Advanced Energy Perspectives

The 2020 session of the Indiana General Assembly was expected to be quiet. After all, we had just wrapped up the first year of the 21st Century Energy Task Force – a two-year study to create a comprehensive statewide energy plan for Indiana. Add to that, advanced energy advocates had been victorious the year before by defeating a proposal that would have placed a 20-month moratorium on Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) action on any matter involving more than 250 MW of generating capacity – a requirement that would have locked in Indiana’s coal-fired generation for nearly two years and prevented Indiana’s utilities from pursuing their plans for advanced energy investment. With coal’s bid for a bailout knocked down last year, no one – advocates, special interests, or legislators – expected a big energy fight this session. Little did we know, but the bell was about to ring for another round in the legislative ring.

As the Indiana General Assembly passed the halfway mark of its session last week, the question of whether to offer a lifeline to costly coal plants came to the forefront for the second year in a row. Last year, the advanced energy industry claimed victory as the House rejected a proposal that would have placed a 20-month moratorium on Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) action on any matter involving more than 250 MW of generating capacity. This proposal would have locked in Indiana’s coal-fired generation for nearly two years and prevented Indiana’s utilities from pursuing their plans for advanced energy investment. Unsurprisingly, coal interests came back to the legislature this year looking for protection again. Despite rejecting the moratorium last year, a new proposal to require IURC approval before a utility can retire a coal plant was approved by the Indiana House. Now moving to the Senate, this bill is threatening to slow Indiana’s transition to investment in advanced energy. Here are the top five reasons the legislature should act to defeat this proposal: