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Last updated on Tuesday, July 15, 2014
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indianapolis City-County Council will soon hear a resolution urging Indianapolis Power and Light to end coal burning practices at its Harding Street plant.
IPL already has to prepare a 20-year plan for how it will generate the city's electricity and submit that plan to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission by November 1.
The council resolution, which was introduced Monday night, would request that IPL include in that plan a cost-effective commitment to stop burning coal by 2020 and invest in greater amounts of clean, renewable energy.
IPL has already made plans to convert two units at the Harding Street plant from coal-burning to natural gas. However, one unit will continue to burn coal until at least 2034.
The resolution also requests that IPL work with the Indianapolis Office of Sustainability and the City-County Council to develop cost-effective programs that encourage energy efficiency and conservation. IPL would also be asked to create a transition plan for plant workers and the Harding Street property to ensure that employees can support their families and that plant neighbors are protected from soil and groundwater contamination at the site.
Democratic Councilor At-Large Zach Adamson says the resolution already has bipartisan support with nine Democrats and two Republicans on board as sponsors. He says unlike most council resolutions, this one has been assigned to the Community Affairs Committee so members of the public and IPL can voice their concerns, questions and opinions on the matter.
Adamson says if the resolution is passed by the council and signed by the mayor, it would not become law but it would send a message to IPL.
The Community Affairs Committee meets next on July 22.
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