Pollution from Canadian mines is endangering one of Idaho's largest rivers.

Selenium and other pollutants from coal mines across the northern border are impacting fish species in the Kootenai River.

Environmental director for the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Genny Hoyle, said selenium is reducing or eliminating culturally important fish species.

"We have the endangered Kootenai River white sturgeon," said Hoyle. "It's a federally listed species. We have burbot - also a culturally important fish species for food. So when these populations disappear, you're also impacting treaty rights."

Hoyle said past cross-border attempts to solve this issue have broken down. Selenium in the Kootenai River has raised concerns in North Idaho for decades.

Jennifer Ekstrom, the North Idaho Lakes conservation associate with the Idaho Conservation League, said mine operators in Canada need to install wastewater treatment facilities.

To compel them to do so, she said the International Joint Commission needs to be put to work.

Ekstrom said U.S. Sen. Jim Risch - R-Idaho - is in a key position to help this happen, as the highest ranking Republican member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

"The highest levels of government in the United States - the State Department and the EPA - they're calling for a referral to the International Joint Commission," said Ekstrom. "But having our Republican senator's support would go a long way to actually getting the referral to happen."

Hoyle noted that there could be more threats to the river because new mines are going through the permitting process across the border in British Columbia.

"The Kootenai Tribe isn't opposed to mining," said Hoyle. "We just would like them to clean up the pollution coming out of those mines."

A 100-megawatt solar project in rural Polk County set to begin operating this year has a unique focus on investments in youth.

Developers said the Apple River Solar Project will be able to power about 26,000 homes and offset CO2 emissions by nearly 130,000 metric tons, the equivalent of taking about 31,000 cars off the road each year.

Jeff Ringblom, chief development officer for the renewable energy company Geronimo Power, formerly National Grid Renewables, said the project will provide economic benefits to the community and a monetary donation to the Amery and Clayton school districts totaling $500,000.

"We've always been founded under the pretense of being what we call 'farmer friendly,'" Ringblom explained. "But that really encompasses the entire community and all of the stakeholders that are engaged. So we try to give back to the communities in which we operate in."

Both school districts are located in rural areas of the state. The funds will be distributed to them over the first 20 years of the project's operation. Ringblom noted they estimate the project will bring in about $36 million in the same time period, including about $10 million in new tax revenue.

The Boldt Company is constructing the utility-scale solar facility.

Mark Osten, vice president of energy project and business development for Boldt, said they recruited about 40 apprentices to work on the project, 20 of which are carpenters. He noted Boldt has been active in sponsoring apprentices, starting at the high school level, to train and expose them to trade work, which he said is so important to future projects.

"There's such a shortage of skilled trades in the country these days because so many kids have been going to college, the trades have been suffering," Osten pointed out. "Now we're in this build phase around the country and we don't have the people."

Osten added the project has also created about 150 construction jobs and is the first utility-scale solar project in the state led by a Wisconsin-based union contractor.

"One of my personal missions is really to try to get union contractors from the state of Wisconsin to build Wisconsin," Osten emphasized. "The other contractors that have built utility scale have all come from out of state, and our position is, 'Well, why aren't Wisconsin contractors building these things?'"

The Apple River Solar project will supply power to Xcel Energy for its customers across the Upper Midwest.

Indiana workers could feel the effects of a sweeping federal bill targeting electric vehicle tax credits.

Optimal EV's plant in Elkhart employs 35 workers who build electric commercial vehicles. The company said the budget under consideration in the U.S. Senate could disrupt its growth. The bill would eliminate most federal EV tax credits after 2025.

Jeff Hiatt, executive vice president of Optimal EV, said the move could hit smaller companies like his hard.

"Any help we can get to facilitate the sale of our product is good," Hiatt pointed out. "The 45W tax credit gives potential purchasers up to 40 grand tax credit on our product. So, it's important for us to kind of fuel growth in the market."

Without the credits, Hiatt expects a slowdown. Supporters of the bill said it reins in government spending and refocuses tax policy.

Hiatt argued the EV credits help customers afford vehicles.

"It would create an obstacle more for our customers," Hiatt emphasized. "I would anticipate we'll see a little bit of a drawdown or slowdown of inbound orders, much like we did when they paused the EPA funding earlier in the year."

Congress faces a July 4 deadline set by President Donald Trump to finalize the bill.


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A new report questions the sustainability of biofuels.

Biofuels, or ethanol, are produced from fermented sugars and starches found in corn and sugarcane. The Indiana Corn Marketing Council reported the state produces more than 1 billion gallons of ethanol every year.

Data from the World Resources Institute study shows the ethanol industry causes land use change and displaces food production. Additional figures revealed biofuels can weaken communities and harm water quality and wildlife habitats.

Tim Phelps, spokesperson for The Indiana Ethanol Producers Association, touted its benefits.

"Ethanol has been an enormous success story for the United States and most specifically here in Indiana," Phelps contended. "It's helping our engines run cooler. It's helping them run cleaner. It's reducing the price at the pump. It's reducing our reliance on foreign oil, and it's reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions."

He noted nearly half of Indiana's annual corn crop is initially processed at an ethanol facility where the grain is converted to high-protein animal feed and corn oil. In 2023, 43% of Indiana's corn crop went into the state's ethanol production, according to the council.

The study pointed out the costs of producing biofuel are picked up by taxpayers. Another observation is more biofuel production means higher food prices and widens the gap between disadvantaged and marginalized groups and startup farmers.

Phelps sees the bigger economic picture of an industry he argued is vital to Indiana's economy, especially for Hoosier farmers in rural communities.

"These facilities are economic development engines that today support 35,000 jobs and 19,000 farms just in Indiana," Phelps pointed out. "By coming into one of these communities, an ethanol plant creates demand and boosts local grain prices for farmers."

E15, frequently sold as Unleaded 88, is made of 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency gave approval for year-round sales in Indiana and surrounding states.