April 17 IURC public hearings on Duke proposed gas plant

[D Boggess]

Are you concerned about climate change and Duke’s high electric bills ? 

You can let the IURC know that we want our electricity to be affordable and healthy for us and the planet.

If you are near Bloomington or Terre Haute, LET’S BE SEEN AND HEARD

Come to the public hearing from 1 to 4 pm Thursday, April 17

Monroe County Convention Center upstairs great room
302 S College Ave, Bloomington

The 2024 hearing on Duke's rate increase was standing room only. This one is in a larger space.

A second public hearing will begin at 6 pm April 17 

at the Ivy Tech Community College Terre Haute Campus – Oakley Auditorium, 8000 S. Education Drive

Duke is proposed to build a $3 billion gas powered electricity generating facility replacing a coal plant near Terre Haute.  The number of electric service disconnections is likely to increase because more customers will be unable to pay their bills if this proposed plan is approved.

A special report on this topic is on the April 15 Bloomington HT newspaper front page.

For background, see the Citizens Action Coalition analysis at

 https://www.citact.org/duke-gas-plant-46193

for an explanation of Indiana electric bill affordability, 

see  https://www.citact.org/iuac

What do we live for if it is not to make life easier for others?

George Eliot

If you cannot attend one of the public hearings, written comments on IURC Cause Number 46193 can be sent by mail or email.  see   https://www.in.gov/iurc/files/46193_MA_Duke-CPCN_4.17.25_FINAL.pdf
• Mail: Public Comments
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, IN 46204
• Email: ucc...@oucc.IN.gov

Written comments should include the ratepayer’s name, city and zip code, and a reference to “Cause No. 46193"

[Darrell Boggess]

About 60 people, including a state police officer and a few Duke employees, attended the 2 hour public hearing today in Bloomington.  The room had seating for maybe 100. Several people from CAC were there. One of them set up a video camera on its tripod for recording speakers. I expect videos of both hearings will be posted for viewing on the CAC website next week.

Fifteen speakers talked mostly about the effects of climate change and many reasons why a large methane burning facility would make matters worse. Most spoke with considerable emotion and passion, with and without notes.  

IU scientists emphatically stated that building another fossil fuel power plant was a bad idea because time is running out while the amount of CO2 in the air and average global temperatures are increasing at an alarming rate.

One of the first speakers was a high school student who left early to return to class. A few comments were reminders that a 1 PM weekday hearing would not be attended by most working people and students.

The evening hearing in Terre Haute at 6 pm EDT is likely to be quite different because coal workers in their work gear may attend and speak in support of keeping the coal plant open longer and canceling or delaying the gas plant.

If you cannot attend one of the public hearings, written comments on IURC Cause Number 46193 can be sent by mail or email.  see   https://www.in.gov/iurc/files/46193_MA_Duke-CPCN_4.17.25_FINAL.pdf
• Mail: Public Comments
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, IN 46204

• Email: ucc...@oucc.IN.gov

Written comments should include the ratepayer’s name, city and zip code, and a reference to “Cause No. 46193"