State awards $135K in federal funds for tree programs
Recipients for tree inventory and analysis included Elkhart, $20,000; Kendallville, $17,425; West Lafayette, $18,562; and Pendleton, $11,575.
Energy & Environment
Articles
Duke Energy battles to fend off cyberattacks
The country’s largest electricity company is on alert for attacks that aim to hamper the critical flow of power and is listening to U.S. intelligence agencies about potential threats.
Dow’s merger plans with DuPont might hit antitrust roadblock
The proposed merger of Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co. would create the world’s largest agricultural-products company. But that’s bad news for farmers, according to some farm groups and antitrust experts.
Purdue ag, research foundation create $2M crop startup fund
Purdue University has created a $2 million fund that will help launch startup companies working to commercialize crop-boosting innovations developed by Purdue researchers.
Duke Energy revises $2B plan to upgrade Indiana electrical grid
Duke, which serves 810,000 customers in the state, says the new plan would raise rates by 6 percent between 2017 and 2022. The IURC rejected its original proposal in May.
Boost of biofuel levels pleases neither refiners nor growers
The EPA’s rule could revive a congressional debate over the Renewable Fuel Standard and spill over into the presidential campaign, as candidates stump in Iowa and other corn-belt states.
Farm Bureau gets first new leader in 14 years
Vanderburgh County farmer Randy Kron was elected president Tuesday during the state convention of Indiana's largest farm organization.
EPA intends tougher downwind air-pollution rule in 23 states
The Environmental Protection Agency proposed tougher new limits on Tuesday on smokestack emissions from nearly two dozen states—including Indiana—that burden downwind areas with air pollution from power plants.
Egg farms scramble to meet cage-free demand
It’s one of the largest-scale examples of agribusiness adapting to consumers’ growing sensitivities and anxieties over how their food is treated.
Outgoing Mayor Ballard’s new mission: energy security
Ballard is trying to spark a national conversation about how America’s dependence on oil is killing our troops—and how we can fix it.
Groups push Pence to work on state energy plan as court considers EPA rule
There is a growing sentiment here among key energy leaders—even from those who oppose the EPA plan—that the state should develop its own compliance plan that focuses on realistic strategies to decrease carbon emissions and diversify its energy mix.
Crop prices fall as U.S. boosts soybean, corn outlook
Crop prices dropped after the latest forecasts from the U.S. government showed soybean production will rise to a record and corn output will be more than analysts expected.
Cheap hams could steal the show from turkeys this Thanksgiving
This year’s bird-flu outbreak in the U.S. means turkeys will be more expensive for families sitting down this month for their Thanksgiving meal. But domestic pork supplies are at records, driving down prices.
Killing Keystone XL, Obama says pipeline not in U.S. interests
President Barack Obama rejected an application to build the Keystone XL pipeline Friday after 7 years of federal review.
Senate blocks legislation to undercut EPA water rules
Democrats have blocked a Senate bill co-authored by Joe Donnelly of Indiana that would have forced the Obama administration to withdraw new federal rules to protect smaller streams, tributaries and wetlands from development and pollution.
Keystone XL pipeline developer asks U.S. to suspend review
Keystone XL has become one of the most contentious energy issues of Barack Obama’s presidency, and the pause would allow him to put off a tough decision on an issue that has divided key Democratic constituencies.
Federal jury to settle bitter battle between sweeteners
Big Sugar and Big Corn face off in court this week in a bitter, multibillion-dollar battle of sweeteners that boils down to a mix of science, semantics and marketing.
Merger chatter casts cloud over Dow AgroSciences
Talk of synergies and consolidation may warm the hearts of investors, who are eager for Midland, Michigan-based Dow Chemical to boost returns, but they cast uncertainty over some of central Indiana’s best scientific jobs.
Elanco president makes case for juiced-up cows in organic age
Jeff Simmons is on a counteroffensive as, increasingly, the drugs that Elanco makes—including antibiotics and productivity enhancers—have come under attack by food activists.
EPA’s clean-power initiative under renewed attack by states
The regulatory package known as the Clean Power Plan officially became U.S. law Friday. It was immediately challenged by 24 states in a U.S. appeals court filing that included Indiana.