Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power has announced plans for what it says will be its largest solar generation facility. The nearly $37 million project in St. Joseph County will have a 20-megawatt capacity, which the utility says will provide enough energy to power 2,700 homes each year.

A pilot program from Plainfield-based Duke Energy Indiana is moving forward. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved the effort, which the utility says will make it easier for businesses, schools and nonprofits to have solar energy at their facilities.

Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) says Deborah Hersman has joined its board of directors. Hersman is a former chair of the National Transportation Safety Board and chief executive officer of the National Safety Council.

Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives Inc. (NASDAQ: IEA) Chief Executive Officer JP Roehm has joined the American Wind Energy Association’s Board of Directors. He will serve a three-year term on the board.

Plans for a massive solar installation in Shelby County continue to move forward. The Shelby County Development Corp. says the $175 million Speedway Solar project has received all necessary approvals from local authorities, with construction set to begin in 2022.

California-based Brightmark Energy will today break ground on its $260 million plastics-to-fuel plant in the northeast Indiana town of Ashley. The 112,000-square-foot facility, which the company says will be the first of its kind in the nation, is expected to create 136 full-time jobs when fully operational. The plant will use a state-of-the-art process to recycle plastic waste that has reached the end of its useful life, including items that normally cannot be recycled, such as...

Indianapolis Power & Light Co. has announced Vincent Parisi will become the utility’s next president and chief executive officer. Parisi, who currently serves as vice president of Columbia Gas of Ohio Inc., will begin his new role in June.

Duke Energy has chosen six Indiana communities to participate in its Site Readiness Program, which finds, evaluates and improves sites for potential industrial development.  Site development companies and an engineering company will assess the sites and make recommendations. Properties typically chosen for the program are at least 40 acres, served by the utility, or a vacant industrial building with at least 20,000 square feet. 

Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is reporting first quarter net income of $205 million, down from $276 million during the same period last year. Joe Hamrock, chief executive officer of NiSource, says the results were primarily driven by the execution of the company's long-term utility infrastructure modernization programs.

A nearly $800 million proposal by Vectren South in Evansville has been shot down. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has issued an order unanimously denying the utility's plan to build a natural gas-fired generation plant in Posey County. The commission said it was not convinced that "the utility's proposal would allow it flexibility and optionality."  Vectren first announced plans for the facility in February 2018. The following August, the Indiana Office of...

A new study shows the number of clean energy jobs in Indiana increased 4.7 percent in 2018, however that growth could stall moving forward. An analysis of energy jobs data from Illinois-based Clean Energy Trust and nonpartisan business group Environmental Entrepreneurs, or E2, says the state added more than 3,800 jobs last year, bringing the total number of clean energy jobs to nearly 87,000. Micaela Preskill, Midwest advocate for E2, says the growth was led by an...

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton will Monday announce the initial members of a task force that will consider the feasibility of a city-wide renewable energy initiative. The city says the first phase of the task force will provide technical review of and recommendations about a renewable energy system proposed during Hamilton's State of the City address.

A Bloomington nonprofit is looking to bring renewable energy to households normally left in the dark when it comes to solar power. Indiana Solar For All is part of a partnership looking to help low- and fixed-income Hoosiers tap into the power of the sun. Solar For All's objectives are simple: increase and accelerate the adoption of solar energy in Indiana and expand access to it, especially to lower-income Hoosiers. The organization partnered with the city of Bloomington and its...

Climate change is expected to have a significant impact on all living things for generations to come, spanning issues ranging from animal habitat preservation to how farmers will produce food to feed a growing population. Economically speaking, however, the effects may be a mixed bag when it comes to commercial and residential energy use. That’s the focus of a recently-released report from Purdue University and IUPUI researchers, Climate Change and Indiana's Energy Sector...

The Battery Innovation Center is making some history in the sector. The Greene County facility says it is becoming the first commercially-accredited test laboratory to certify grid devices, systems and applications to work within the Open Field Message Bus (OpenFMB) framework standard. While their terminology may sound complicated, the goal is simple – getting breakthrough battery technologies to talk to each other. The OpenFMB framework, ratified in 2016 by the North American...

Two Purdue professors are looking to take electric vehicle technology to the next level. The pair says its "refillable" battery could provide enough energy for a car to run about 3,000 miles. John Cushman, distinguished professor of earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences and mechanical engineering professor Eric Nauman have co-founded IFBattery in hopes of commercializing the technology. Cushman calls the battery a "very novel construct." The company...

The Battery Innovation Center in Greene County has announced plans for a new certification lab. The facility, which tests and evaluates energy storage systems, will become the first commercially accredited test laboratory used for the certification of a new energy grid language known as the Open Field Message Bus framework standard.

Former U.S. Congressman and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will chair the new Quality Review Board for Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). The board is an independent body formed to provide oversight and governance over the company's implementation of its Safety Management Systems.

North Carolina-based POWERHOME Solar has announced plans to expand to Indiana. The company, which specializes in solar energy and roofing services, says it will add up to 100 jobs at its Indianapolis-based office.

Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is reporting a net loss of $65.6 million in 2018, compared to net income of $129 million the previous year. The utility company says the results are due largely to expenses related to gas explosions that occurred in Massachusetts last September.

Houston-based CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP) has completed its $6 billion merger with Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) in Evansville. The combined company, known as CenterPoint Energy, says it now has assets totaling $29 billion. Plans for the merger were first announced in April. The company will remain headquartered in Houston, though its natural gas utility and Indiana electric utility businesses will be headquartered in Evansville. CenterPoint Energy will also continue to...

Kinetrex Energy has installed new $4 million cold box at its liquefied natural gas plant on the northwest side of Indianapolis, which the company says will expand the plant's production capacity by 30 percent. The newly-installed Air Liquide cold box is expected to go on-line in early February 2019. “We are in the process of modernizing and increasing production of the LNG North plant, which was originally built in 1991,” said Aaron Johnson

Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. has announced the first phase of plans to convert to renewable energy by adding three new wind farms. The new farms would be tied into NIPSCO’s electric system and serve nearly 500,000 customers. NIPSCO's plan to be coal-free by 2028 includes replacing coal-fired generation with wind, solar and battery storage technology. 

Indiana University says its Bloomington campus-wide Energy Challenge made a big difference in 2018, to the tune of 566 metric tons of carbon removed from the university’s footprint. The competition - calling on residence halls, academic and athletic facilities to make moves to save water and electricity - is part of a larger effort to make the school known for cream and crimson a little more green. The 2018 Energy Challenge ran from October 8-November 2, with the campus...

A growing number of people are becoming accustomed to asking Alexa or Google when they want to hear music, make a call, watch videos and more. Now, an Indiana utility wants to use smart speaker technology to connect to its customers and ultimately try to help them improve energy efficiency. Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), which is an operating company of American Electric Power, says its customers can get information on how they use energy by using voice commands...

The University of Notre Dame has taken its green efforts to new heights. The school is touting what it calls the largest green roof in Indiana. The more than 79,000 square-foot installation sits on top of the Joyce Center, home to the Fighting Irish Athletics Department and the Purcell Pavilion arena. The project marks the fifth and largest green roof Notre Dame has installed on campus, including three buildings around the football stadium. The others are at the Morris Inn, Corbett...

The president of Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) says she is seeing a "real revolution" in the energy industry, and wants to make sure the utility is part of the movement. Violet Sistovaris says that’s much of the motivation behind the utility’s "Your Energy, Your Future" effort. The goal is simple, but ambitious: cut coal dependency, which is currently about 65 percent, down to essentially zero over the next 10 years.

The city of Boonville is moving forward on a four-acre solar farm to power its new sewage treatment plant. Mayor Charlie Wyatt tells the Courier & Press the project is expected to save the city $6 million over the next 30 years.

The sun is now powering a part of southwestern Indiana after Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) opened two solar farms in Vanderburgh County. Vectren officials joined representatives from the city of Evansville Tuesday to open the two, 2-megawatt solar arrays. One array is near Oak Hill Cemetery on Morgan Avenue where Vectren will lease the city's land, and the other project is on Highway 41 near North High School. The Highway 41 array also includes battery...

Tipmont REMC in Mongtomery County has announced the acquisition of Lafayette-based technology and fiber solutions provider Wintek Corp. The electric cooperative says the deal is part of its plan to offer fiber broadband service and it expects to announce the name of the service next spring. 

Indianapolis-based Wabash Valley Power says it has committed to purchasing 100 percent of the energy produced by the forthcoming Speedway Solar project in Shelby County. The wholesale electric supplier says the solar array, when complete, will generate enough power to serve 35,000 households in Indiana.

Texas-based CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP) has announced an executive team to lead the combined company following the pending merger with Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) in Evansville. The merger is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019. CenterPoint Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Prochazka will serve in the same role for the combined company, which will be named CenterPoint Energy, with a headquarters in Houston.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has unveiled the final plan for spending more than $40 million awarded to the state through Volkswagen's settlement of Clean Air Act violations. The funding will support projects over a 10-year period to address nitrogen oxide emissions from Volkswagen vehicles. Governor Eric Holcomb in 2017 created an 11-member Indiana Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund Committee to work alongside IDEM to develop the mitigation plan. The...

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) has announced new leadership appointments for two Indiana executives. Current vice president of Indiana government affairs, Stan Pinegar, will become Duke Energy's state president in Indiana. Pinegar will manage state and local regulatory relations, along with community affairs. He joined Duke in 2012 after being president and CEO of the Indiana Energy Association. 

A $150 million wind energy development is moving forward in east central Indiana. The 130 megawatt Bitter Ridge Wind Farm in Jay County is a project of Colorado-based Scout Clean Energy. Plans call for up to 59 wind turbines to be installed throughout 12,000 acres. The project has been approved for 10-year tax abatement and will now move on to final design, procurement and construction phases. Chief Executive Officer Michael Rucker says...

As Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) continues to boost its emphasis on electrified power, the global manufacturer is partnering with the Battery Innovation Center at the WestGate @ Crane Technology Park. The collaboration involves workforce training as well as testing and validation services for Cummins technology. Over 1,000 Cummins employees are currently working toward completing BIC courses that include advanced energy storage technology topics, chemistry and safety.

The ribbon has been cut on the first solar park in Boone County. Town of Advance officials joined the Indiana Municipal Power Agency on Wednesday to recognize the milestone. IMPA President and CEO Raj Rao says Advance is now one of 18 IMPA members to have a solar park.  “IMPA’s ongoing commitment to providing a low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible power supply to our 61 communities is a top priority for the Agency,” said Rao.  "The...

Evansville-based Vectren Corp. has reached a settlement agreement regarding the utility’s plan to build a 50-megawatt solar farm in Spencer County. The agreement, which still requires approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, allows Vectren to recover costs of the project at a lower rate than originally proposed.

The city of Rensselaer has opened its second solar park in the community. It's one of only 17 Indiana Municipal Power Agency members to have a solar park, their first was completed in 2014.  Mayor Stephen Wood says the community is a founding member of IMPA and was one of the first three members to have a solar park. “When the opportunity arose to add a second solar park, we welcomed the chance to not only broaden the generation resources in our community, b...

One of the biggest names in technology is turning to Randolph County for some of its alternative energy supply. Texas-based EDP Renewables North America LLC has inked a 139-megawatt, 15-year power purchase agreement with Facebook. The energy will come from the company’s Headwaters II Wind Farm in the eastern Indiana community. Project Manager Paul Cummings says construction on the $300 million wind farm is set to begin next year, likely in the third quarter, in hopes of having...

Fort Wayne’s Moving Forward project is bringing a first to the state’s second-largest city – a large solar array, which is part of an ongoing effort to make the development affordable for the community’s highest-need families. Posterity Heights is a $42 million affordable, sustainable housing development being built in southeast Fort Wayne. It's being developed by Indianapolis-based BWI LLC on the site of the former McMillen Apartments. A key aspect of the...

Size and design matter when it comes to regulations to promote renewable energy development. That is one of the main findings from a study led by an Indiana University researcher looking at the expansion of renewable energies and generation. IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs Associate Professor Sanya Carley lead the research team, which also included...

A statewide effort to promote affordable housing through sustainable design is widening its focus to reach some of the most underserved Hoosiers. Moving Forward is taking its efforts rural, and organizers have selected three teams to help breathe new, green life into properties throughout the state. Indianapolis-based nonprofit Energy Systems Network (ESN) and the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) partnered to launch Moving Forward in 2015.

Plainfield-based Duke Energy Indiana says it has reached a settlement agreement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and other consumer groups regarding rate increases to cover operating costs for the utility's Edwardsport coal gasification plant. The utility says, if the agreement is approved, customers will pay $30 million less for such costs.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved a settlement agreement regarding Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. LLC's proposed natural gas rate increase. The new rates will be phased in over the next two years and NIPSCO says the additional revenue will be used to fund infrastructure upgrades.

Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) is continuing a push toward more electric and hybrid-powered technology. The manufacturer has announced an agreement with KAMAZ PTC, a Russian industrial and commercial vehicle company, on bus and truck production. Thursday's announcement comes on the heels of Cummins showcasing an array of its electric and hybrid vehicle tech at high profile industry events in Germany. Cummins and KAMAZ have partnered on engine technology through...

Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. LLC says an analysis suggests the utility could eliminate its use of coal within 10 years. The analysis is part of NIPSCO's future electric supply planning process and indicates the most viable option for customers would be to retire the majority of its remaining coal-fired generation units in five years and end use of all coal by 2028. The utility cites other energy resources such as...

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are teaming up with counterparts in Africa to launch an energy innovation center in Uganda. The university says it is part of a program called Energy E3 - Empowering Nations to Power Their Nation, which seeks to bring electricity to low- and middle-income countries.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved a proposal from Indianapolis Power & Light Co. to credit $9.5 million back to customers over the next six months. The credit is the result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the utility say the average residential customer will pay approximately $1.50 less on their monthly electric bills. 

A California electric vehicle manufacturer is seeking tax abatement on part of its major investment plans in Mishawaka. The South Bend Tribune reports SF Motors is requesting incentives from the St. Joseph County Council that could total close to $900,000. The seven-year abatement, which would apply to an initial $20 million equipment investment on the former AM General commercial assembly plant, would go into effect next year.

A visit this week to South Bend by British Ambassador to the United States was designed to help boost the relationship between the United Kingdom and the U.S. regarding clean growth and energy efficiency. Kim Darroch met with Mayor Pete Buttigieg to discuss development of electric vehicle and green energy technology. The discussions highlighted the city's "smart transportation" efforts, which include municipal charging stations at City Hall. The pair met at...

Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) shareholders have approved a proposed merger with Texas-based CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP). The $6 billion deal, the utility says, is expected to close no later than the first quarter of next year. Vectren says nearly 62 percent of shareholders voted in support of the merger. In July, the Federal Trade Commission terminated a customary regulatory waiting period, moving the deal forward. In early August, Vectren reported...

IndyGo, the city's public transportation system, has received a $980,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The funds will cover solar power infrastructure to charge electric buses. IndyGo is among 52 recipients from the more than $84 million Low or No-Emission Grant program. The initiative funds transit bus and infrastructure projects that use advanced propulsion technologies such as hybrid or battery electric. In 2016, Carmel-based Telamon Corp. completed...

Plainfield-based Duke Energy Indiana says a settlement agreement regarding savings from the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has been approved. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has given the OK for the deal, which lays out how Duke Energy will disperse the savings to consumers.

Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott and Governor Eric Holcomb will take part in a groundbreaking Wednesday on a $40 million industrial redevelopment project. Indiana NAP is a venture created to transform the former State Line Generating Facility in the Lake County city into the Digital Crossroads of America Data Center. In an interview featured in July in our quarterly INPower energy innovation publication, Indianapolis attorney Tom Dakich, who is co-leading the effort, said he expects...

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is recommending the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission deny a plan by Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) to build a new natural gas power plant in Posey County. The OUCC has filed testimony stating Vectren "has not fully evaluated all viable options" for meeting the future needs of customers. Vectren first announced the nearly $900 million plans for the new power plant in February. The facility would be built...

Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) says its planned $6 billion merger with CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP) of Texas remains on-track to wrap-up early next year. In a quarterly earnings filing, the utility says it took on more than $15 million in charges during Q2 related to the deal. Vectren is reporting second quarter net income of $22.2 million, compared to $37.6 million during the same period a year earlier. Chief Executive Officer Carl Chapman says...

Duke Energy has named Brian Powers general manager of its Gibson Generating Station in Owensville. The move was effective July 1. He succeeds Mike Mosley, who was promoted to vice president for Midwest generation.  Powers began at Duke in 1995 and served as general manager for their Crystal River North generating station in Citrus County, FL. He also filled other leadership roles for Duke, including in environmental services, plant operations, maintenance, and project an...

Bloomington-based Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative Inc. has selected Donna Walker as its next president and chief executive officer. Walker, who currently serves as chief financial officer, will begin her new role November 13.

In what President Mark McCoy calls a "bold and thoughtful plan," DePauw University is looking to go green by reducing its carbon footprint, improving energy efficiency and funding more environmentally-friendly residential living space. The school says the Campus Energy Master Plan (CEMP) will result in a "long-term, sustainable campus."

Honda is turning to Indiana for a significant first step in an ambitious goal - to have two-thirds of its global auto sales involve electrified vehicles by 2030. The 2019 Honda Insight, being produced at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana in Greensburg, is a key component of the Honda Electrification Initiative. In May, the automaker announced it is pumping more than $30 million in new investment into the Decatur County plant as it begins production of the hybrid sedan.

The former State Line Generating Plant is getting a new, greener chance at life thanks to an Indianapolis attorney and New York City data center mogul. The Indiana NAP data center will include cutting-edge eco-friendly features that a Hammond official says reflect "the way of the future" for this type of development. The long-term vision is ambitious: a 400,000 square-foot, $200 million data center, that would include...

St. Joseph County is giving a nod to its past while looking to a greener future, thanks to May's major announcement from SF Motors. The California-based global intelligent electric vehicle company has detailed plans to invest more than $160 million to bring manufacturing operations to the former AM General plant in Mishawaka and create up to 467 jobs by 2020. The more than 675,000 square-foot facility will serve as the company's primary U.S.-based manufacturing plant. SF Motors...

Officials from Indianapolis Power & Light Co. will Tuesday cut the ribbon on its $600 million natural gas plant in Morgan County. The utility says the plant reduces the rate of key emissions by 98 percent compared to the coal and oil-fired units it has replaced. 

A week-long workshop designed to teach Indiana high school environmental science and agriculture teachers about sustainable energy kicks off Sunday at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The Duke Energy Sustainable Energy Summer Institute will help teachers develop academic standards-based, practical, and comprehensive lessons to also help their students learn about sustainable energies.

Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) is continuing its drive to become a world leader in electrified power technology. Electrified Power Business Unit Executive Director Julie Furber says Monday's acquisition of Efficient Drivetrains Inc., a fully-electric and hybrid commercial vehicle business in the Silicon Valley, is part of an expected $500 million investment over the next three years in electrification technology.

Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. has completed work on a 100-mile electric transmission line in northern Indiana. The project, which began in 2012, connects the Reynolds substation in White County, the Burr Oak substation in Marshall County and the Hiple substation near Topeka in LaGrange County. NIPSCO says the 345-kilovolt line will enhance system reliability, increase access to wind and solar energy, and improve access to lower-cost electricity for customers.

Plainfield-based Duke Energy Indiana has reached a settlement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and other parties regarding the disbursement of savings to customers from the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. LLC and Pioneer Transmission LLC have completed work on a 70-mile transmission line between Kokomo and Reynolds in White County. The $347 million project, which began in 2013, aims to provide better service and access to cleaner energy for customers. Pioneer Transmission is a joint venture between North Carolina-based Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) and Ohio-based American Electric Power Co. Inc. (NYSE: AEP). The companies say...

St. Joseph Energy LLC will Wednesday join officials from throughout the state to cut the ribbon on the first phase of a new natural gas-fired power facility in northern Indiana. The company says the St. Joseph Energy Center in New Carlisle will be able to generate more than 700 megawatts of clean, unsubsidized energy for consumers throughout the region.

A cooperative owned by Huntingburg-based Superior Ag and Posey County Co-op has acquired the propane gas distribution business of Tell City-based Fischer's Tru Flame. SynEnergy Partners is not disclosing financial terms of the deal. SynEnergy says it will obtain all of Fischer's trucks and equipment.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved a more than 7 percent rate increase for Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power. The utility says the increase will generate nearly $97 million in additional revenue to support the infrastructure improvements as part of its Building the Future plan. The commission's decision follows a settlement I&M reached with stakeholders including the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and the cities of...

California-based SF Motors has detailed plans for a manufacturing hub in Mishawaka. The electric vehicle maker says it will invest more than $160 million to purchase, renovate and equip the St. Joseph County plant and create up to 467 jobs by 2020. The company says many of the hires will be displaced workers from the facility, which was formerly owned by AM General. SF Motors initially announced plans to acquire the Mishawaka commercial assembly plant in June of 2017.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor recommends Indianapolis Power & Light's request to raise nearly $97 million through a rate increase to pay for its new natural gas plant in Morgan County be denied. The OUCC is instead recommending a smaller increase of only $4.9 million.

Indianapolis-based Kinetrex Energy has added a small-scale transportation venture. The liquified natural gas supplier, which was a subsidiary of Citizens Energy Group before its acquisition last year by Chicago-based Parallel49 Equity, has invested $500,000 into two LNG-powered fuel delivery trucks. Since the beginning of the year, Kinetrex has added six employees. It operates two liquefaction plants in Indianapolis and says...

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Nominating Committee has sent three names for consideration to Governor Eric Holcomb. He will name one to the commission. 

A new program designed to open channels to employment for people with disabilities has received a 3-year, $245,000 grant. AWS Foundation, Old National Bank and Sweetwater Sound collaborated with Greater Fort Wayne Inc. on the program that is designed to bring people and employers together by offering support and resources on accessible workplaces. 

Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) is reporting first quarter net income of $63.5 million, up from $55.4 million during the same period last year. The results come as the company is in the midst of a $6 billion merger with Texas-based CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP). 

Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. has reached a settlement with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor regarding a proposed natural gas rate increase. If approved, NIPSCO says the settlement will lead to customers seeing an average overall monthly increase of $8 on their bills.

A Texas-based energy company with operations in six states has announced a $6 billion merger with Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC). Under terms approved by both CenterPoint Energy Inc.'s (NYSE: CNP) and Vectren's boards of directors, Vectren shareholders will receive $72 per share and CenterPoint will assume the Hoosier company's debt. Vectren Chief Executive Officer Carl Chapman says the combined company's natural gas utility operations will be headquartered in Evansville.

The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority has approved matching grants for projects in East Chicago and Hammond. East Chicago will receive over $8.5 million for phase III of its Waterfront Revitalization Initiative, and Hammond officials had requested $100,000 for demolition and construction for a new rail station. 

The Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission is beginning the development of their next regional plan to 2050. They're seeking input on what the needs, vision and goals of the region will be in 2050.

Bloomington-based Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative Inc. has announced plans for what it says will be the largest solar array in the state. The co-op is partnering with EDP Renewables to build the 200 megawatt Riverstart Solar Park in Randolph County, which is expected to begin operation in 2022.

A California-based electric vehicle maker says trial production of its "intelligent" cars will begin in Mishawaka by the end of the year. SF Motors unveiled its concepts Wednesday at its Santa Clara headquarters, saying the SF5 model will be available for pre-order this year and will be on the road in 2019. The company in November completed the acquisition of a former AM General LLC commercial assembly plant where a contract with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. had ended.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute is taking the makerspace movement outdoors. The school is turning a campus garden into a sustainability makerspace and an outdoor classroom. The idea, the school says, is to ramp up research and teach students of all ages about sustainability concepts and practices. The initial scope of the space includes a greenhouse, 14 raised beds, a large butterfly garden and an outdoor classroom.

A statewide initiative designed to help low- to moderate-income Hoosiers find affordable, efficient housing continues to roll along. Work is underway on the $10 million B-Line Heights development in Bloomington. Pedcor Investments Vice President of Real Estate Development Brandon Delk, the developer in charge of the project, says B-Line Heights has been about 10 years in the making. He says the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has tasked Pedcor with...

Carmel-based KAR Auction Services Inc. says its acquisition of a San Francisco company is a move to keep up with the evolving mobility space, which Chief Executive Officer Jim Hallett says is moving "very, very quickly in North America." In February, KAR announced the acquisition of STRATIM, which develops fleet management software for the on-demand car, ride sharing and autonomous vehicle markets.

The city of Hobart began 2018 by debuting its newest environmentally-friendly initiative: a new vehicle maintenance garage and compressed natural gas fueling pumps at its public works facility. The $2 million project is the Lake County city’s latest step toward achieving its ultimate goal of being northwest Indiana's "green community."

Michigan City Area Schools will Wednesday dedicate what it says is the largest renewable energy project for an Indiana school district. The project, which includes solar arrays and LED lighting upgrades at seven school properties, is expected to save the district $23 million over 30 years.

New York-based M III Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: MIII) has completed its merger with IEA Energy Services LLC in Indianapolis. As a result of the $255 million deal, the combined company has changed its name to Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives Inc. and is now trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol IEA.

State Representative David Ober (R-82) will fill the vacant spot on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Ober, who will resign from his position in the Indiana House of Representatives, succeeds Jim Atterholt, who retired in January. 

The acting president of the Battery Innovation Center in Greene County says the operation's presence is truly worldwide. Ben Wrightsman says only a handful of the approximately 100 firms that work with the BIC are based in Indiana and the majority are global. The center will mark its fifth anniversary in August and he says the BIC's focus is what makes it stand out. "Rather than having technology that just kind of stays in an incubator or stays in that R&D loop," he said...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $276 million in loans to support various rural electric infrastructure improvement projects throughout the country. The investment includes a $74 million loan to the Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corp. in Brownstown. 

An energy company is proposing a $2.5 billion coal-to-diesel facility in Spencer County. Riverview Energy Corp., which is based in Delaware and has a presence in New York, says the operation would eventually produce 4.8 million barrels of diesel fuel and 2.5 million barrels of naphtha, a liquid used as a solvent, a fuel and in plastics. President Gregory Merle says the facility would be the only one of its kind in the U.S. and is the company's most ambitious project yet.

Three Hoosiers have landed on the Forbes World's Billionaires list. Carl Cook, Herb Simon and Jim Irsay all appear again on the annual list compiled by the magazine.

An electric vehicle manufacturer with a plant in Mishawaka is progressing on its autonomous vehicle efforts. SF Motors, which is based in California and has a multi-year research and development agreement with the University of Michigan, has received permission from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test its autonomous driving technology on public roads. Road testing will also be conducted in Michigan and China. The company says it has made...

Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (VVC) has announced plans for two major projects in southwest Indiana. The utility says the efforts, which include a $900 million natural gas-fired generation plant, will reduce its carbon emissions by 60 percent over 2005 levels. Vectren is also planning to install a 50-megawatt solar array that will include more than 150,000 solar panels covering nearly 300 acres. A specific location for the array was not announced. The plans are part of Vectren's...

Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power has reached a settlement agreement with several stakeholders regarding its proposed rate increase. The utility is now requesting an increase in electric rates of 7.26 percent, more than half of what it initially asked for in July.

Hamilton County-based Beck's Hybrids has completed an effort to boost energy efficiency at its Atlanta headquarters. The retail seed company has installed two, 1-megawatt solar energy systems it says will account for about 25 percent of its current electric costs. 

Nestlé has announced a 15-year power purchase agreement with EDP Renewables' Meadow Lake VI wind farm in Benton County. As part of the deal, EDP says it will expand the farm's capacity by 50 MW, which it says is enough to power more than 17,000 homes for a year. Nestlé says the power purchase agreement will cover about 80 percent of the electricity load for five facilities in southeast Pennsylvania. The company ultimately hopes purchase all of its electricity from...

Five Indiana-based companies are included among the "World's Most Ethical Companies." The companies on the list, compiled by the New York-based Ethisphere Institute, were selected based on criteria such as ethics and compliance programs, corporate citizenship and responsibility, and governance. 

Indianapolis Power & Light Co. has provided more details on previously-announced plans to lay off 100 employees in Indiana. The utility says the layoffs, which are part of what Virginia-based parent company AES Corp. (NYSE: AES) calls a "global strategic transformation," will begin in April.

The chief executive officer of South Bend-based Inovateus Solar LLC says the solar development and engineering company is being "very cautious" while it assesses the full impact of tariffs of up to 30 percent on imported solar products. Mike Pound says he thinks estimates suggesting the industry in the U.S. could shed 25,000-50,000 jobs within a year because of the tariffs are probably accurate. If costs in the industry re-stabilize, Pound believes job levels will bounce back.

Construction is underway on a thermal energy production and storage facility on the University of Notre Dame campus. The university says the East Plant, which will house the mechanical equipment for its new geothermal well fields, is expected to come online in 2019. 

Governor Eric Holcomb’s request that the Moving Forward community program assist displaced East Chicago residents has achieved an added benefit: the participation of resident advisers. Developers chosen for Moving Forward 3.0 have already scored important insights that will help guide plans for new, energy-efficient housing.

The much-awarded Indianapolis International Airport is making headlines in sustainability once again by launching the nation’s largest electric airport shuttle bus fleet. Several shuttles are already in use in time for the holidays, with at least nine expected to be traversing the airport campus by mid-2018.

Kinetrex, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) provider that spun off from Citizens Energy in 2013, has major plans in the works for the new year. President and Chief Executive Officer Aaron Johnson says competitive pricing and new technologies will elevate the Indianapolis-based company’s profile over the next 12 months and into 2019.

The wind business is booming in east central Indiana. One hundred wind turbines went online in Randolph County three years ago this month, and just two weeks ago state, local and company officials cut the virtual ribbon on another wind farm with a footprint in both Jay and Randolph counties.

Indianapolis Power & Light Co. has filed a proposal with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission seeking to raise electric rates. The utility says the rate increase would cover the cost of a new natural gas plant.

The Elevate Purdue Foundry Fund has awarded a total of $160,000 to eight Purdue-affiliated startups. The university says the funding gives each startup Black Award status, which makes them eligible for further investment once they hit certain predetermined milestones.

An energy production project just north of the Indiana border will involve nearly $970 million in planned investment. The Indeck Niles LLC development involves building a 210,000 square-foot, natural gas-powered Indeck Niles Energy Center. The plant is expected to be complete over the course of three-years, creating up to 600 construction jobs and 21 permanent jobs. The Michigan Strategic Fund has approved some $35 million in local and school tax capture for brownfield cleanup.

Honda will debut its newest Indiana-built model January 15th at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. American Honda Motor Co. Inc. says the Insight was introduced in 1999 as the country's first hybrid vehicle. It will be produced by Honda Manufacturing of Indiana Inc. in Greensburg along with the Civic Sedan and the CR-V. Images of the new model have not been made public, but American Honda Motor Co. Honda Division General Manager Henio Arcangeli Jr. says...

State, local and company officials Thursday are commissioning Indiana's newest wind farm. The $200 million Bluff Point Wind Energy Center includes 57 turbines and Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources Inc. says the installation in Jay and Randolph Counties could produce enough power for more than 36,000 homes.

Indianapolis-based Kinetrex Energy is planning to invest $20 million into a new plant to turn methane gas captured at landfills and by anaerobic digesters into liquefied natural gas. The former Citizens Energy Group subsidiary has not yet detailed where in central Indiana the plant will be located or how many jobs it could create, but says the facility could be operational at the beginning of 2019. The plant is expected to produce...

Indianapolis Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez says his appearance on a panel discussion Wednesday in Montreal will "for all practical purposes" reach the entire world. The Seminar on Green Airports is a United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization event and will draw industry leaders from countries big and small. The event will include leaders from Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates and San Francisco International Airport. ICAO is...

The state agency representing energy consumers is seeking feedback on a proposed natural gas rate increase from Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. When it was announced earlier this year, NIPSCO said the increase would be the first in over 25 years and could boost annual revenue by more than $140 million. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is hosting public field hearings on the request, the first of which is scheduled for...

The first electric shuttle bus, part of what the Indianapolis International Airport says will grow to be the largest fleet of its kind in the country, has started serving travelers. Plans call for nine buses to be operating at IND by the end of 2019. Zero Emission grants from the Federal Aviation Administration totaling $3.6 million will cover the cost of the buses.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor has responded to a proposed electric rate increase by Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power. The OUCC is recommending approval of an increase that would generate less than half of the new annual operating revenues I&M is seeking.

Anderson-based Go Electric Inc. has secured another U.S. military contract. The nearly $300,000 agreement involves microgrid technology for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Energy Research Lab. Go Electric says the contract will mark the fourth deployment of its AutoLYNC microgrid control technology, with previous installations at bases in Hawaii, Utah and Michigan. Chief Executive Officer Lisa Laughner says...

An Indianapolis-based renewable energy sector company is involved in a mega-merger. IEA Energy Services LLC has entered into an agreement with New York-based M III Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: MIII) in a combination that will create Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives Inc., which will be publicly traded under the symbol "IEA" on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The price of the transaction at closing is expected to be $255 million, a price that could rise...

Plainfield-based Duke Energy Indiana has announced grants to 16 nonprofits to help pay for solar power projects. The $400,000 in funding, part of a settlement among the utility, several consumer and environmental groups and Nucor Steel, will offset costs for work in communities including Princeton, Bloomington and Columbus. Duke Energy Indiana President Melody Birmingham-Byrd says...

Silicon Valley-based SF Motors says it has closed on the acquisition of AM General LLC's commercial assembly plant in Mishawaka. The electric vehicle manufacturer says all 430 employees from the facility that has produced Mercedes-Benz and Hummer brand vehicles will be brought on to SF Motors. AM General's contract with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. will expire this year and the Mishawaka workers had been slated to lose their jobs before the high-tech manufacturer moved in.

The Carmel-based Indiana Municipal Power Agency has announced plans to lower wholesale electric rates in 2018. The utility says rates for more than 60 communities in Indiana and Ohio will drop an average of 5.25 percent beginning in January. 

Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) is acquiring the assets of Brammo Inc. in Oregon. Cummins says adding the energy storage technology platform plays into its ongoing strategy to become a global electrified power leader. Brammo designs and develops battery packs for mobile and stationary applications.  "By adding the expertise of Brammo and its employees to Cummins, we are taking a step forward in our electrification business and differentiating ourselves from our...

The organizations behind an innovative housing model that uses energy efficiency as a way to manage costs for low- to moderate-income residents have broken ground on their first community in Fort Wayne. Posterity Scholar House, Phase 1 of the Posterity Heights project, is geared specifically toward single parents working to increase their educational attainment. It’s just one example of the Moving Forward program’s intent to adapt to communities’ unique needs.

Go Electric of Anderson is continuing its growth trend with yet another military microgrid contract announcement, a partnership on an unmanned mobile power unit, plus safety certifications on two patented energy storage systems. Company CEO Lisa Laughner says growth of the company workforce is now also on the horizon. On the heels of a summer announcement of a $1.7 million contract to provide a battery storage system for the microgrid at the Tooele Army Depot in Utah...

Switzerland-based energy storage technology company Leclanché has just opened its new North American headquarters in Anderson, and it already has advancements on the immediate horizon. Leclanché NA Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Thom Reddington leveraged his institutional knowledge of the region’s battery- and auto-related roots to land the HQ in the new Purdue Polytechnic Institute facility there.

The University of Notre Dame (UND) has been working for some time to reduce its carbon footprint, but in 2015 school leaders announced UND would stop burning coal within five years and drop that carbon footprint by more than half by 2030. A significant step came this summer when the campus’s first geothermal field went online. 

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will Tuesday hold a field hearing to gather public comment on Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power's proposed electric rate increase. If approved, the request would raise rates by nearly 20 percent by 2019. 

Bloomington-based Hoosier Energy says its plan to build 10 solar arrays throughout its service area is almost complete. The generation and transmission cooperative says it has completed two 1-megawatt arrays in southern Indiana and expects the final array to be dedicated next month.

Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Co. is looking to raise its natural gas rates for the first time in more than 25 years. The utility has filed a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to make the increase, the proceeds from which would be used to make improvements to NIPSCO's service.

Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power has announced plans to invest $48 million in improvements to its power grid in Delaware and Madison counties. The utility will rebuild 21 miles of electric transmission line and retire seven miles of existing line. 

An ultra-thin film battery company is providing more detail on its growth at the Battery Innovation Center in Greene County. BrightVolt Inc. says it plans to add up to 30 jobs at its Newberry operation by 2020. In August, Inside INdiana Business reported on BrightVolt's partnership with the BIC, becoming the first company to set up dedicated space in the hub near Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. By the end of the month, the company says...

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels calls $20 million plans for a shale gas engineering research hub unveiled Tuesday "a prestigious and important moment" in the school's history. The Center for Innovative Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources or CISTAR will be located at Discovery Park in West Lafayette. It will pull in researchers from Purdue, as well as...

Anderson-based Go Electric Inc. has announced it will take part in a demonstration microgrid project at the Fort Custer Training Center in Michigan. Electricore Inc., a California-based nonprofit consortium, has awarded Go Electric a nearly $500,000 contract to provide a battery energy storage system for the project.

The transition of leadership for South Central Indiana REMC is underway. The nonprofit electric cooperative has named James Tanneberger president and chief executive officer, succeeding Greg McKelfresh, who is retiring in January. 

The Applied Research Institute, which connects the state's top military, industry and higher education assets and leaders, has taken its first major steps. The ARI board, comprised of big names like Governor Eric Holcomb, IU's Michael McRobbie, Purdue's Mitch Daniels and Rolls-Royce North America Defense Aerospace President Phil Burkholder, has approved its first major project. Over the next two years, $3.5 million will go toward the development of trusted microelectronics.

A $200 million wind farm in Jay and Randolph counties is taking shape. NextEra Energy Resources Inc. says the 57-turbine Bluff Point Wind Energy Center is set to be operational in November and could generate more than $30 million in local tax revenue over its lifetime. The Florida-based company says the installation will be capable of powering more than 36,000 when complete. Project Director Zack Melda says...

Columbus-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) is expanding a wind farm in northern Indiana. The company says, when fully operational, the farm will generate renewable energy equal to the amount Cummins uses at its Indiana facilities. The expansion will add 75 megawatts of capability to the plant, which is enough to power about 20,000 average Indiana homes. The Meadow Lake Wind Farm complex currently has a capacity of 600 megawatts.

Indianapolis-based Calumet Specialty Products Partners LP (Nasdaq: CLMT) has agreed to sell its Superior Refining operation in Wisconsin to Husky Energy Inc. of Canada. The deal is valued at $435 million and expected to close in the fourth quarter. Husky says it will retain the nearly 180 workers at the facility. The Canadian company plans to make investments into the facility.

The Battery Innovation Center in Crane says an industry partner has "crossed-over" to set-up a dedicated operation within the public-private innovation hub for the first time. Interim President Ben Wrightsman compares the promise of the expanded partnership with Florida-based BrightVolt Inc. to "betting on a farm that already has a winning horse." He says a rechargeable version of the company's flat and flexible battery cells is expected to hit the market...

Evansville-based Vectren Corp. (NYSE: VVC) is requesting approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for a $14 million plan to put enhanced safety measures in place for its four natural gas storage facilities.

The last signs of Ball State University's "coal era" are coming down. Workers from St. Louis-based Gerald Chimney Company are dismantling two smokestacks on the Muncie campus as part of the school's $83 million geothermal system installation. The school is installing what it calls the nation's largest closed-loop geothermal energy system.

Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is reporting a second quarter net loss of $44.3 million, compared to net income of $29 million during the same period last year. The company says the loss is due, in part, to expenses related to debt restructuring. 

Former Indiana Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Energy and Environmental Policy Vince Griffin has been named executive director for Indiana Advanced Energy Economy. Its parent Advanced Energy Economy, which expanded its presence in Indiana last year, advocates for policies to support energy-related businesses. Griffin retired last year from the chamber. The national organization is led by Chief Executive Officer Graham Richard, a former Fort Wayne Mayor.

Fort Wayne-based Indiana Michigan Power is seeking approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to raise its electric rates by nearly 20 percent by 2019. The rate increase is part of the utility’s Building the Future proposal, which seeks to reduce power outages through system improvements.

The chief executive officer of Anderson-based Go Electric Inc. says the energy technology provider is "on the cusp of a major growth spurt." Lisa Laughner says a new, $1.7 million contract to provide a battery storage system for the microgrid at the Tooele Army Depot in Utah provides further validation for the startup. The deal with Perini Management Services Inc. is the second big defense-related contract for Go Electric.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. has a new chief innovation officer. Dave Roberts, who previously served as president of the Battery Innovation Center at the WestGate @ Crane Technology Park, will oversee innovation and entrepreneurship efforts at the IEDC. He succeeds Ian Steff, who was appointed deputy assistant secretary of commerce for manufacturing by the Trump Administration in March. Roberts will be the second person to serve in the position.

The University of Notre Dame has unveiled a new solar array that will be used to power its Kenmore Warehouse in South Bend. The nearly 145-kilowatt array is part of the university's commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by more than half by 2030.

After four years of preparation, demolition and remediation, the owner of Kitselman Pure Energy Park in Muncie says construction is underway. Plans for the $60 million project at the old Indiana Steel & Wire Co. property include a new headquarters for DD Dannar LLC, a South Carolina mobile power station company relocating to the property, as well as a five megawatt solar power plant, community center, hotel, retail and green space.

Details on an $80 million investment in downtown Columbus will be unveiled at a new conference Wednesday afternoon. Officials from the city, state, Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) and the rail transit companies will be on-hand for the announcement. Few details on the two planned projects have been publicly released. Inside INdiana Business will be in the Bartholomew County city for the announcement. The news conference is expected to include...

The board of directors for Bloomfield-based Utilities District of Western Indiana has approved the termination of Brian Sparks as chief executive officer. The board says Sparks "did not fulfill management expectations" for the electric cooperative. 

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...