IPL to pay $1.5M fine to settle Petersburg pollution issues
The Indianapolis-based utility said it also will spend $5 million to mitigate what critics say has been harm to the environment caused by the plant’s excess emissions over the years.
Regulation
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Trump looks to scale back environmental reviews for projects
The controversial changes to the National Environmental Policy Act are expected to make it easier to build highways, pipelines, chemical plants and other projects.
EPA rejects tougher air quality standards, says 2015 limits are sufficient
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler said national average ozone concentrations have dropped 25% in recent decades, mainly due to reductions in pollutants that contribute to the formation of smog.
Federal banking agencies ease Volcker Rule restrictions
The announcement of the easing of regulations know as the “Volcker Rule” gave an immediate boost to bank stocks because the rule change could free up billions of dollars in capital in the banking industry.
Utilities face major pushback over pandemic-relief request
More than 2,300 people have complained by email to the Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor, which is on track to become the largest number of complaints for any single case in at least a decade.
IPL gets OK to spend $1.2B on grid upgrade, setting stage for seven years of rate increases
IPL said a typical household customer would likely pay an extra $1.50 a month in the first year. That monthly amount would increase by $1.50 each year, or by a total of $10.50 a month by the seventh year.
Proposed U.S. hemp rules causing high anxiety for industry
Hemp growers and entrepreneurs who were joyous a year ago after U.S. lawmakers reclassified the plant as a legal agricultural crop now are worried their businesses could be crippled if federal policymakers move ahead with draft regulations.
States set to hit Facebook, Google with new antitrust probes
Two bipartisan groups of state attorneys general are launching separate antitrust investigations into Facebook and Google, adding to regulatory scrutiny of two of the world’s largest and most ubiquitous tech companies.
U.S. won’t impose rule to protect against coal ash spill costs
Environmental Protection Agency officials said Tuesday that modern industry practices and recently enacted regulations are sufficient to shield taxpayers from potential cleanup costs.
Duke Energy Indiana customers could see electricity rates climb by 15%
More than 800,000 customers of Duke Energy Indiana could see their monthly bills jump if the utility receives state permission to increase rates for the first time in about 15 years.
Trump orders simpler path for genetically engineered food
The move comes as companies are turning to newer genetic engineering techniques that make it easier to tinker with the traits of plants and animals.
IDEM to hike permit fees for first time in decades
The cost of Indiana environmental permits on everything from incinerators to wastewater-treatment plants is just a fraction of what nearby states charge.
Indiana regulators reject Vectren’s plan to build $780M gas plant
The utility had wanted to build the gas-fired plant to replace aging coal-burning units, but regulators said the plan was too risky and inflexible.
Ex-EPA chief Pruitt registers as energy lobbyist in Indiana
Scott Pruitt, the scandal-ridden former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, registered Thursday as fossil-fuels interests in the state fight to block the proposed closure of several coal-fired power plants.
Indiana House defeats proposed moratorium on new power plants
The House voted 53-38 Thursday to strip language that would have prohibited the state from approving new power plants for two years, a move widely seen as delaying construction of renewable energy projects.
Indiana Republicans push for moratorium on new power plants
The House Utilities Committee advanced legislation this week along party lines that would prohibit state regulators from approving any large new power plants until 2021. Environmentalists and utilities say the move could interrupt the transition from coal to renewable fuels and natural gas.
State electric plants pivoting away from coal
The industry is retiring coal-fired plants in favor of cheaper energy sources, including gas, solar and wind.
Duke Energy to create corrective plan for Indiana coal ash ponds
Cleanup options include excavating ponds or capping the ponds and keeping the ash in place. Both methods require steps to be taken to protect the water quality of nearby rivers or lakes.
EPA too slow on limiting toxic chemicals, critics say
Under pressure from Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday it would move toward setting safety limits for a class of highly toxic chemicals contaminating drinking water around the country.
EPA decision on chemical compounds tied to health risks expected soon
The Environmental Protection Agency is looking at how to respond to a public push for stricter regulation of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, in production since the 1940s.