House Committee Approves Energy Efficiency Buildings Bill

Today (01/13/10) the Indiana House Environmental Affairs Committee approved HB 1063 concerning energy efficient buildings by a vote of 8 to 3. The three members of the committee voting against the bill were Rep. David Wolkins (R-Winona Lake), Rep. Jack Lutz (R-Anderson and Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville). For more details on the bill and members of the committee see http://blog.indianarenew.org/2010/01/hb-1063-energy-efficient-buildings-bill.html



Since Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) has introduced a similar bill the past two sessions that passed the House, there was a brief committee hearing and public testimony. After Rep. Pierce explained the bill, Miriam Dant representing the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) testified against the bill. The remainder of the testimony was in support of the bill and included:



Donald Abel, American Institute of Architects Indiana Chapter (AIA Indiana);

Mark Flint, Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL);

Lynn Dennis, The Nature Conservancy (TNC);

Tim Maloney, Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC);

Kerwin Olson, Citizens Action Coalition (CAC); and

Glenn Pratt, Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club.



HB 1063 now moves to the floor for further action.

Indianapolis Power and Light (IPL) is a member of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

IURC Approves Muny Electric Net Metering Tariffs

Today (01/13/10) during the weekly meeting of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), the Commission approved its Weekly Utility Articles that included approval for four (4) municipal electric utilities that requested to adopt net metering tariffs. The utilities are as follows:

Anderson Municpal Light and Power,
Lebanon Utilities,
Crawfordsville Electric Light and Power, and
Columbia City Municpal Electric Utility.

The 30-Day Utility Articles approved today can be found at http://www.in.gov/iurc/files/u011310s.pdf

These four municipal electric utilities needed IURC approval to create a net metering tariff since they have choosen to remain under IURC rate regulation rather than to opt out of IURC jurisdiction as many other municipal electric utilities have. See http://www.in.gov/iurc/2340.htm for a list of utilities that have opted out, etc.

Each of the four utilities proposed identical proposed net metering tariffs that reflect the current IURC rules for Investor Owned Utilities (IOU's) with one exception, they proposed that their net metering tariffs be available for all classes of customers not just residential and K-12 schools. Hence, the system size limit is 10 kW and is proposed to be .1% of their most recent summer peak load of the utility.

Eric Cotton, a partner in ECI Wind and Solar, VP of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Treasurer of the newly formed Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates (IDEA), commended the action taken today by the IURC.

"These four municipal electric utilities should be commended for their leadership in promoting renewable energy development in their service territories by proposing these net metering tariffs." said Cotton. "We look forward to working with these utilities and their customers to install renewable energy systems."

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.

HB 1063 Energy Efficient Buildings Bill Introduced by Rep. Pierce Scheduled for Hearing Wed., Jan. 13th

ACTION ALERT!

HOUSE BILL No. 1063 Energy Efficient Buildings Scheduled for Public Hearing as follows:

AGENDA FOR: House Environmental Affairs Committee

MEETING: January 13, 1:30PM, 156C, State House, Indianapolis

CHAIR: Dvorak

VICE-CHAIR: Stevenson

MEMBERS:

Candelaria Reardon, L. Lawson, Moses, Pearson, Pierce.
Wolkins R.M.M., Eberhart, Lutz, Neese, Ruppel.

AGENDA: HB 1063 Energy Efficient Buildings

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state and local administration.


Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 4-13-20; (10)IN1063.1.1. -->

SECTION 1. IC 4-13-20 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010]:

Chapter 20. Government Building Design Standards for Energy Efficiency
Sec. 1. (a) This chapter applies to a design plan that is:
(1) for the major renovation or construction of a government building consisting of at least five thousand (5,000) square feet of floor space;
(2) for a project costing the owner of the government building at least five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000); and
(3) approved by the owner of the government building after June 30, 2010.
(b) This chapter does not apply to a design plan for the major renovation or construction of a building that does not consume energy for heating, ventilating, or air conditioning.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "government building" means a
building owned, occupied, and used by any of the following:
(1) A state agency (as defined in IC 4-13-1-1(b)).
(2) Any other authority, board, branch, commission, committee, department, division, or instrumentality of the executive branch of state government, including the following:
(A) A license branch operated or administered under IC 9-16.
(B) The state police department created by IC 10-11-2-4.
(3) A state educational institution (as defined in IC 21-7-13-32).
(4) A body corporate and politic created by statute.
(5) The judicial department of state government.
(6) The legislative department of state government.
(7) A political subdivision (as defined in IC 36-1-2-13).
(8) A school corporation (as defined in IC 36-1-2-17).
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "LEED rating system" refers to the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system.
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "major renovation" refers to a renovation of a government building in which:
(1) the building shell is used to contain new construction;
(2) the heating, air conditioning, ventilation, electrical, and plumbing systems of the building are replaced; and
(3) at least seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet are renovated.
Sec. 5. (a) A newly constructed government building must be designed and constructed to achieve or exceed the performance criteria determined under any of the following:
(1) The silver rating under the LEED rating system.
(2) The Two Globes rating under the Green Building Initiative's Green Globes rating system.
(3) An equivalent rating under a rating system that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute.
(b) This subsection does not apply to contracts for the reconstruction, repair, alteration, or retrofitting of a building or structure that is listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. A major renovation of a government building must be designed, renovated, or reconstructed to achieve or exceed the performance criteria determined under any of the following:
(1) The silver rating under the LEED rating system.
(2) The Two Globes rating under the Green Building

Initiative's Green Globes rating system.
(3) The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star rating system.
(4) An equivalent rating under a rating system that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute.
Sec. 6. The owner of a government building shall consider the historic or aesthetic qualities of the building and the availability of local materials when determining performance criteria required of the design, construction, renovation, or reconstruction of the government building by section 5 of this chapter.
Sec. 7. (a) As used in this section, "Indiana hardwood lumber" means hardwood lumber harvested from real property located in Indiana.
(b) The owner of a government building may consider Indiana hardwood lumber for use as a local source material in any project in which the use of Indiana hardwood lumber is practicable.

SECTION 2. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010] The general assembly recognizes that the 2006 study:
(1) conducted by the department of natural resources division of forestry; and
(2) entitled "The Sustainability of Indiana's Forest Resources";
indicates Indiana timberland acreage and volume has steadily increased since 1967.

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.

Aggregate net metering issue in Florida

Triple J Ranch owners Mary Clark, center, and Rhonda and James Holmes stand atop one of two barns that house solar panels at the 300-acre facility. Because the ranch has multiple power meters, it has to buy the power it generates back from FPL.

Editor's Note: Could this problem in Flordia happen in Indiana if the issue of aggregate metering is not addressed in proposed net metering legislation? Do we need assurances that this will not hapen in Indiana?

A big solar array, but little savings

Rancher generates a lot of power,

but is still paying to use most of it


By Zac Anderson

Published: Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 9:02 p.m.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090607/ARTICLE/906071047/-1/NEWSSITEMAP#

A Sarasota County rancher and environmentalist spent $500,000 for one of the largest private solar projects in Florida, expecting big savings on energy costs while setting an example for others to follow.

But instead of cutting her monthly energy bills from roughly $5,000 to $1,000, Mary Clark's 300-panel solar array has saved little. Florida Power & Light buys the excess energy from Clark's ranch and sells it back to her for twice as much.

Though legal, the charges reveal flaws in a new state law designed to promote solar power by reimbursing private producers for their excess energy.

Clark's experience underscores the influence big utilities wield in Florida, as the state moves tentatively to diversify from fossil fuels into more renewable energy sources.

It could also discourage the grass-roots investment in alternative sources that advocates say is crucial to adoption of emerging sources and energy independence.

Clark's difficulties have implications for farmers, homeowners' associations, condominium and motel complexes and anyone else seeking to share solar energy between multiple buildings, electric meters and accounts.

"Instead of looking at this thing with pride, I get sick to my stomach," said the 88-year-old Clark. "I stepped up. I put up the biggest rig of anybody and I had visions of being a model that people could learn from. But that isn't the case at all."

Clark is fighting with the power company and writing state legislators for help. But power company officials blame Clark's solar contractor for a flawed design in her system and say there is nothing they can do. State regulators side with FPL.

"These aren't rules that we made up," said FPL spokeswoman Jackie Anderson. "We're just following the law."

10 barns, 11 wells

Ranches and farms have extensive roof space and open land that could help boost solar energy production around the state. But, as in Clark's case, many have more than one meter to measure power use.

A 2008 solar law fails to account for homes, farms and businesses with multiple electric meters. And that creates a potential barrier for people to profit from installing panels.

"If we're going to get where we need to be with solar we've got to make it as easy as possible for people like this," said Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, D-Sarasota.

The problem stems in part from the fact that energy consumption on ranches such as Clark's cover a large area, while the solar panels are more concentrated.

The 300-acre Triple J Ranch has 11 wells with electric pumps to distribute water. A big free-standing feed grinder uses electricity to ration food for 130 horses and 120 cows.

Ten barns, three show arenas, two bunk houses, a chow house and RVs also need power. Many of the buildings have separate electric meters.

But instead of spreading Triple J's solar panels across the ranch so they would feed into each of nine electric meters, Greenlaw Solar Group installed the panels in clusters of 150 on two horse stables with low-pitched roofs, feeding into two meters.

Simple and efficient, thought Greenlaw owner Doug Greenlaw.

He and Clark thought FPL could combine her nine meter bills into one and deduct from her total power bill the solar energy she produced at the retail rate of 12 cents per kilowatt hour.

'It has to be easier'

However, an archaic 1969 law generally prohibits combining multiple electric meters under one bill. That skews how rates are calculated and hurts other ratepayers, according to state regulators with the Public Service Commission.

Clark could save more if the solar panels were tied into meters for facilities that use a lot of power, instead of the low-consumption horse barns. The only way she can directly tap the energy is to run expensive wiring across the whole ranch.

Instead, all of the excess energy Clark is generating -- in just the last month alone, the two meters her panels are tied into have racked up enough extra power to run an average house for a year -- is sent to FPL.

But rather than crediting her at a rate of 12 cents per kilowatt hour, FPL buys her energy back for just 6 cents per kilowatt hour. It gives her a check at the end of the year, instead of deducting the amount from her monthly bills.

Greenlaw faults FPL, saying the power company opposes solar energy and is "doing everything they can to stop it."

"The design of the system is not the problem, it's the way FPL does billing," the solar contractor said.

Rex James of Solar Direct in Bradenton said the problem could have been avoided, but said the law makes it tougher to implement smaller-scale solar projects.

"It's a logistics problem," James said. "I've anticipated it and avoided it in projects but it shouldn't be such an issue. They need to change the law."

But FPL contends it is simply following the 2008 law regulating "net metering" of solar operations.

"The key is to put the renewable energy generation on a meter that's using a significant load," said FPL's Anderson.

Private solar producers can get only 6 cents for their energy because that is the "fuel" price FPL charges if the cost of providing transmission lines and other infrastructure is factored out, regulators say.

If Clark got the 12-cent rate, she essentially would be using FPL's transmission lines to spread the energy around her property for free, said Public Service Commission spokeswoman Cindy Muir.

Adding insult to injury is the different treatment given to farmers generating excess energy from anaerobic digesters, which burn methane from cows. These farmers are allowed to combine their bills under the 2008 law, and deduct excess energy from one bill.

The irony for Clark is that some utilities actually pay solar producers a premium for their energy. Gainesville pays 32 cents per kilowatt hour because solar power is considered a public benefit that should be encouraged and subsidized.

"When you look at it that way, I'm taking a real licking. But I don't regret it for a minute," said Clark, an ardent environmental advocate who spent five years in Newfoundland tagging humpback whales before moving to Florida. "No matter how you slice it, it's the right thing to do. But if they want more people to get involved, it has to be a lot easier."

House Hearing on Net Metering Bill Monday afternoon, Jan. 11th

Editor's Note: A new organization has been formed named, Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates (IDEA) as a 501(c)(6) or trade association. The mission of this new group is to lobby for renewable energy policies in the State of Indiana including net metering. Therefore, IDEA will take positions on issues such as net metering and lobby members of the Indiana General Assembly NOT the Indiana Renewable Energy Association. More details on IDEA forthcoming soon!

For more information on net metering, please see Net Metering: Policy Recommendations for Indiana, prepared by Eric Cotton, ECI Wind and Solar and Laura Ann Arnold, The Arnold Group; prepared for Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates, Inc. (IDEA).

AGENDA FOR: House Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities

MEETING: January 11, Upon Adjournment, 156B, State House, Indianapolis,

CHAIR: Rep. Win Moses, Jr., Chair (D-Fort Wayne)h81@in.gov

VICE-CHAIR: Rep. Matt Pierce, Vice Chair (D-Bloomington)h61@in.gov

MEMBERS:
Rep. Kreg Battles (D-Vincennes) h64@in.gov
Rep. Sandy Blanton (D-Orleans) h62@in.gov
Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D-South Bend) h8@in.gov
Rep. Scott Reske (D-Pendleton) h37@in.gov
Rep. Dan Stevenson (D-Highland) h11@in.gov
Rep. Jack Lutz, RMM (R-Anderson) h35@in.gov
Rep. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) h65@in.gov
Rep. Robert Behning (R-Indianapolis) h91@in.gov
Rep. David Frizzell (R-Indianapolis) h93@in.gov
Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) h4@in.gov

AGENDA: HB 1094

The Indiana House of Representatives is scheduled to go into session at 1:30 pm on Monday, January 11, 2010. Therefore, the House Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities Committee hearing could be as early as 2:00 pm but most likely it will begin at 2:30-3:00 pm.

To call Representatives while the Legislature is in session telephone:
(317) 232-9600 or (317) 232-9700;
Toll free 1-800-382-9841 or 1-800-382-9842.

To determine your state legislators, please visit the Indiana General Assembly District Look-up Service. Please enter your zipcode + four with your street address and city.

Here is a quick summary of HB 1094:

The bill directs the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adopt new net metering rules as follows:

(1) Require an electric utility to offer net metering to all customer classes.

(2) Allow a net metering customer to interconnect to an electric utility's distribution facility a generating facility with a nameplate capacity of:

(A) twenty (20) kilowatts or less, in the case of a residential customer;

(B) two hundred (200) kilowatts or less, in the case of a commercial customer other than an industrial customer;

(C) two (2) megawatts or less, in the case of: (i) an industrial customer; or (ii) an agricultural customer; or

(D) five (5) megawatts or less, in the case of any of the following customers: (i) The state. (ii) A unit (as defined in IC 36-1-2-23). (iii) An elementary or a secondary school attended by students in kindergarten or grades 1 through 12. (iv) A school corporation (as defined in IC 20-43-1-23). (v) A postsecondary educational institution (as described in IC 6-3-3-5).

(3) Allow a net metering customer to interconnect a facility that generates electricity through any of the following technologies:

(A) Solar.

(B) Wind.

(C) Microhydroelectric facilities.

(D) Hydroelectric facilities at dams existing before January 1, 2010.

(E) Microturbines using renewable fuels.

(F) Fuel cells using renewable fuels.

(G) Biogas, including anaerobic digestion.

(H) Methane from landfills.

This information brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Indiana Legislator Introduces Feed-in Tariff Bill; First Comprehensive Proposal of 2010 in US

Adapts Rates from Ontario for a "Made In Indiana" Policy

January 8, 2010

By Paul Gipe

Representative Matt Pierce (D-61st, Bloomington) introduced HB 1190 into the Indiana General Assembly January 7, 2010. The bill is the first comprehensive proposal for a system of feed-in tariffs in the current legislative sessions that have begun in states across the US.

The bill to create a system of what Representative Pierce calls Advanced Renewable Energy Contracts was referred to the House Committee on Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities. Representative Pierce is vice chair of the committee.

Representative Pierce had introduced a previous bill on feed-in tariffs in the 2009 session. HB 1190 has been extensively rewritten and has incorporated the feed-in tariffs, or renewable energy rates as they will be called in Indiana, recently introduced in the Canadian province of Ontario.

The proposed rates in HB 1190 have been adapted to the Indiana context by incorporating two tracks: one track with US federal subsidies, one track without. Unlike Ontario, where there are no federal subsidies for renewable energy, some Indiana projects could qualify for US federal subsidies. However, not all potential renewable energy generators in Indiana may be able to use the federal subsidies. For those who may not be able to use the federal subsidies, Representative Pierce has proposed the second track where the feed-in rates are proportionally higher.

Republican Governor Mitch Daniels and the legislature have liked to characterize Indiana as a potential renewable energy hub of the Midwest.

HB 1190 tries to go Ontario one better as competition for renewable energy heats up in North America's heartland. Representative Pierce has proposed a sophisticated system of rates for wind energy that is based on the intensity of the wind resource. Both Germany and France successfully use a similar policy and the concept has been raised frequently in Ontario. However, the Canadian province has yet to adopt such a program.

Differentiating the rates for wind energy based on the wind resource is used by Germany and France both to spread development opportunity to more farmers and rural landowners than one, single rate for wind energy, but also to avoid the concentration of wind turbines in only the windiest regions. Such a proposal in Indiana would give farmers in central Indiana as much opportunity to develop their wind resource as farmers in northern Indiana where it is windier.

And in another departure from Ontario, Representative Pierce has proposed specific tariffs for small wind turbines like those that would be used by individual households. While HB 1190's proposed rates for small wind turbines are less than those that will likely go into effect this April in Great Britain, they are the first of their kind in North America.

In other provisions, the bill requires the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to review the renewable energy rates paid to new generators beginning in 2012. HB 1190 directs the IURC's review to ensure the rates are sufficient for the rapid development of renewable energy without resulting in excessive profits for generators or excessive costs to ratepayers.

The bill establishes an equalization program to spread the costs of the policy across all ratepayers so that no one utility or its ratepayers absorb more than their fair share of the costs of the program.

HB 1190 creates a statewide registry of generators and requires the IURC to issue annual reports on the robustness of the program in meeting the bill's objective of encouraging the rapid and sustainable development of renewable energy in Indiana.

Before it becomes law, the bill must pass the House, controlled by Democrats, and the Senate, controlled by Republicans, and be signed by Republican Governor Daniels.

Summary of HB 1190's renewable energy "rates".


Project size cap: None, 10 MW for solar PV only
Contract terms: 20 years, 40 years for hydro
Technologies: most, excluding biomass from forestry, excluding coal-bed methane
Inflation indexing: 60%

Wind without and with tax credits:

• Small <50>
• Small <500>
• Offshore: $0.180,$0.126
• Onshore low wind: $0.140,$0.098
• Onshore high wind: $0.104,$0.073

Solar PV without and with tax credits:

• Any Type <10>
• Rooftop >10 kW<250>
• Rooftop >250 kW<500>
• Rooftop >500 kW: $0.500,$0.350,
• Groundmounted <10 MW: $0.400,$0.280
  
  Interestingly, Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL) has proposed a pilot feed-in tariff program to the IURC. The IURC has yet to rule on IPL's proposal, yet IPL's proposed wind enegy tariff is quite similar to that in Representative Pierce's HB 1190.
  
  At a site with an average yield of 1,200 kWh/m²/yr, the average or equivalent 20-year tariff for onshore wind energy in HB 1190 is $0.104/kWh without tax credits and $0.073/kWh with federal tax credits. The latter "rate" is nearly identical with that proposed by to the IURC for wind turbines larger than 1 MW by IPL of $0.075/kWh.
  
  HB 1190 Status
  
  HB 1190 Latest version
  
  HB 1190 Fiscal Impact

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Put energy into smart legislation

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100104/OPINION08/1040309/1291/OPINION08/Put-energy-into-smart-legislation

January 4, 2010


Our Opinion

The waning days of 2009 are not likely to be remembered for good financial news when it comes to Indiana's public school districts. A state mandate to make nearly $300 million in spending cuts makes for indelible headlines.

There may be hope for making up some of that loss, however, thanks to statements by key members of the Indiana General Assembly regarding an obscure phenomenon known as net metering.

Schools will not be the only beneficiaries if legislation talked up a few days ago by state Sen. James Merritt and Rep. Ryan Dvorak sees the light of day.

Exploited in neighboring states far more than here, net metering allows utilities customers who generate some of their own power through wind, sun or other means to send the excess back to the grid and get charged only for what they use.

The potential savings are immense, as are the benefits in reduced reliance on high-polluting coal and promotion of an already burgeoning renewable energy industry.

Right now, Indiana allows only homeowners and schools to use net metering, and limits them to a nominal take of 10 kilowatts.

Dvorak, D-South Bend, wants to boost that figure to 1,000 kilowatts. Merritt, R-Indianapolis, is not inclined to go nearly that high; but he does want to extend net metering to businesses and municipalities.

In the 2009 session, both men got their bills passed; but differences over the numbers proved irreconcilable in conference committee. Net metering became one of several sensible energy bills for which lofty hopes died.

Now, compromise is in the air. The utilities, obstinate opponents in the past, have seen that federal taxes on coal are imminent and have endorsed modest net metering. Proponents may well have to settle for a 100-kilowatt limit to get a law onto the books; but as a tenfold increase over the status quo, that is a most encouraging starting point. Building upon it in the future should come easily as its payoff asserts itself.

Like renewable energy itself, net metering offers a win-win to producers and consumers by converting waste into value, with cleaner air and tax relief as part of the bargain.

Again, surrounding states have gotten the message and are running with it. If, as Gov. Mitch Daniels is fond of saying, we are the smart ones when it comes to fighting through hard economic times, this is an easy opportunity for lawmakers to prove it.

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Michigan City News Dispatch Editorial Supports Net Metering in Indiana

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=50&SubSectionID=72&ArticleID=27911


Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Net-metering
Renewable energy ready for boost

Editorial

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Our Opinion:

The Issue:

The Indiana General Assembly appears likely to relax limits on selling power back to utilities.

Our Opinion:

The Legislature should increase the amount of electricity utilities must buy from renewable sources.



It's heartening to hear that Indiana lawmakers think a new "net-metering" law will pass in the 2010 session of the General Assembly. It's especially good to know that power companies seem to be willing to accept expansion of the amount of power that utilities would have to accept.

Under net-metering, utility customers who generate some of their electricity from renewable sources are allowed to sell their excess capacity to the power companies, offsetting their electric bills.

Indiana law now applies only to homeowners and schools, and limits the amount of electricity a utility has to accept to 10 kilowatts. Legislation that is expected to be given serious consideration next year would up that figure to 100 kilowatts and expand it to businesses and municipalities. Meanwhile other lawmakers favor an even higher level of 1,000 kilowatts.

In an age when the nation desperately needs to encourage the development of power from renewable sources, the Indiana Legislature should change the law and expand net-metering. Similar legislation stalled in the previous session because lawmakers couldn't find a ceiling they could agree upon - 100 kilowatts favored by some, and 1,000 by others.

It's important that both Republican and Democratic legislators favor expanding net-metering, and as long as the power companies don't fight it, certainly the lawmakers can find a compromise figure, and Indiana can move a small step forward in encouraging the production of electricity from wind and solar generators.

Indiana lags behind its neighboring states in net-metering policy, according to an advocacy group for renewable energy. Lawmakers should move quickly on this change when the legislative session begins Jan. 5.

Brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Indianapolis Star Editorial Lists Net Metering in 5 Top Priorities for Our State

January 3, 2010

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100103/OPINION08/1030330/1291/OPINION08/5-top-priorities-for-our-state

Our opinion

5 top priorities for our state

Short on money, legislators can still accomplish much during abbreviated session.


The Indiana General Assembly opens its 2010 session this week with virtually no money to spend and little time to act before lawmakers stop work in March. Yet, even while operating under such restrictions, legislators have an opportunity to adopt several important proposals, including ethics reform.

Here is The Star Editorial Board's legislative agenda for 2010:

More ethical government: Even House Speaker Pat Bauer, a longtime opponent of restrictions on lobbyists' influence over legislators, now acknowledges that the Statehouse has been compromised.

"It was apparent the level of pressure exerted by special interests put a cloud over the legislature's ability to respond to the concerns of Hoosiers,'' Bauer wrote concerning last year's session in an op-ed published in The Star in November.

The General Assembly should adopt five common-sense reforms to reduce the level of influence that special interests hold over lawmakers:

Legislators may not accept any gift worth more than $50 in value from registered lobbyists.

Lobbyists must disclose the value of goods and services offered to individual legislators or groups of lawmakers, including meals, tickets to sporting and entertainment events, or other gifts.

Legislators may not accept gifts, including payment of travel-related expenses, from businesses, organizations or individuals that do business with the state.

Legislators may not accept meals, tickets to athletic games or other events, or any other gift valued at more than $50 from state universities or colleges.

Former legislators may not work as registered lobbyists until one year after they leave office.

Better representation for voters: Lawmakers have a prime opportunity to end the discredited practice of gerrymandering ahead of redistricting in 2011. The best means to ensure fairness and impartiality in drawing district maps is to assign the job to an independent commission. It may be possible, according to research by the Brennan Center for Justice, to create such a commission without having to pursue a constitutional amendment. Legislators should create a system for drawing district maps that fosters competitive elections, encourages qualified candidates to seek elected office and protects voters' ability to make a difference on Election Day.

More efficient local government: Indiana taxpayers continue to pay for far more government than they need. In a year when state and local budgets are squeezed tight, townships are still sitting on more than $200 million in reserves. If they were ready to put the public's best interests ahead of their political allies' concerns, lawmakers would finally eliminate township government this year. That's not likely to happen, however.

Instead, legislators at least need to trim around the edges by adopting three modest reforms:

Township advisory boards should be abolished. It's a step that would save taxpayers money without sacrificing oversight or transparency.

Poor relief, now dispensed inefficiently and unevenly by 1,008 township trustees, should be consolidated on the county level, a move that likely would improve service and reduce costs.

School board elections should be shifted from the May primary to the general election in November to assure better voter turnout and raise the profile of these important races.

A cleaner environment: In a state where air and water quality rank among the worst in the nation, environmental initiatives deserve far more attention than they have received from the General Assembly and the governor. One measure that could help promote use of wind and solar power involves so-called net metering, which allows consumers to send excess power that they generate back onto the electrical grid. Legislators should increase the current 10-kilowatt cap on net metering to 1,000 kilowatts.

Better schools: Modest steps are again the most likely avenues for progress, in this instance because of a lack of money. One proposal that deserves strong bipartisan support centers on closing loopholes that allow abusive teachers to escape accountability. Lawmakers should ensure that school districts have access to all the information they need about a prospective employee's background before they make a hire. The legislature also should eliminate off-the-record agreements that allow districts to remove substantiated reports of misconduct from employees' files without conducting a formal hearing.

Safer children: The General Assembly achieved a welcome advancement last year when it set up an office of ombudsman to make the Department of Child Services more accountable to the public. Now, legislators should give the ombudsman the necessary resources, including sufficient legal authority, to make a real difference.

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.