Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bosma Scuttles Alternative Energy Bill After Backlash

Brandon Smith
/
Indiana Public Broadcasting

House Speaker Brian Bosma Tuesday halted a bill opponents say significantly reduces incentives for Hoosiers to use alternative energy for their homes.

Proposed legislation made changes to the system by which utility companies purchase excess electricity from Hoosiers who produce energy through alternative means, such as solar panels.  Utilities would buy that energy at a lower price, and be able to charge alternative energy users fixed monthly fees for using the energy grid. 

The measure drew outrage from solar technology businesses and energy consumer advocates.  And while the bill cleared a House committee, Speaker Brian Bosma pulled it off the floor calendar. 

He says now isn’t the right time for the measure.

“There were a whole variety of issues that have arisen around it and it just seemed to me to be a little weighty,” Bosma said.

Kerwin Olson represents the Citizens Action Coalition, one of the advocacy groups who spoke out against the bill.  He says he knows an issue isn’t really dead until the session officially ends.

“So we’re going to remain strident and vigilant and keep our watch out for this language,” Olson said.

Both Bosma and Olson say they think a study committee on the topic – a possibility raised in committee – is unnecessary.  

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.