Indiana is one of only 14 states that has resisted establishing renewable energy standards. This leaves the state at a disadvantage for attracting new green businesses according to critics. While Indiana has attracted some wind projects, advocates argue these have been driven by renewable standards in other states and only account for a small portion of the state's energy needs. Supporters argue standards would boost jobs and investment, but Indiana lawmakers have failed to pass such legislation due to concerns over rate increases and a desire to include nuclear in definitions of renewable energy. Other Midwest states like Michigan and Illinois have seen billions in green investment after implementing renewable standards.

1. 11/29/2010 Indianapolis Business News - Latest Indian…
Indiana resists call for renewable energy
mandates
Associated Press November 28, 2010
Unlike most other states, Indiana has resisted developing renewable energy standards, leaving the state at
a disadvantage for new business investment, critics say.
The state is one of only 14 nationwide without a renewable energy standard, according to the Pew
Center of Global Climate Change. The standards typically require electric utilities to generate a certain
amount of electricity from renewable or alternative energy sources by a given date.
Indiana lawmakers have considered renewable energy standards the past four years but have failed to
pass a bill. The measure failed last year because of concerns that electricity rates would increase and one
senator's desire to include nuclear energy among renewables.
Michael Shore, spokesman for the Michigan Economic Development Corp., said he thinks such
standards are a key step for states in attracting businesses.
"The renewable energy standard by itself is only a first step. It's like a high school diploma or GED.
You're not ready to be a professional in any field, but you can't realistically get there, or easily get there,
without it," he said.
In 2008, Michigan passed a law requiring utilities to get 10 percent of their energy from renewable
sources and energy efficiency by 2015. Last year, the state supplemented the standard with tax credits
for renewable energy development.
Other states have even higher standards. Illinois in 2007 adopted a standard calling for 25 percent of
energy from renewables by 2025, 75 percent of it from wind. Ohio requires 25 percent of all electricity
sold in 2025 to come from alternative energy, including clean coal.
Shore said Michigan's move has helped the state attract more than $9 billion in investments in alternative
energy.
"That $9 billion is projected to create more than 9,000 jobs over the next 10 years. We've gotten
significant new investments in solar-energy manufacturing, wind energy, biofuels as well as advanced
battery. Those are the green, sustainable energy sectors we've targeted," he said.
Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, said concerns that electricity
rates will increase if utilities have to get a certain percentage of their energy from more costly renewable
sources can be addressed.
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2. 11/29/2010
sources can be addressed. Indianapolis Business News - Latest Indian…
"It's a valid concern for people in a bad economy to be worried about rate increases, but we're willing to
put a cap on it," he said. "Rates would not increase more than, say, 5 percent compared to business as
usual."
Bryant Mitol, a Valparaiso resident who works for Earth Solar Technologies of Indianapolis, said states
like Illinois have gotten a big boost from the renewable energy standards. "They're serious about it," he
said.
"Here, the powers that be are still pushing for coal. In Ohio and Illinois, they're making great strides, but
here we are in Indiana. I think the coal lobby is just really, really strong here."
Indiana has attracted major wind projects, such as BP's wind farm in Benton County, without the
renewable energy standards. But Kharbanda says that's misleading.
"The governor and other politicians will talk about the investment coming into our state without the
renewable energy standard," he said. "The problem with that argument is, the investments have been
driven by the RES. They've either been driven by RES in other states, which Indiana wind is tapped to
comply with, or they view it as an incremental tool. They'll sort of lead legislators to inaccurately
conclude there's no need for a renewable energy standard.
"In the scheme of things, wind farms like BP are very impressive, but they only lead to 1 to 2 percent of
our electricity use."
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