Hoosier Energy agrees to settlement
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative has agreed to spend up to $100 million to improve pollution controls at two of its Indiana power plants to settle alleged Clean Air Act violations.
The agreement filed in federal court in Indianapolis also requires Bloomington-based Hoosier Energy to pay a $950,000 civil penalty and spend $5 million on environmental projects.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency alleged in 2008 that Hoosier Energy violated the Clean Air Act by modifying its Merom power plant in west-central Indiana without first obtaining needed permits.
Hoosier Energy says it will spend between $50 million and $100 million to add air emission controls at the Merom plant and the Frank E. Ratts power plant near Petersburg. The upgrades will cut the plantsÂ’ annual emissions about 24,500 tons.
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Nova Scotia can't order electric utility to lower power rates, minister says
HALIFAX - The province can't ask Nova Scotia Power to lower its rates to ease the financial pressure on out-of-work residents because it lacks the authority to take that kind of action, the provincial energy minister said Thursday.
Derek Mombourquette said he is in "constant contact" with the privately owned utility.
"The conversations are ongoing with Nova Scotia Power," he said after a cabinet meeting.
When asked if the Liberal government would order the utility to lower electricity rates as households and businesses struggle with the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, Mombourquette said there was nothing he could do.
"We don't have the…