Man accused of $90M biodiesel scam pleads guilty
The ringleader of a $90 million biodiesel scam has agreed to plead guilty to 37 felony counts including conspiracy and wire fraud in a deal with federal prosecutors.
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Fill ‘er up: Gas under $3 per gallon again
Seasonal swings and other factors will likely send gas back over $3 sooner than drivers would like, but the U.S. is on track for the lowest annual average since 2010—and the 2015 average is expected to be lower even still.
Ballard unveils $32M plan to rent electric-vehicle fleet
Mayor Greg Ballard announced Tuesday morning a plan to replace gas-powered cars in the city’s fleet with 425 all-electric and hybrid vehicles by 2016. Indianapolis is the vendor’s first customer.
Food distributor to open natural-gas fueling station
Indianapolis-based Delco Foods plans to break ground Wednesday on a new compressed natural gas fueling station at 8775 Zionsville Road to serve its own delivery fleet as well as the public.
Indiana gasoline prices ninth highest in nation
While gas prices in Indiana have gone down slightly over the past week, they are still expected to remain high through the July 4 holiday, said Michael Green, Manager of Public Relations at the American Automobile Association.
Senators: Administration must support biodiesel
The Obama administration is considering changes that would significantly reduce the required amount of biodiesel in the United States. Industry groups, farm state lawmakers and others have called on the administration to reconsider.
Airlines scrap record number of flights in nasty winter
The relentless snow and ice storms this winter have led to the highest number of flight cancellations in more than 25 years, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.
Pence declares energy emergency over propane shortage
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence outlined steps that have been taken in an effort to help Hoosiers during the state’s propane shortage.
Propane shortage hits Indiana sellers, customers hard
Central Indiana propane dealers are rationing their inventories to help supplies last and transporting propane here from as far away as Mississippi, Kansas and South Carolina. An estimated 500,000 Hoosiers rely on propane to heat their homes.
Holiday sales could ride on lower gasoline prices
Many retail analysts have forecast a ho-hum sales gain of about 2 percent this year; others predict an increase of up to 3.9 percent. But steadily cheaper gas could send holiday sales shooting above 5.4 percent, analysts say.
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.
Public safety department looks to go hybrid on 1,035 cars
The Indianapolis Department of Public Safety could save $8.6 million over the next five years by replacing 1,035 non-patrol vehicles with plug-in electric hybrids, according to an internal review released Tuesday.
Aviation tax changes making Indiana skies friendlier
Indiana began exempting aviation fuel and maintenance and service work on planes from its 7-percent state sales tax effective Monday. It has substituted a flat 10 cents-per-gallon excise tax for fuel purchases.
BP settles class-action suit over tainted gasoline
The oil giant has agreed to a $7 million settlement related to a recall of about 4.7 million gallons of tainted gasoline in four Midwestern states, including Indiana.
Indiana gas prices soar to 50 cents above U.S. average
The website Gasbuddy.com said Indiana's average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gas was nearly $4.16 Wednesday afternoon, compared with the national average of nearly $3.64 a gallon.
Group, bill promote natural gas fueling stations
Natural gas advocates want to create incentives for building fueling stations across the state in hopes that more people will operate vehicles using alternative fuels.
Calumet goes back to market with public offering
The Indianapolis-based petroleum refiner plans to use proceeds from the 5.3 million unit stock offering for working capital, acquisitions and possibly the redemption or repurchase of debt.
Allison adds hybrid systems for broader array of trucks and buses
Production of propulsion system for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles will begin later this year.
CountryMark paying $18 million for pollution controls
Government officials alleged Indianapolis-based CountryMark violated the law when the oil refiner expanded operations without obtaining proper permits and installing necessary pollution controls.
Corn shortage idles 20 ethanol plants nationwide
Twenty of the nation’s ethanol plants have ceased production over the past year, including two in Indiana. There is growing concern about what happens if last year’s drought lingers through another corn-growing season.