The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), in partnership with Energy Systems Network, is extending its Request For Qualifications (RFQ) on the newest iteration of the Moving Forward Program to July 10. Moving Forward creates affordable housing that ties in important cost savings in the areas of transportation and energy while increasing the quality of life for residents based on location and other factors.

An east-central Indiana nonprofit that’s been educating children and adults alike on sustainable environmental practices for decades is on track for a rare recognition. The Cope Environmental Center (CEC) could soon be one of a handful of buildings in the United States to meet the Living Building Challenge (LBC), some of the most rigorous proven performance standards for buildings in the world.

A massive new solar array at Crane in southwest Indiana cements an important partnership between the U.S. Navy and Duke Energy Indiana. The operation is a major step in the diversification of energy portfolios for both parties.

A Chinese-owned, Silicon Valley-headquartered company has announced an agreement to acquire the Mishawaka commercial assembly plant of South Bend-based AM General LLC. SF Motors says it plans to produce "environmentally-friendly, intelligent" electronic vehicles in St. Joseph County. The company is a subsidiary of Chongqing Sokon Industry Group and says it intends to retain the facility's full current work force and invest $30 million into upgrades.

IKEA says it is continuing its commitment to sustainability at its new location in Fishers. The Swedish retailer has announced plans to install three electric vehicle charging stations at the store, which is set to open this fall.  

The city of Hammond has announced a partnership with Illinois-based Leopardo Energy on a new energy savings program. Mayor Thomas McDermott says the 14-month program will help the city reduce its carbon footprint and lower expenses. The effort will involve upgrades to facilities, streetlights and fleet vehicles.That will include new LED lights, automation controls and upgraded HVAC systems at city buildings such as the Public Works Complex, Civic Center and police and fire stations. ...

The Carroll County Economic Development Corp. says new industry and industrial park investment totaled nearly $425 million last year. Executive Director Laura Walls says the county is experiencing "a significant surge of interest." The biggest development in 2016 was a planned $300 million to $410 million recycling center and plastics-to-diesel refinery in Camden.

Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch joined officials from Planfield-based Duke Energy Indiana, the Department of the Navy and Naval Support Activity Crane to cut the ribbon on a 17-megawatt solar power plant at the naval base. The solar plant includes 76,000 solar panels across 145 acres.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor says it has reached a settlement with Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) on a proposed seven-year electric infrastructure plan. The agreement, which requires approval by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, reduces Vectren's proposal by more than $67 million.

Furrion, which has its main office in Hong Kong and locations throughout the world, will Thursday celebrate the grand opening of its U.S. headquarters in Elkhart. The manufacturer says the facility will initially house 30 employees with the potential to add 50 more over the next year.

Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) is reporting first quarter net income of $55.4 million, up from $48.3 million during the same period the previous year. The utility says the earnings were slightly offset by losses in its infrastructure services and energy services divisions.

The Indiana Municipal Power Agency has cut the ribbon on its largest solar facility in Indiana. The five-megawatt Anderson 1 Solar Park consists of nearly 20,000 solar panels and has the ability to power more than 500 homes.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is holding a public hearing Tuesday evening in Evansville to hear comments on Vectren Corp.'s (NYSE: VVC) proposed seven-year, $514 million plan for system improvements. If approved, the plan would result in annual fixed rate increases adding up to more than $13 by 2024.

The city of Evansville and Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) are partnering on a planned $5.5 million solar project. The farm, located off of U.S. 41 near Oak Hill Cemetery, still needs approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Plans call for the 15-acre array to include some 8,000 panels. It will be the city's first ever public solar project.

Pennsylvania-based PaperWorks Industries Inc. has invested $3.5 million in an effort to reduce energy consumption at its Wabash plant. The work was completed with the assistance of Duke Energy, which provided incentives to the company.

Indiana is holding steady and trending upward in several categories in terms of solar energy generation. A report released this week by a global solar promotion group finds that jobs in Indiana’s solar industry increased by 72 percent in 2016 over 2015. 

A Purdue University research team is launching a project in conjunction with Cummins Inc. and others aimed at reducing fuel consumption in freight-moving trucks. The goal is to develop control systems that can interconnect trucks with cloud-based information and other vehicles. 

The Sheridan Community Schools system in Hamilton County is in just its first year of using solar energy as its sole power source, but administrators say they’re already seeing dividends in student engagement and community support. A recommendation from an HVAC worker in 2015 led Sheridan school leaders to investigate savings that might be gained from a solar installation and, by the fall of 2016, all three schools were getting their power from the sun.

A new electronics training program housed at the Battery Innovation Center (BIC) is already changing outlooks among its students, even though it’s only a few weeks underway. The Electronics Fundamentals Program was two years in the making and involves several collaborators, including Vincennes University, WestGate Authority and southwest Indiana economic development agencies.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is seeking public comment on Evansville-based Vectren Corp.'s (NYSE: VVC) proposed seven-year, $514 million plan for system improvements. If approved, the average customer could see annual fixed increases on their residential bills through 2024.

Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) has announced Chief Operating Officer Jim Stanley will retire later this spring. Additionally, the company has promoted two to its executive leadership team. Stanley has served as COO and executive vice president of NiSource since July 2015.

Indianapolis-based Energy Systems Network has named Doug Esamann board chairman. Esamann, who currently serves as executive vice president of energy solutions and president of the Midwest and Florida regions for North Carolina-based Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK), has served on the ESN board since 2015.

Students in East Chicago are among the first in northwest Indiana to ride on propane-fueled school buses. The School City of East Chicago began running the six new buses this month, thanks in part to a grant from the BP Whiting Refinery.

The auction proceeds from a rare car will benefit Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The $2.39 million sale of a McLaren P1 Hypercar that was owned by an RHIT alumnus will endow a faculty chair at the Terre Haute school. The hybrid sports car is considered a pioneering machine. The Alfred R. Schmidt Chair for Excellence in Teaching will be named after a former faculty member who taught for 46 years at the school.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce says an energy bill making its way through the Indiana General Assembly will help the state maintain a competitive edge and allow companies to better control energy costs. SB 309 aims to give businesses more flexibility in generating their own energy and increase transparency in utility rate reviews. Chamber Vice President of Energy and Environmental Policy Greg Ellis calls the measure a "good first step" to addressing...

A partnership between Purdue University and the military is bearing fruit. Six research projects at Purdue have received a share of $2.7 million through the NEPTUNE program. The collaboration kicked off in 2014 and is designed to push forward the U.S. Navy's goal of converting half its energy consumption to alternative sources by 2020.

Indianapolis Power & Light Co. has withdrawn its request for a rate increase that would be used to cover construction costs for a new natural gas plant. The utility says the timeline for completion of the plant has changed, which led to the decision to withdraw.

The chief executive officer of Indianapolis-based Indiana Fiber Network LLC has announced his retirement. Kelly Dyer, who became the telecommunications provider's first paid employee in 2004, has spent nearly 40 years in the industry. Prior to his career with IFN, he served as executive vice president and general manager of one of IFN's owners, Daviess-Martin County RTC.

Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) is reporting full-year net income of $211.6 million in 2016, up from $197.3 million the previous year. Chief Executive Officer Carl Chapman says the success of the company's utility operation was due largely to gas infrastructure investment and cost control efforts.

Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is reporting full-year net income of $328.1 million in 2016, up from $198.6 million the previous year. The utility says the strong performance was driven by the execution of its long-term infrastructure modernization programs.

A $4 million solar power farm in Greenfield is moving forward. The Greenfield Daily Reporter reports the city has approved the sale of 17 acres to the Carmel-based Indiana Municipal Power Agency to serves as the location of the more than 11,000 panels. The city received $170,000 for the property. The publication says the farm is the second large-scale solar project launched in Hancock County over the last year.

Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power has launched the latest project as part of its $170 million Powering Up Greater South Bend program. The Central South Bend Reliability project includes the construction of two new substations and two miles underground transmission lines.

The former chief executive officer of the Hendricks Power Cooperative has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. Donnis Mizelle plead guilty to embezzling nearly $600,000 from the cooperative. Mizelle had served as CEO from 2003 to 2015.

Plainfield-based Duke Energy Indiana has unveiled new incentives its says will help drive economic development throughout the state. The utility has announced an improved Economic Development Incentive program, which will allow eligible companies to save 10 to 30 percent on their electric bills annually.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is taking public comment on Indiana Michigan Power's rate increase proposal filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The utility says the 1.6 percent overall rate increase will help cover the cost of installing new emission controls at its Rockport Generating Station.

The National Science Foundation has awarded a $225,000 grant to an IUPUI-based startup. Peter Schubert, founder of Green Fortress Engineering Inc., says the company will use the one-year grant to develop technology that will more efficiently store solid-state hydrogen fuel.

Chicago-based private equity firm Parallel49 Equity has acquired Indianapolis-based Kinetrex Energy from Citizens Resources, a subsidiary of Citizens Energy Group. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though Kinetrex Chief Executive Officer Aaron Johnson says no jobs will be lost as a result.

The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership has elected its 2017 executive committee members. Cathy Langham, chief executive officer of Langham Logistics Inc., will serve as chair for the second consecutive year. 

Maryland-based Blue Pillar Inc., which has an office in Indianapolis, has secured $10 million from investors. The latest funding round is from a group that includes Elevate Ventures and Carmel-based Allos Venture Management Co. Ltd. The rest of the investors include Great Plains Energy Inc.-affiliate GXP Investments, EnerTech Capital, Allos Ventures, Arsenal Venture Partners and Claremont Creek Ventures.

A $10 million solar project in Kokomo is now complete. The 26-acre project is located on a superfund site that was once home to a Continental Steel plant. The property, which is owned by the city, has received tens of millions of dollars in environmental remediation since the company's bankruptcy in the mid-1980s. Installation was handled by South Bend-based Inovateus Solar LLC and the 7 megawatt project is being managed by Alterra Power Corp. of Canada.

The Indiana Office of Energy Development has awarded more than $170,000 in Community Conservation Challenge grants. The department says the funds will be used to support projects that reduce energy consumption or generate energy from renewable sources.

Indianapolis Power & Light Co. is seeking approval for a rate increase from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to cover the cost of a new natural gas plant. If approved, IPL customers could see their monthly electric bills increase by around $10.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved plans to upgrade and modernize Plainfield-based Duke Energy Indiana's Markland Hydro Station near Florence. The $152 million project received approval following a settlement agreement between Duke and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor.

The Purdue University entrepreneur who was chosen this week to take part in the new Chain Reaction Innovations program at the prestigious Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois will allow him to take his patent-pending technology to the next level. Ian Hamilton, the chief executive officer of Atlas Energy Systems, says he will use the two-year program to further the development of his idea to convert nuclear waste into usable energy. Hamilton says his goal is to...

Five compressed natural gas fueling stations throughout Indiana are now under new ownership. New York-based American Natural Gas LLC has acquired Baltimore-based Constellation CNG LLC, which owned fueling stations in Indiana and Ohio.

A Purdue University entrepreneur is one of five chosen for the Argonne National Laboratory's new Chain Reaction Innovations program. A panel of judges selected Ian Hamilton, chief executive officer of Atlas Energy Systems, to take part in the initiative, which aims to accelerate the development of sustainable energy technologies.

Amid the news of the Carrier jobs deal delivered by President-elect Donald Trump and Governor (and Vice President-elect) Mike Pence, a bigger jobs story was playing out with less fanfare. 

A group of nuns in southeastern Indiana has been minding their carbon footprint since 1851, although their environmental stewardship didn’t go by that phrase when their convent was founded. Now the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg find that technology is allowing them to be more energy efficient as they continue to pursue goals of care and service.

The founder of a self-contained agriculture project is preparing to make the modular system available for sale in early 2017, but says it’s already in use in Indiana and around the world. The launch is a big leap for an effort that began as a labor of love by a father for his son.

A $500,000 contribution from Duke Energy means Indiana’s Battery Innovation Center will be able to develop new protocols for protecting microgrids from cyberattacks. Security and energy accessibility are critical to providing safe and reliable power to consumers. 

An Indiana initiative kicked off in 2015 to develop energy efficient affordable housing in conjunction with transportation solutions is tackling the problem of generational poverty in its second phase. The partner agencies behind Moving Forward believe the right project execution will do more than alleviate current impediments to low-income families; it will change their futures.

A new 50-year agreement with the South Bend Board of Parks will give the University of Notre Dame the rights to build and run a hydroelectric generation facility on the St. Joseph River. The facility will be located on the dam downtown and the deal includes provisions for the university to pay the city $1 million for renovation to nearby Seitz Park. Under the agreement, the city will transfer a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission exemption to Notre Dame.

Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power has named Toby Thomas president and chief operating officer. The Waveland, Indiana native will begin his new role January 1.

The chief executive officer and a co-owner of a former biodiesel business are behind bars for fraud. The office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana says Jeffrey Wilson and Craig Ducey will serve 10 years and more than six years, respectively, for their roles in cheating investors and purchasers out of millions of dollars. Wilson and Ducey join five others who have received federal jail time for a scheme involving...

South Bend-based Inovateus Solar LLC has expanded its board of directors by adding the co-founder and chief executive officer of tech company Vennli, also based in South Bend. Inovateus says the addition of Gary Gigot will enhance its plans to expand solar services throughout the country.

The Indiana Municipal Power Agency has added the town of Troy as its 60th member community. The Perry County town says its current electric contract is set to expire early next year, which led to the decision to join the IMPA.

If you spend much time talking to the people of Wabash Valley Power about what we do, chances are good you’ll hear the phrase “deliberately different.” To us, it’s a lot more than a catchy slogan—it’s the guiding principle that led us into our position as an energy industry leader. When we say we’re “deliberately different,” we mean that we take a proactive approach to our energy supply portfolio.

Merit scholarships are providing a boost to Hoosier students studying for energy sector certifications and the well-paying jobs that go with them.

An Indianapolis neighborhood that was once home to a chemically-contaminated business site is now the location of one of the greenest – if not the greenest – buildings in the state. .

A central Indiana lawn care company has shifted its focus to a sustainable energy model that’s making customers happy and improving the owner’s bottom line. In a business landscape filled with plenty of lawn mowing companies, Gus Mariscal knew he’d have to come up with something radically different in order to make his outfit not only stand out from the rest, but make it financially viable as well. 

A historic home in South Bend used by a preservation group as a site to teach sustainable renovation practices has already garnered new owners. The Smogor House was one of three identical kit houses in the area built by the Smogor Lumber Company. 

The latest solar plant from Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power is now online. The Watervliet Solar Power Plant, located just east of Watervliet, Michigan has more than 50,000 panels and can generate up to 4.6 megawatts of electricity. That’s enough to power 650 homes each year.

One of Indiana's largest energy providers has detailed a long-term strategy to significantly cut back on its use of coal. Merrillville-based NIPSCO has filed an Integrated Resource Plan with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which proposes retiring coal-fired units at Bailly Generating Station in Chesterton and two coal-fired units at R.M. Schahfer Generating Station near Wheatfield. The shutdowns could take place in Porter County in 2018 and Jasper County by the end of 2023.

A new landfill gas-to-energy generating plant has opened in White County. The operation near Buffalo is the 16th of its kind from Indianapolis-based Wabash Valley Power Association. The power cooperative says Liberty III is the third LFGTE plant at the Waste Management landfill. Liberty I fired up in 2005, while Liberty II started in 2010. Wabash Valley Power Association has invested big in landfill methane generation in recent years.

Indianapolis-based Citizens Energy Group subsidiary Kinetrex Energy Exploration & Production has acquired a 50 percent stake in Knox County oil assets. Under the terms of the agreement, Newburgh-based Trey Exploration Inc. will continue to operate the property.

Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power seeking approval to make emissions improvements to one of the two units at its Rockport Plant in Spencer County. The utility says the controls will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

The mayor of Lawrenceburg says he's viewing the prospect that Indiana's fourth port would be located in his city as a "group project" involving surrounding communities. "Obviously, we're going to be good stewards of whatever is given to us in Lawrenceburg," but Kelly Mollaun says he's looking to collaborate with stakeholders in Dearborn County and neighbors like Aurora and Greendale to help see the project through.

Officials have cut the ribbon on a new solar farm in Huntingburg. The Indiana Municipal Power Agency says the two-megawatt facility includes nearly 7,900 solar panels and can produce enough energy to power more than 200 homes.

Officials have dedicated a new 4,100-panel solar array in Dale. Southern Indiana Power, Dubois REC and Hoosier Energy say the array, located just north of the Dale interchange on Interstate 64 in Spencer County, is capable of producing enough electricity to power about 150 homes each year.

Bloomington-based Hoosier Energy is has begun operations at its latest landfill methane generation facility. The 16-megawatt Orchard Hills Generating Station, located just south of Rockford, Illinois, turns landfill gas into electricity.

As gubernatorial candidates and members of the upcoming General Assembly continue to discuss funding solutions for major infrastructure needs, an IUPUI researcher believes a new study has identified the best long-term option. School of Public and Environmental Affairs Assistant Professor Jerome Dumortier, co-author of the research, says a vehicle mileage tax and other adjustments would help boost state and federal road work coffers.

The Indiana Municipal Power Agency has cut the ribbon on a solar park in the city of Washington. The utility says the IMPA Washington Solar Park covers 23 acres and includes more than 15,500 panels that can produce up to four megawatts of energy, enough to power over 450 homes.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is seeking public comments on proposed natural gas and sewer rate increases by Citizens Energy Group in Westfield. The utility cites rising operating and maintenance costs and the need for capital infrastructure improvements as reasons for the proposed increases.

Governor Mike Pence has selected Sarah Freeman to fill the vacancy on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Freeman will serve the remainder of former commissioner Carolene Mays-Medley's term, which expires in December of 2017.

BP PLC (NYSE: BP) has announced the next large-scale project at its Whiting Refinery. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report the company has approved construction of a new hydrotreater, an effort that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and create hundreds of construction jobs.

A final settlement between Duke Energy Indiana Inc., state regulators and environmental groups is now in the books. The agreement ends years of court battles revolving around who is on the hook for expenses related to the company's $3.5 billion coal gasification plant in Edwardsport. The utility has agreed to pay around $88 million in operating and maintenance expenses for the facility that began operating in 2013.

Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. says it is considering closing four coal-fired electric generation units at two power plants. The utility says while no final decision has been made, costs to continue operating all of its coal-fired units could be approximately $1 billion over seven years.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has selected three nominees to fill the vacancy on the commission. The person chosen by Governor Mike Pence will succeed Carolene Mays-Medley, who was appointed executive director of the White River State Park Development Commission in April.

Another solar power plant has begun generating power in the state. Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power says the Twin Branch operation, just east of Mishawaka, doubles the utility's solar capacity. Construction began in October and the facility has a 2.6 megawatt generating capacity. Twin Branch is located near the big AM General LLC assembly plant in Mishawaka.

The 2016 INVESTIndiana Equity Conference has unveiled its keynote speaker. David Johnson, chief executive officer of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and CEO of BioCrossroads will give the opening remarks for the conference on September 15 at the Indianapolis Downtown Marriott.

The consul general of Canada says energy will play a growing role in country's relationship with Indiana. Douglas George is in Indianapolis for the Indiana Conference on Energy Management. He says Canada, as Indiana's largest energy supplier, provides heavy crude oil to the BP Whiting Refinery, which was retrofitted to take Canadian oil. George says the relationship will likely grow on green technology and alternative sources of energy.

Merrillville-based NISPCO has announced plans to level a northeast Indiana power plant that has gone largely unused for 15 years. The demolition of the Dean H. Mitchell Electric Generating Station in Gary is expected to take two years. NIPSCO says clearing the property will help open it up for potential future development with a focus on creating investment, jobs and a tax base for the region."

The owners of Midwest Wind and Solar in Griffith say they're still realizing the benefits of taking part in a solarization campaign that linked them to residents and municipalities in the northwest part of the state.

A project that places sustainable hydroponic farms in unused urban warehouses is ready to expand its reach in Indianapolis while dialing back its carbon footprint at the same time.

Electric car-sharing service BlueIndy says its new stations at Indianapolis International Airport are already logging between 10 and 15 percent of the service’s overall use, since opening at the end of May, and more new offerings are on the horizon.

Indianapolis Power & Light’s latest innovation in energy management is up and running: the first grid-scale energy storage system in the United States used to provide a reliability resource called primary frequency response.

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, NIPSCO and South Shore Clean Cities are set to unveil Tuesday the commission's first public electric vehicle charging station. The project is part of NIPSCO's IN-Charge Around Town program, which aims to make alternative fuels more accessible to drivers in northern Indiana.