EPA: Indiana must cut carbon emissions 20 percent
Indiana has three years to come up with a plan to achieve the reductions, which were announced Monday by the EPA. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce called the requirements "potentially devastating."
Environmental Policy
Articles
Obama seeks to cut U.S. power plant carbon by 30 percent
The plan isn’t expected to make a meaningful difference in reducing climate change, but will give President Obama evidence of America leading by example as he tries to persuade other nations to cut their carbon emissions.
Experts expect higher electric bills amid tighter pollution rules
The Energy Department predicts retail power prices will rise 4 percent on average this year, the biggest increase since 2008. By 2020, prices are expected to climb an additional 13 percent, a forecast that does not include the costs of coming environmental rules.
Supreme Court upholds EPA rule on cross-state pollution
The 6-2 ruling was an important victory for the Obama administration in controlling emissions from power plants in 27 Midwestern and Appalachian states. Texas led 14 states, including Indiana, and industry groups in challenging the rule.
Study: Fuels from corn waste not better than gas
A $500,000 study paid for by the federal government and released Sunday in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Climate Change concludes that biofuels made with corn residue release 7 percent more greenhouse gases compared with conventional gasoline.
Environmental groups sue to stop Illiana Tollway
Chicago environmental groups filed a lawsuit Thursday to stop the proposed $1.3 billion Illiana Tollway linking northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, claiming the Illinois Department of Transportation doesn't have authority to develop it.
Manufacturers help drive recycling bill to passage
A state lawmaker who co-authored legislation setting a goal for Indiana to eventually recycle at least half of its municipal waste says the state's resource-hungry manufacturing industry was a key to the bill's passage this year.
Pence lets bill ending Energize Indiana become law
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence will let a bill that eliminates an energy-conservation program become law without his signature, prompting harsh words from environmental leaders who opposed the bill.
Big businesses fight over Indiana energy program
Two giant corporations that sell products that save electricity want Gov. Mike Pence to veto a bill that would halt the program called Energizing Indiana.
Lawmakers vote to put Energizing Indiana program on hold
A bill that would sideline the state’s energy-efficiency program was sent to the governor Monday, but Indiana lawmakers are still mulling bills that would relax gun regulations in school parking lots and make some welfare recipients undergo drug-testing.
U.S. House backs bill to block EPA power plant rule
The Republican-controlled U.S. House moved Thursday to block President Barack Obama's plan to limit carbon emissions from new power plants, an election-year strike at the White House aimed at portraying Obama as a job killer.
Indiana House amends bill to end efficiency program
TThe House voted 66-30 to amend the bill with language that prohibits the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission from extending or entering into contracts for Energizing Indiana’s statewide energy efficiency program after Dec. 31
UPDATE: Bill to limit Indiana environmental rules dies
A state senator has killed legislation that would bar Indiana environmental regulators from creating standards harsher than federal rules.
Climate case at Supreme Court looks at EPA’s power
The Obama administration is squaring off at the Supreme Court with industry groups and Republican-led states, including Indiana, over a small but important program aimed at limiting power-plant and factory emissions of gases blamed for global warming.
Indiana Senate OKs bill targeting efficiency program
The measure would allow industries that are Indiana's biggest energy users to pull out of the Energizing Indiana program, which provides energy-efficiency assessments and tips for saving energy and lowering utility bills.
Bill limiting environmental rules heads to Indiana Senate
Indiana regulators would be barred from adopting environmental rules tougher than federal standards under a bill that's advancing in the General Assembly that has drawn criticism that it would hamper efforts to protect the state's environment and public health.
EPA fines Crawfordsville over Sugar Creek pollution
Crawfordsville will pay $96,000 in environmental fines because a city-owned wastewater treatment plant was putting too much copper into a creek, according to a federal court filing in Indianapolis.
Obama names IU law prof to environmental panel
Eric Dannenmaier of the Indiana University Robert McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis will join a federal committee that promotes enforcement of evironmental laws.
Nation’s green-power push has secret, dirty costs
The consequences from the ethanol era are so severe that environmentalists and many scientists have now rejected corn-based ethanol as bad environmental policy. But the Obama administration stands by it, highlighting its economic benefits to the farming industry.
Report: Great Lakes cleanup helpful but needs better way to judge success
Federal officials and advocacy groups believe the project is making significant progress on pollution cleanup and other problems, but they’re short on yardsticks for confirming their impressions.