Environmentalists, utilities at odds over coal plant protections

A House committee on Tuesday advanced an overhaul of the process that state agencies use to create regulations — including some changes benefiting coal plants. The GOP-dominated committee easily approved an amendment blocking the Indiana Department of Environmental Management from imposing regulations on all coal-powered electricity generators that are stricter than federal requirements. “This language tells locals that essentially they’re unable to determine what’s best for them at home” by relying on federal rules, said Lindsay Haake, speaking on behalf of Citizens Action Coalition — a utility customer advocate group. The change would also block stricter requirements for certain “legacy” generators disposing of toxic coal combustion residuals. House Bill 1623 also lays out standardized fiscal analysis, public comment, expiration, re-adoption and other requirements for agencies to use in making regulations.