Indiana has the potential to be a sustainable energy leader in the U.S. — creating jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency, while reducing our state’s significant carbon footprint.
We’ve experienced significant progress on both fronts. Indiana has nearly 84,000 jobs in clean energy (Clean Energy Trust, 2018). Indiana’s dependency on coal for its electricity — the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. — has gone down from 85.5% to 64.6% in just nine years (IURC, 2017).
That said, Indiana trails fellow Industrial Midwest states on a variety of state sustainable energy public policies and has ranked #1 in the Industrial Midwest in terms of carbon emissions per capita (EIA, 2015).
HEC supports, and actively advocates for, public policies that facilitate investment in utility-scale renewable energy, customer-owned renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Dedicated public policy in these areas, with an eye towards stabilizing and reducing energy bills for Hoosiers, would enable Indiana to be a better magnet for clean energy jobs and improve our state’s public health standing as well. In that vein, HEC is urging the 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force to provide serious consideration of energy efficiency, solar energy, and sustainable forms of combined heat and power as they begin their multi-month process of forming recommendations for Indiana’s energy policy future.
The Issue
When people think of rural Indiana, they tend to think of rolling hillsides and sprawling cornfields – a place abundant in fresh air. Unfortunately, that isn’t an accurate picture. In fact, there are pockets of Indiana where people get exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution.
You can’t see or even smell it in the air, but particulate pollution (from sources ranging from coal plants to cars to outdoor wood boilers) in Indiana is impossible to miss when viewing national health statistics. Indiana ranks #44 in air quality, in terms of average exposure to fine particulate matter (United Health Foundation, 2018).
Indiana’s addiction to fossil fuels also perpetuates coal mining — a sector that employs less people in Indiana than the Indiana solar jobs sector does — and yet does damage to our rivers and our air.
With the proper investment in energy conservation, energy efficiency, customer-owned renewable energy, and utility-scale renewable energy resources (i.e., the kind that you see at the Indianapolis airport), Indiana can meet future electricity demand at a lesser cost both to our pocketbooks and our health than our current approach.
It’s time for Indiana to invest in sustainable energy sources at a much faster pace and scale than planned. It’s the smart choice – for both our bodies and our bank accounts.
Indiana ranks
#44
in air quality in terms of average exposure to fine particulate matter.
Indiana has more than
82,000
jobs in clean energy.
Indiana has reduced our dependency on coal for electricity to
64.6%
from 85.5%.
Sustainable Energy
Our Position
Indiana must make replacing dirty coal-fired electric plants with conservation, energy efficiency, customer-owned solar energy, utility-scale renewable energy, and utility-scale battery power a top priority, as is occurring at a fast clip in Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio.
Take Action
How to Make a Difference
Contact Your Legislator
Meet with your legislators and encourage them to support legislation ensuring that a.) net metering is fully restored in Indiana and b.) that Home Owner Associations do not impose unreasonable restrictions on homeowners’ desire to install rooftop solar on their own homes. To understand this issue, watch the Indiana HOA Solar Legislation video.
Create Your Own Energy
Energy production is still overwhelmingly dominated by fossil fuels, which account for about 80% of its electric generation in Indiana (IURC, 2017). That leaves Hoosiers asking what they can do in the face of such a large problem. One plan of action is to embrace homegrown, sustainable energy in your home and community by building your own “power plant” – a wind power system or solar power system to provide energy for your home, place of worship, office or community center. This solution is not as out of reach as it once seemed; find some of the best Indiana-based renewable energy installers, who also happen to be our HEC Green Business partners. Learn more about how Indiana’s laws have changed regarding rooftop solar energy.
Build Green
Buildings use 72% of the electricity produced in the United States. Green buildings will save energy, reduce operating costs, conserve natural resources, and make office environments healthier and more productive for those using them. Support the re-enactment of Indiana’s residential energy efficiency building code.