"Hotly debated legislation would open the state to renewable energy projects, trumping local restrictions."
"A debate over renewable energy in Indiana is scrambling some of the usual politics of energy and the environment.
The wind industry is working with leaders in the Republican-run state government to pass statewide rules for where wind and solar systems can be built, which would allow for more development by replacing the often-restrictive rules now set at the county level.
Understandably, county leaders don’t like that.
Environmental and consumer groups are torn about this proposed legislation. They want to favor renewable energy but also to support local control of energy decisions. And they want any new rules to allow for environmental protection of wind and solar sites more than the bill does.
“This is a tough one,” said Kerwin Olson, executive director of the Citizens Action Coalition, an Indianapolis-based consumer advocacy group. He said there isn’t a clear right side, “so we’re sitting this out.”"
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