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...

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.

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."

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.