Help us say Say NO to Vectren’s Proposed $800,000,000 Gas Plant. That is $800 million or almost a billion dollars. We propose a focus on solar and renewable energy instead.

Vectren, the electric and gas utility company of the Evansville region, has proposed a project that will tie the area’s electrical generation to fossil fuels for generations.  Vectren is retiring all but one of their coal plants but plans to replace them with one massive gas plant at a cost of 800 million dollars.  At the same time, they plan for only insignificant increases in renewables and energy efficiency and so fossil fuels will continue to account for 80% or more of electrical generation through 2050.  Not only is this an environmental offense, but it sets up a possible scenario of ever-escalating rates for the region.

Vectren currently has the highest rates in the state of Indiana primarily because of the bad decision to monopolize around coal and not diversify.  They seemingly are making the same blunder with natural gas assuming that fracked gas will remain unregulated and cheap for the long-term future.  Tri-State Creation Care, the area’s H-IPL affiliate, and other collaborating groups are mobilizing to express our discontent at an important IURC public hearing on whether Vectren can tie the costs of this plant to ratepayer income.  This meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 11 at 6 pm in the University of Southern Indiana’s Performance Center Theatre.  We encourage all to come and help us express a resounding no to this gas plant.