Public News Service

Recent reports show the economics of coal-fired power plants take a huge toll on ratepayer wallets and public health. (Adobe stock)

Study cites Indiana's costly reliance on coal plants

By Kari Lydersen for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public…

A report by The Nature Conservancy says if clean energy continues to be sited the way it always has been, the U.S. will need an area the size of Texas to meet its climate targets. (Adobe Stock)

Conservationists tout IN old mines, brownfields to develop renewable energy

Today is the summer solstice, the day of the year with the most sunshine, and Indiana conservationists said they have a plan to make the best use of …

A new Rural Climate Partnership report found rural communities have not been prioritized in efforts to help them harness the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency. (Adobe stock)

Indiana's rural climate impact: Urgent call for action

A new report from the Rural Climate Partnership revealed a significant climate impact on rural Americans, including more than one in five Hoosiers…

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Indiana's industrial sector is the state's largest energy consumer, accounting for 46% of the state's energy consumption in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

IN university hopes to lead in environmental responsibility

A central Indiana university has taken the initiative to address environmental challenges on campus and in the nearby community. Surveys conducted …

InsideClimatenews.org ranked U.S. Steel's Gary Works, in Gary, Indiana in 2022, as the largest greenhouse gas emitting iron and steel plant in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

IN legislators pause on federal environmental plan

States are working to find solutions to make their air and water cleaner and safer for their communities but the path is not always clear-cut…

According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the Justice 40 Initiative's policy plan includes increasing job energy resiliency and energy democracy and decreasing environmental exposure for disadvantaged communities. (Adobe Stock)

USDA funding to ease application process for clean energy projects

Indiana will soon get a dedicated person to help farmers, ranchers and other landowners apply for federal grants to help fight pollution and climate …

According to Clean Grid Alliance, Indiana ranks 19th in the nation for solar power and 12th for wind-energy production. (Adobe stock)

Renewable energy fuels major economic payoffs in rural Indiana

Wind and solar projects are powering a big surge for Indiana's economy. You've probably seen tall wind turbines and row after row of flat panels on …

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Indiana is home to 94 solar-energy companies, although the state still gets less than 1% of its power from solar. (Adobe Stock)

Growth of renewable energy in IN faces roadblocks

A proposal to allow utility-scale solar operations for Washington Township in Delaware County is meeting with some setbacks and one nonpartisan group …

In 2022, the wind energy sector employed nearly 7,000 workers in Indiana. (Adobe Stock)

DOE Job Report Shows Gains in Indiana

A new look at clean energy jobs in the U.S. shows growth in Indiana and the prospect of greater gains in the future. The Department of Energy …

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Indiana ranks third in the nation for total coal consumption. (James Phelps, Jr./Adobe Stock)

Indiana Governor Ignores Environmental Group's Plea

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb ignored pleas from environmental advocates who were asking him to veto a bill that gives lawmakers more power over state …

Planting trees, updating streetlights to LED bulbs and installing

Initiative Helps Hoosiers Get Environmental Resilience Funding

A funding hub has launched in Indiana, designed to help small communities pursue federal funding for climate, energy and resilience projects…

The renewable-energy industry is expected to create more than 9,800 clean-energy jobs over the next five years, according to the Clean Grid Alliance. (Franco Lucato/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Indiana Communities Can Benefit from Clean Power Grid

As the economy has changed with the pandemic in the past few years, Indiana's small communities have seen an exodus of jobs and people. However…

Indiana has more than 7,000 MW of clean energy in development - with the bulk of that in solar. (Branden/Adobe Stock)

Indiana Becoming America's 'Crossroads of Clean Energy'

Solar energy is growing fast in Indiana, which bodes well for clean energy as a whole in the state. Indiana ranks third among states in terms of …

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electric-vehicle sales nearly doubled from 2020 to 2022. (Adobe Stock)

IN Electric-Vehicle Infrastructure Plan Open for Public Comment

The Indiana Department of Transportation wants Hoosiers to weigh in on the state's proposed electric vehicle charging network. The state is …

A new report from WorkingNation and Lightcast predicts green-job employment nationally will increase by about 5.7% in the coming years. (Adobe Stock)

Despite Challenges, IN Clean-Job Sector Poised for Growth

By Laura Aka for Working Nation.Broadcast version by Jonah Chester for Indiana News Service reporting for the Working Nation-Public News Service Colla…

The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program has a recurring annual budget of $1 billion through 2026, <a href=

according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. (Adobe Stock)">

IN Officials Ask Public to Weigh in on Electric-Vehicle Infrastructure

Indiana is in line to receive about $100 million from the federal government to support new electric-vehicle infrastructure. State transportation …

All told, five states -- Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois -- accounted for nearly 70% of the nation's more than 3.6 million shutoffs from 2020 to 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IN Utilities Cut Power More Than 260,000 Times from 2020-2021

From January 2020 to December 2021, utility companies shut off power to Hoosier homes more than 260,000 times. According to a new report from …

Current Indiana legislation, SB 271, would allow utility companies to store radioactive waste at nuclear reactor sites. (Adobe Stock)

IN Lawmakers Consider Framework for Small-Scale Nuclear Reactors

From electric-vehicle infrastructure to renewable-energy initiatives, Indiana lawmakers have spent much of this legislative session with their eyes …

The Times of Northwest Indiana reports Hoosier steel production fell by 17.7% from 2019 to 2020, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

IN Steelmakers Push Feds to Preserve Trump-era Tariff Policy

Indiana steel producers are pushing President Joe Biden to leave in place a tariff on foreign-made steel adopted during the Trump administration…

According to a 2020 Pew Research Center Poll, two-thirds of Americans believe the federal government isn't doing enough to address climate change. (Adobe Stock)

IN Students Push for Climate-Justice Task Force

Confront the Climate Crisis is a student-led coalition pushing Indiana lawmakers to establish a new environmental-justice task force. Last month…

BP's refinery in Whiting, IN covers 1,400 acres in northwestern Indiana, just a few miles from the Chicago loop. (Adobe Stock)

BP, Feds Reach Settlement over Pollution from NW Indiana Refinery

WHITING, Ind. -- International oil-and-gas producer BP will pay more than $500,000 to the federal government as part of a legal settlement over air …

Gas bills in Indianapolis are expected to be on average $10 more per month this winter compared with last year. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Hoosier Households Urged to Apply for Heating Assistance

INDIANAPOLIS - As cold weather moves in, state agencies are working to make sure Hoosier households know how to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy …

A clean closure of the Michigan City Generation Station could create roughly 70 jobs in the surrounding area. (Larry Lawhead/Adobe Stock)

Report: Remove Coal Ash to Clean Up Toxic Pollution of IN Groundwater

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new study reinforces the view of many Indiana environmentalists the best way to clean up toxic coal ash is by removing it, rather …

Households that pay 6% or more of their income on energy bills are considered to have a high energy burden. (Adobe Stock)

Report Uncovers Disproportionate Energy Cost Burdens

INDIANAPOLIS -- One in four U.S. households faces a high energy-cost burden, and it's a hardship that a new report finds disproportionately affects …

A pollinator-friendly solar farm provides acres of healthy food for bees as well as creating clean energy. (Fresh Energy)

Beekeepers Convene in Indy: Can Solar Power Save the Species?

INDIANAPOLIS -- There was a loud buzz over bees in Indiana this weekend, as more than 1,200 beekeepers gathered in Indianapolis to learn the latest …

About 108,000 Hoosiers receive help with heating bills through the Energy Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)

Don't Be Left In the Cold: Heating Help is Available

INDIANAPOLIS – Winter weather is already here and Hoosiers who struggle to pay their heating bills need to take action now to ensure they aren't…

In a new poll, 75% of Indiana residents said they support policies to address the effects of climate change in the state. (Dominique Uhe/Adobe Stock)

Study: Majority of Hoosiers Believe Climate Change is Real

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana's status as a Republican stronghold might suggest that its residents also follow the party's resistance to fighting clima…

The World Health Organization says air pollution is to blame for more than four million premature deaths globally. (blackday/Adobe Stock)

Study: Even Low Levels of Air Pollutants Linked to Early Death

INDIANAPOLIS – Air Quality Action Days are common in Indiana this time of year, and new research suggests they should not be disregarded…

The 2019 Earth Day Indiana Festival will have a special focus on sustainability, food supply and native flora and fauna. (Earth Day Indiana)

Hoosiers Encouraged to "Think Globally, Act Locally"

INDIANAPOLIS – April is Earth Month, and the state's largest celebration takes place this weekend. The 30th annual Earth Day Indiana Festival …

Some experts say a clean-vehicle technology reduces air pollution, thus improving public health. (Pixabay)

Climate Mayors Amp Up Fight to Reduce Emissions

INDIANAPOLIS — A group of global leaders, including some Indiana mayors, are launching a new effort in their fight to reduce greenhouse gas …

The Environmental Protection Agency is taking public comments on its Affordable Clean Energy rule through Oct. 30. (Pixabay)

Will Indiana’s Super Polluters Stay Open?

INDIANAPOLIS – Folks in Indiana can now weigh in on President Donald Trump's replacement for the Clean Power Plan, as the EPA just opened a …

Indiana's energy plan would have cut back about 136 gigawatt hours per year in the state, in addition to saving millions of dollars for ratepayers. (Dean Hochman/Flickr)

Report: Energy Efficiency Repeal Cost IN Ratepayers Millions

INDIANAPOLIS – The repeal of Indiana's energy efficiency standards four years ago has cost ratepayers millions of dollars and slowed job growth…

There was a drop in the number of jobs in the solar industry last year in the United States. (energy.gov)

Indiana Saw Slight Increase in Solar Jobs in 2017

INDIANAPOLIS – Nearly 10,000 jobs nationwide were lost in the solar industry in 2017, according to a new report released by The Solar …

Corn and soybeans are Indiana's biggest cash crops. (usda.gov)

Report Shows Climate Change Being Fueled by Ethanol

INDIANAPOLIS – The federal mandate to add ethanol to fuel has led to a big increase in climate-disrupting pollution, according to a new study…

About 48,000 Hoosiers are employed in the clean-energy sector. (energy.gov)

Advocates: Updated Building Codes Would Save Hoosiers $

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana came in pretty low this year on a state scorecard for energy efficiency, and advocates of improving that ranking say …

The amount utility companies have to pay for excess energy decreases after this year. (ipl.org)

New Net-Metering Law Sparks Rush to Install Solar

INDIANAPOLIS – Across Indiana, there's a rush to install solar panels before the end of the year, because legislation passed this year lowers …

Coal ash from the bottom of the Dan River near the site of Duke Energy's spill. (Sierra Club)

Groups Ask Indiana to Reject Duke Energy Plan

INDIANAPOLIS — Duke Energy has a plan to dispose of millions of gallons of coal ash waste, but environmental groups are asking policy makers to …

More shipments of highly radioactive material would travel through Indiana under a plan being debated in the House. (Dept. of Transportation)

Legislation Would Bring More Radioactive Shipments Through Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – Environmental groups have a warning for the nation's leaders: Haste will make more waste. A House vote could come soon on …

Thousands of Americans die each year from diseases related to air pollution, and a new study suggests

Save 50,000 Lives a Year? Replace Coal with Solar, says Study

INDIANAPOLIS -- Thousands of Americans die prematurely from air pollution-related diseases associated with burning coal, and a new study from …

More Hoosiers are either installing solar panels or tapping into nearby sources. (energy.gov)

Will Wind, Solar Growth Continue in Hoosier State?

INDIANAPOLIS -- Despite President Trump pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, Americans continue to embrace the idea of renewable energy. Forty …

Legislation that would phase out net metering in Indiana could come up for a committee vote this week. (Sierra Club)

Could Indiana See Net Metering Come to an End?

INDIANAPOLIS – State lawmakers are getting an earful about legislation that would phase out the financial incentives given to homeowners…

A lawsuit has been filed challenging President Trump's executive order that would eliminate some regulatory safeguards. (epa.gov)

Lawsuit Filed Against Trump Order on Regulations

INDIANAPOLIS - Public-interest law, environmental and labor groups are suing to stop the Trump administration's executive order to cut government …

A new report details the impact coal mining has on the country in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. (in.gov)

Report: Coal Mining Accounts for 11% of Greenhouse Gas

INDIANAPOLIS – A new report acknowledges that coal mined on public land accounts for 11 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. A year …

The Midwest has been slower than some other regions of the United States to embrace renewable energy. (epa.gov)

Indiana Urged to Follow Illinois' Lead in Solar, Wind

INDIANAPOLIS – Strides are being made in the Midwest when it comes to renewable energy, but there's still lots of room for improvement…

An Indianapolis coal plant in operation for nearly a century has converted to natural gas, but local residents want assurances that the coal-waste cleanup will be thorough. (Sierra Club)

Petitioners Seek Clean Water in Coal-Plant Transition

INDIANAPOLIS – After decades of burning coal, the Harding Street Station in Indianapolis was converted to natural gas in February, but coal ash …

Consumer advocates want Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to show leadership in energy-efficiency policy, as the state is slipping in national rankings. (energy.gov)

Indiana Near the Bottom on List of Energy-Efficient States

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana needs to "up its game" when it comes to encouraging energy efficiency, according to a report by the American Council for …

Indiana is ranked fourth highest on the list of states that would see reductions in carbon emissions under the Clean Power Plan. (energy.gov)

Indiana's Manufacturing Sector to See Big Savings Under Clean Power Plan

INDIANAPOLIS – As the merits of the EPA's Clean Power Plan are argued at an appeals court today, recent data is adding more backbone to …

It isn't only humans affected by pollution. The Indiana bat is one of many species threatened by contaminated air, water and soil from oil and gas operations. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Polluted Air Affects People, Wildlife in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – A new study from the Clean Air Task Force, an environmental research and advocacy group, says more than 100,000 people in …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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IN: Energy Policy