New Law Restricts Local Governments’ Ability to Address Climate Change House Bill 1191, now Public Law 180, takes away local governments’ power to restrict natural gas or set energy-saving regulations on buildings. Enrique Saenz May 5, 2021
Beginning July 1, local governments in Indiana will have much less power to enact regulations that would reduce their contributions to climate change.
Gov. Eric Holcomb signed into law House Bill 1191, authored by Rep. Jim Pressel and co-authored by the chair and vice chair of the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee, Rep. Ed Soliday and Rep. Ethan Manning.
The law takes away the power of local governments to prevent the use of fossil fuels and to enact other energy-saving and energy-producing regulations.
Nonetheless, Kharbanda said those wetlands are no less important.
“They help to reduce flooding because they are incredible sponges of water. An acre of land can hold no less than one million gallons of water,” he said. Kharbanda said that could save people who live in cities money on water storage, adding that he believes had wetlands upstream from South Bend, Elkhart and Goshen been preserved, those cities might’ve saved millions in building tunnels and tanks for storage.
“They are incredible at purifying pollutants that might be in the air as they descend into wetlands. Those wetlands can be excellent at absorbing those pollutants before they go into our waterways.”
For decades, Augusta Heights hasn’t changed much.
The neighborhood, tucked in between where Michigan Road and W 79th St meet Crooked Creek, is secluded, peaceful. Residents describe it as “the country in the middle of the city.”
In many ways, it is. Residents don’t have sewage, streetlights or sidewalks. Fire trucks have had trouble making their way through the narrow, un-maintained streets. Backyards flood every spring.
But for the first time in years, change is coming to Augusta Heights. Developers are moving in and building new homes. They’re bringing street lights, sidewalks, sewer systems, and new roads.
Democrats, activists call on governor to veto wetlands bill
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April 20, 2021
Calls are mounting for Gov. Eric Holcomb to veto a bill that would remove some protections from Indiana’s already diminished wetlands amid mounting criticism that it could damage waterways, wildlife and vegetation.
The wetlands measure passed out of the Legislature on April 14 and has sparked bipartisan opposition within the Republican-dominated Legislature. If enacted, it would eliminate a 2003 law that requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to issue permits for construction and development in state-regulated wetlands and end enforcement proceedings against landowners accused of violating current law.
Holcomb pushed to veto bill cutting wetland protections
Associated Press/Report for America
INDIANAPOLIS – Calls are mounting for Gov. Eric Holcomb to veto a bill that would remove some protections from Indiana s already diminished wetlands amid mounting criticism that it could damage waterways, wildlife and vegetation.
The wetlands measure passed out of the Legislature April 14 and has sparked bipartisan opposition. If enacted, it would eliminate a 2003 law that requires the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to issue permits for construction and development in state-regulated wetlands and end enforcement proceedings against landowners accused of violating current law.
All Democratic members of the General Assembly, as well as a member of the Senate Republican Caucus, urged the Republican governor to veto the bill.