State’s big polluters spewed less last year
EPA data show an 18 percent decrease in toxic emissions among big manufacturers and electric utilities, but it’s unclear to what degree better practices—or the slow economy—had on declining levels.
Environment
Articles
Conservationists blast Newport depot reuse plan
The Newport Chemical Depot Reuse Authority hopes to develop a business and industrial campus on 11 square miles at the Vermillion County site that once produced and stored the deadly VX nerve agent
Abound Solar completes financing for Tipton plant
Company closes on a $400 million federal loan to help it take over the empty Getrag plant on U.S. 31 near Kokomo, where it wants to hire as many as 1,000 workers. The plant was acquired for $25 million.
Indiana resists call for renewable energy mandates
The state is one of only 14 nationwide without a renewable energy standard, according to the Pew Center of Global Climate Change.
Ethanol’s future clouded by potential loss of tax breaks
The fortunes of Indiana’s 12 ethanol plants, and the farmers and truckers who supply the corn to make the motor fuel additive, hinge on two decisions facing Congress and federal regulators in the weeks ahead.
PRINCE: Why iPad could save investment firms money
The device is projected to save Prince Group office at Stifel Nicolaus & Co. more than $3,000 in paper alone.
Carp czar has huge task of fighting invasive fish
John Goss, a Hoosier who helped create the Great Lakes Compact to conserve water, is coordinating federal, state attack.
Indiana environmental activists to push bipartisan agenda
Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, said the new Legislature will make it more challenging to sell environmental initiatives mainly because there are more than two dozen freshmen lawmakers he and others will have to court.
PCBs a concern at bankrupt ESI Environmental plant
The EPA says 300,000 gallons of sludge at the firm’s northwest-side site are suspected of containing carcinogenic PCBs. A recent court ruling could expedite clean-up efforts.
Indiana farmers expected to enjoy near-record income
Many Indiana farmers who had been worrying about a late summer drought are now looking forward to some extra spending money thanks to high grain prices.
City commission set to approve refinery plans
The Metropolitan Development Commission is expected Wednesday afternoon to approve Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc.’s plan to build its first used oil re-refinery, on West 10th Street. The project is estimated to cost $40 million and should create 55 jobs by 2013.
State getting $25M to clean up old GM sites
Indiana will benefit from a $25.2 million environmental trust established to clean up and redevelop eight former General Motors plants throughout the state, officials said Wednesday.
IURC to re-examine Duke project amid ethics flap
The commission is summoning the CEO of North Carolina-based Duke Energy to justify the $2.9 billion Edwardsport plant on the same day the state ethics board filed formal charges against a former IURC attorney hired by Duke.
Indianapolis wins state “Green Community of the Year” award
Mayor Greg Ballard has unveiled a number of green initiatives, ranging from widespread use of hybrid vehicles to making the City-County Building more energy-efficient.
Duke Energy wins verdict reversal in clean-air case
The renovations complied with Indiana’s plan for implementing the federal Clean Air Act, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Chicago said in Tuesday’s ruling.
Local environmental contractor declares bankruptcy
Indianapolis-based ESI Environmental Inc. filed for Chapter 7 liquidation in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The firm was the area's second-largest environmental contractor based on revenue, according to the most recent IBJ statistics.
Regulators postpone Duke hearing amid scandal
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission canceled a hearing set for Thursday on Duke Energy Corp.’s controversial Edwardsport power plant amid a conflict-of-interest scandal that cost the agency’s chief his job.
Plastic recycler establishing $25M plant in Richmond
Chicago-based Perpetual Recycling Solutions said it will purchase and renovate an existing, 100,000-square-foot facility in the city, with plans to create up to 55 jobs by 2012.
Expert: Indiana an island of drought in Ohio Valley
Indiana’s official climatologist says Indiana is drier than surrounding states.
Feds charge 3rd man with Clean Water violations
Joseph Biggio, who was executive vice president of operations at Ecological Systems Inc. from 2001 through 2007, was charged Thursday with two counts of violating the Clean Water Act and one count of making false statements.