Eco Report – March 17, 2022

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HEADLINES

Two IU groups, Concerned Scientists at IU  and Advocates for Science, recently sent a letter to the university administrators asking the university to analyze how it affects the climate, to commit to becoming carbon neutral by a specific date, and to create a climate task force to realize that plan.

—Linda Greene

A story in the IndyStar has good news for Hoosiers who wish to install rooftop solar. After six years of pushing — and repeatedly falling short — a bill that makes it harder for Homeowners Associations to prohibit residents from adding solar panels to their homes finally passed.

––Norm Holy

WISH TV reports the Indiana Supreme Court has overturned part of a Duke Energy rate increase approved in 2020. The state’s highest court says Indiana law does not allow Duke to raise rates to cover costs that had been previously incurred. Duke asked the state for a rate hike to cover more than $200 million in costs related to shutting down coal ash ponds.

––Norm Holy

To combat plastics, world leaders, environment ministers and other representatives from 173 countries have agreed to create a legally binding treaty on single-use plastics covering the full life-cycle of the material, from production to disposal.

—Linda Greene

The Indiana Environmental Reporter is calling attention to the reality that the world is running out of time to undertake the rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions needed to reduce the severity of multiple climate hazards, such as increased flooding and heat, according to a major new report. But despite this and previous warnings, Indiana’s government is working to prolong the life of fossil fuels rather than to seriously decrease the state’s significant greenhouse gas output from fossil fuel emissions.

––Norm Holy

The European Union has banned the class of four pesticides called neonicotinoids because they kill bees, butterflies and other insects. The U-S EPA, in contrast, is on the verge of reapproving those pesticides for use on U-S farmland for another fifteen years even though the agency has acknowledged that the pesticides entail “ecological risks of concern, particularly to pollinators and aquatic invertebrates.”

—Linda Greene

The IndyStar reports that when AES Indiana’s Eagle Valley natural gas plant started operating four years ago, it was touted as state-of-the-art and one of the most efficient plants in Indiana. But disconnected wires and ruptured pipes have conked out the plant for what will be close to 14 months — nearly one-third of its life.

––Norm Holy

The Indiana Environmental Reporter says the Environmental Protection Agency hopes states like Indiana will use new greenhouse gas inventory tools to reduce their emissions.

––Norm Holy

The top five oil and gas companies in the U-S are making enormous profits and aren’t paying taxes on them. In fact, since the Paris climate accord was signed in 2015, they’ve received money back from the Internal Revenue Service.

—Linda Greene

CALENDAR

Take A Full Moon Hike at Spring Mill State Park on Friday, March 18th, from 9 to 10:30 pm.  Join Anthony at the Spring Mill Inn front patio for an adventurous hike on Trail 3, which is 2.5 miles long and quite rugged.  You will learn why the March Full Moon is called the Full Worm Moon.

The Woodpecker Wander Hike will take place at Brown County State Park on Saturday, March 19th, from 10 to 11:30 am on Trail 5. You will be looking for Indiana’s 7 native species of woodpeckers.  The hike is 1.5 miles long and is considered rugged, with creek crossings.

There will be an Invasive Plant Hike and Pull at Spring Mill State Park on Thursday, March 24th, from 11 am to Noon.  Hike with the Naturalist while discovering the difference between native and invasive plants.  You will help the naturalist by pulling invasive mustard.  Meet at the Pool parking lot.

McCormick’s Creek State Park will be hosting an Amphibian Outing Kickoff on Friday, March 25th, from 7 to 9:30 pm and on Saturday, March 26th, from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm.  You will join the naturalist and experts from the Hoosier Herpetological Society to learn all about amphibians.  On Friday you will meet at the well-known amphibian pond.  All day Saturday will include hikes, talks, displays and kids’ activities.

Enjoy an evening excursion at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area to watch the American Woodcock perform its mating ritual,  the sky dance, on Saturday, March 26th, from 7 to 8:30 pm.  Learn about the Woodcock’s migration, habitual needs and how the Indiana DNR is working to conserve the species.  Meet at the Main office.