Drought deals blow to ethanol industry
Indiana’s 13 plants distilling the automotive fuel ethanol could soon be sputtering as drought dries up the supply and boosts the price of corn, their main ingredient.
Energy & Environment
Articles
Purdue: Food price increases likely after long drought
The persistent hot, dry weather has hit farm production in Indiana, the nation's fifth-largest producer of corn, harder than any other major corn and soybean producing state.
Rogers stays in charge at Duke Energy after CEO resigns
Duke Energy Corp. on Tuesday unexpectedly announced the resignation of Bill Johnson, previously named to be the CEO after its $17.8 billion takeover of Progress Energy Inc. James Rogers has been named CEO of the merged companies effective immediately.
Drought could have mixed impact for Indiana farmers
Agriculture experts say some Indiana farmers are already facing big crop losses because of this summer's drought.
Drought sets records for Indianapolis, Evansville
Last month was the driest June on record for Indianapolis and Evansville, the National Weather Service says. Weather service figures show both cities received less than half as much rain as their previous records.
Abound failure raises questions anew about Obama policies
The failure of a second solar manufacturer that received loan guarantees from the U.S. Energy Department adds to pressure on President Barack Obama to justify incentives for the clean-energy industry that’s being undercut by Chinese competition.
Duke foes skeptical about Edwardsport price tag
Utility denies claim it is trying to sidestep $2.6 billion cap on costs that can be passed along to ratepayers.
Abound Solar set to close doors, file for bankruptcy
Abound Solar Inc., a Colorado-based solar manufacturer that once hoped to hire 1,200 people in Indiana by the end of 2013, will close its doors and file for bankruptcy.
Valero Energy idles central Indiana ethanol plant
Valero Energy Corp. has temporarily stopped production at a central Indiana ethanol plant because of rising corn prices.
Heat wave wilting corn supplies, boosting prices
Corn supplies in the United States, the world’s biggest exporter, are declining at the fastest pace since 1996 just as a Midwest heat wave damages the world’s largest harvest for a third consecutive year.
Anderson’s former GM plants getting second look
Anderson officials said they are excited that companies have been showing interest in some of the industrial or commercial properties left by General Motors that need or are undergoing environmental cleanups.
Attorney general blames high gas prices on refinery shutdown
AAA says Indiana's average price of $3.78 per gallon was the seventh-highest in the nation.
Red Gold benefits from consumers’ thrifty ways
Since the recession hit, consumers looking to save a few bucks have embraced canned produce—a trend that has kept Madison County tomato processor Red Gold in the black.
Indiana drought worsening after scant rainfall
The Thursday morning update of the federal government's U.S. Drought Monitor map shows that about 90 percent of Indiana is abnormally dry and that nearly 40 percent of the state is now in the midst of a moderate drought.
Polar bear researcher wins top conservation prize
The Indianapolis Prize, administered by the Indianapolis Zoo and given every two years, claims to be the world’s richest individual award for animal conservation.
Indiana halfway to floodplain conservation goal
Gov. Mitch Daniels says Indiana's two-year-old Healthy Rivers INitiative has permanently protected nearly 30,000 acres of floodplains along the Wabash and Muscatatuck Rivers from development.
Citizens Energy looking to fuel big rigs
Local utility trust Citizens Energy Group plans to sell liquefied natural gas for use in cross-country semi trucks as a lower-cost alternative to diesel fuel.
State regulators order Duke Energy to release documents
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission ruled that emails and reports about the troubled Edwardsport coal gasification plant contain only general communications between Duke and its contractors and are not protected from disclosure.
Indianapolis fighting spread of ash borer in parks
Crews are treating ash trees in Indianapolis' city parks to combat the spread of the tree-killing emerald ash borer.
Purdue Extension starts food-hub discussion in central Indiana
Spawned at least in part by the “eat local” and organic-food movements, the regional facilities provide one-stop shops for consumers and farmers alike.