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Wind Power News: Indiana
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
‘It was a win for us’; HB 1381 dies on senate floor
HB 1381 died on the senate floor during Tuesday’s Indiana Senate chamber session. Stop Industrial Plants in Shelby County leader Kyle Barlow, along with other anti-solar leaders, ventured to the Indianapolis statehouse yet again this legislative session to witness the bill’s fate. The bill that arrived to the chamber Tuesday evening, freshly amended (again) by Senator Mark Messmer during the previous day’s chamber session. The bill died after Messmer withdrew the bill. “We got there about 2 p.m., they were . . . Complete story »
Bill to ease approval of wind and solar farms flops, but debate continues
INDIANAPOLIS – A strong coalition of renewable energy developers, major businesses and manufacturers could not muster enough support in the Indiana Senate Tuesday to pass a bill that would have shifted some local control over the siting of wind and solar farms to the state. The Senate’s less comprehensive version of House Bill 1381 technically died after it wasn’t even called for a vote by Sen. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, following a Republican caucus meeting. “There wasn’t enough support to pass the . . . Complete story »
‘Like a hostage negotiation’: Indiana bill on renewable energy standards dies after pushback
Efforts to send a message that Indiana is open for business to renewables came to an abrupt stop on Tuesday night. A bill that would have established some statewide standards for wind and solar projects – but was amended to grandfather in counties’ more restrictive ordinances – died on the Senate floor. Despite significant amendments that had House Bill 1381 doing a ‘180 degree turn’ and handing more authority back to local governments, local control concerns still lingered, according to the bill’s . . . Complete story »
More permits for overweight trucks OK’d
The Senate killed a bill on wind and solar siting regulations because it did not have enough votes for passage. House Bill 1381 initially overruled local governments that had already banned or severely limited wind and solar farms. But it was amended in committee and on the floor to grandfather existing regulations and offer standard rules for the rest of the state. Local governments would have had until July 1 to pass their codes. Complete story »
Barlow speaks against HB 1381 again
Kyle Barlow, the leader of Stop Industrial Solar Plants in Shelby County, ventured once again to Indianapolis this week to speak against HB 1381. This time, it was before the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, who approved a new amendment to the bill clarifying points the bill’s revision at the last committee meeting that were difficult to understand. In short, the bill sets state standards on wind and solar projects. The current version looks completely different than the first draft . . . Complete story »
Starke County Commissioners consider resolution opposing House Bill 1381
The Starke County Commissioners considered a resolution Monday night that would express their opposition to House Bill 1381. If passed, wind and solar companies would be able to install projects that meet state standards but may conflict with future economic development projects, planned residential development, or even road expansions. Commission President Charlie Chesak said the resolution shows the county wants to control solar and wind energy installation decisions in the county. County Attorney Marty Lucas stressed that the resolution does . . . Complete story »
HB 1381 passes senate committee with amendment; Huhn calls it ‘acceptable’
The Indiana Senate Utilities Committee passed HB 1381 9-2 after hearing a significant amendment to the bill Thursday morning. Authored by Representative Edward Soliday, the bill establishes statewide default standards for wind and solar systems. When it arrived to the meeting, the bill also had a provision pertaining to home rule. In an instance where a local governing body denies a renewable energy project, that company can appeal to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). The bill initially gave the IURC . . . Complete story »
Amended HB 1381 passes through senate committee; Shelby County people speak against it
Shelby County people dominated the public comment portion of the Indiana Senate Utilities Committee, which dealt only with HB 1381 during its three-hour meeting Thursday morning. The committee introduced a new amendment to the bill that significantly changed it, and they passed it 9-2. Kyle Barlow, Zonda Stead and Justin Parker from Stop Industrial Solar Plants in Shelby County travelled to Indy again and actually got to speak this time. In addition to the anti-solar group, County Council President Tony . . . Complete story »
Bill favors more local control of wind, solar
INDIANAPOLIS – A Senate panel Thursday dramatically changed a bill that would have set statewide standards for the placement and operation of commercial wind farms and solar farms – overruling existing local rules. House Bill 1381 has been a lightning rod for controversy this session, and the Senate Utilities Committee adopted an amendment stripping the state control but offering an option for local siting of and incentives for wind farms. It does not address solar farms. “We heard the cry . . . Complete story »
After local pushback, bill on wind, solar standards takes a ‘180 degree turn’
A bill that would have overridden local ordinances that restrict or prohibit wind power in Indiana has taken a “180 degree turn” after pushback from local officials. HB 1381 would establish statewide standards for how close wind and solar projects can be to other properties. But a new amendment would allow county and local governments to maintain restrictive ordinances, while also offering a hefty incentive for abandoning them. The bill was amended in the Senate Utilities hearing Thursday morning to . . . Complete story »
