A public hearing took place on Monday Jan.11 about plans by the Indianapolis Department of Waterworks to increase rates.The utility says it needs to $111.3 million in capital improvements.The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor-the state agency representing consumer interests in cases before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission(IURC)-has not yet taken a position in this case but is scheduled to complete it's review of the utility's request and file testimony with the commission onF... Read more...

THE HOOSIER ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL’S SECOND ANNUAL GREEN POLICY FORUM The 2nd annual hoosier environmental council’s Green Policy Forum was held this past Saturday at Martin University. I attended the event along with Paulette Fair. The event started with welcoming remarks by Anne Laker, president of the HEC board of directors. It then proceeded to an overview of HEC by Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of HEC. To date, in 2009,HEC has has 1.Helped pass a comprehensive renewable energy an... Read more...

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy is providing Purdue University a grant of up to $933,883 as part of the Biomass Research and Development Act. The funding will be used to develop an analysis of the global impact of second generation biofuels. The grant is part of $245 million recently authorized by the federal departments.... Read more...

This past Saturday, I attended part two of a conference on a blueprint for educating black male students at the Christian Theological Seminary.I arrived in time to attend a workshop presented by Mr. Robert Marshall about the organization 100 Black Men of Indianapolis which is a youth development organization that serves more than 700 youth each year through six mentoring-based educational programs. This presentation described who the organization is, what they do and how they do it.This session ... Read more...

Indianapolis-based EnerDel Inc. has landed a nearly $I.3 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop lithium-ion batteries for the hybrid version of the Humvee. The company will spend the next 18 months collaborating with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center(TARDEC) to produce 4 custom-built power systems that will be subjected to extreme performance simulations. EnerDel says the battery-equipped Humvees could also function as portable power plants to pow... Read more...

An Indiana emerging energy management technology company has landed a $2 million military contract. SuperDrive says the U.S.Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center and the National Automotive Center have awarded the company a deal to supply vehicles with a variable transmission system. SuperDrive says its technology allows the vehicles to use less fuel and create lower emissions.... Read more...

Two Indiana institutions are getting an economic boost from the U.S. Department of Energy to fund geothermal energy projects. Ball State University will receive $5 million to replace coal-fired boiler systems with geothermal heat pump (GHP)  systems. Indiana Tech has been awarded $1.34 million to install GHP systems at its Fort Wayne campus.... Read more...

Three areas of Indiana are receiving federal stimulus funds to modernize the electric grid. More than $39 million is being distributed to help implement smart grid systems.The grant recipients are in Auburn, Carmel and Indianapolis.... Read more...

A senate committee today opens hearings on climate change legislation. The proposal favors a cap-and-trade system and is more ambitious than the House bill when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A group called Indiana Businesses for Clean Energy has released a study that suggests a strong federal climate change policy could create up to 45,000 jobs in Indiana. Opponents of the climate change bill passed by the House say it would lead to higher energy costs and force some businesses ... Read more...

More than 25 Eli Lilly Co.facilities throughout the world will take part today in Energy Day. The effort is designed to educate employees about the companys latest energy reduction goals and to encourage sustainable behavior Lilly will celebrate Energy Day by increasing use of public transportation for commuting, participating in interactive exhibits and holding contests for creating new energy saving ideas.... Read more...

Anderson-based Bright Automotive Inc. says its plug-in hybrid electric vehicle can now go 40 miles on electric power and nearly 40 miles per gallon in standard hybrid mode.The company announced the new performance figures,while stating the IDEA could reduce gasoline use by 1,500 gals. per year for typical fleet and government operators. Bright Automotive is still considering locations for a manufacturing site. President and Chief Executive Officer John Waters says the the company will utilize th... Read more...

. The first annual Neighbor Power Conference was held Saturday at the University of Indianapolis.The purpose of the conference was to inspire greater Indianapolis neighborhoods.There were 12 workshops and I attended the one called Growing Green.Among the speakers at this workshop was Conrad Cortellini of Green Broad Ripple and his topic was the Green Alley Concept of Broad Ripple Village. There were 5 concept elements;1.Storm-Water Management-Managing storm water in a natural way means preventi... Read more...

In Portland,Ore., cutting edge use of recovery funds will create thousands of good clean-energy jobs for low-income workers, weatherize 100,000 homes and launch the first model of paying for home weatherization through utility bills.Green For All is conducting a National Call on Recovery Innovation in Portland on Thurs. Oct.22, at1PM Eastern.... Read more...

The environment is the most important subject of our time, we will not survive if our planet can not survive. People have a tendency to believe that everything will be alright, and it'll get fixed; if it were a real threat the government would step in with their newest discovery and save the day. It is not going to happen that way because the damage is already done. This is not something that we can undo, the truth is that our best hope is to slow it down. Even if tomorrow scientist do come up w... Read more...

Today I attended the inaugural Lugar collegiate energy summit at the Indianapolis Museum Of Art. Among the topics of discussion were the development of fuel cells which run on hydrogen.I also learned that 16 states, including Indiana have no renewable energy programs;Germany and China were the leading producers of solar panels and wind efficiency in Indiana is only 35%The Bright Automotive Test Van was also on display at the museum.  It runs on electric energy and has  a battery that requires ... Read more...

     Hello my name is Antwan Sanders. I am a resident or neighbor of the Ki Eco Center. Here is a place for kids to come and learn about the environment and meet new kids in the neighborhood. This summer we had a camp for kids 8-13. It was a wonderful experience seeing that was our first camp we have did over the summer. The things that they did in the camp was basically learn and keep their brains going through t... Read more...