewables in 2021 with the goal of becoming one of the top renewable diesel producers in North America.
Environmental consulting firm expanding in Indianapolis
BCA Environmental Consultants has doubled the amount of its office space in Indianapolis and plans to add nearly two dozen jobs.
Senate approves electronic pull tabs for charity gambling as House OKs immigration notice mandate
Also past the halfway point are bills on voting, water transfers and teacher pay. The House, meanwhile, pulled back on divorce and municipal election changes.
State regulators OK electricity rate hike for Duke Energy
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, or IURC, gave approval for an increase of $395.7 million a year for rates and charges, down from the $491.5 million hike requested by Duke—a decrease of 19.5%.
GOP lawmakers eye small nuclear in Indiana despite concerns over cost, feasibility
Consumer advocates argue the novel technology is “too risky” and will come at a “massive” cost to ratepayers.
Indiana House Republicans’ agenda includes effort to absorb disgruntled Illinois counties
House Republicans also introduced a slew of bills addressing trademark issues such as education, housing and health care.
Indianapolis commits to incinerating municipal trash through 2035
The Indianapolis Board of Public Works voted narrowly Wednesday to continue sending the bulk of Marion County’s waste to an incinerator that burns trash to create steam energy through 2035.
Eight Indiana coal sites offer ‘substantial opportunities’ for nuclear plants, per new Purdue study
Purdue officials announced in May that the university was selected to study small nuclear technology and how it can potentially be used to power Indiana in the future.
New Wabash watershed study finds supply should meet demand with proper management
The findings are consistent with a statewide water study released in August that concluded Indiana has a “plentiful” but unevenly distributed water supply.
Indianapolis won’t begin universal curbside recycling until 2028
In November, a Department of Public Works staffer revealed to the Board of Public Works in a public meeting that the Hogsett administration is now planning for a rollout three years later than the original target.