Indiana's 142-mile extension of Interstate 69 between Indianapolis and Evansville will siphon hundreds of millions of dollars away from other road and bridge projects in coming years, according to a report from an environmental group.
Opponents say bridges along the new, 142-mile highway extension would worsen flooding in southwestern Indiana.
Senate Bill 251, which passed the Indiana House Utilities and Energy committee Friday, calls for a voluntary goal of producing 10 percent of the state's electricity from renewable energy resources by 2025.
A panel discussion includes topics ranging from green power initiatives and hybrid cars to landfill policies and environmental regulations.
A bill that would offer Indiana's utilities incentives to build the state's first nuclear power plants is advancing in the Statehouse despite strong opposition from environmentalists, renewable energy boosters and industries that consume large amounts of electricity.
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.
Some opponents of the Interstate 69 extension says it’s not too late to kill the project even
though concrete has been poured for two miles in southern Indiana, and another 60 miles or so is under construction or in
an engineering phase.
Detractors of new-terrain route say cost cuts undermine economic development premise for extending the interstate.
Indiana's air, land and water are significantly cleaner than they were at the start of the environmental movement
40 years ago, but the state still has work to catch up with other states, according to activists.
Bill would have allowed businesses, universities and other organizations generating their own power to receive a retail credit
on their utility bills.
Opponents of energy/climate change legislation—which has predominantly been in the form of so-called cap-and-trade
legislation—aren’t convinced.
The Hoosier Environmental Council and Citizens Action Coalition see an expansion of the state’s
“net metering” policy as achievable during the short legislative session that starts Jan.
5.
Indianapolis Power & Light faces potential fines and capital expenditures after allegedly updating three generating
plants over 23 years without adding the most modern pollution controls.
A solid majority of subscribers to IBJ Daily believes climate change is a serious problem, thinks carbon emissions
should be regulated, and wants Indianapolis to pursue mass transit on a broad scale, according to a poll conducted in July
by IBJ.
A panel of energy and legal experts will gather tomorrow evening to discuss what the climate change bill now before Congress
could mean for Indiana businesses.
Federal stimulus funds and greenhouse-gas legislation have the potential to spark a green version of the Gold Rush. Many Indiana
firms are retooling to sell products or services that are or might soon be in demand.
Indiana environmental advocates had lots of disappointments this year regarding government reform efforts.
No doubt the transition to a low-carbon economy will bring great challenges for Hoosier businesses, given how carbon-intensive
our society is. However, if we take proactive steps, Indiana can emerge as a standout success story.
A report due out later this month will show that Indiana is the state growing wind power at the fastest rate in the nation.
Six experts in green issues shared their outlook on businesses’ environmental responsibilities during IBJ’s Power Breakfast Feb. 13.
