AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Power: The U.S. Department of Defense says it will install Indiana’s first advanced nuclear micro modular reactor at Naval Weapons Station Crane, aiming for operation no later than September 2028, promising grid-independent power for critical missions. Offshore Wind Legal Fight: New York Attorney General Letitia James and other states sued the Trump administration over agreements that cancel offshore wind leases and redirect about $1.4 billion toward LNG and other conventional energy, arguing the deals misuse federal funds. Local Data Center Tensions: A St. Joseph County faith-based group, “We Make Indiana,” is calling for a fair share agreement for data centers, citing concerns about impacts on land, water, and electricity, plus how TIF districts distribute benefits. PFAS Research: Indiana’s neighbors are moving on PFAS in agriculture, with Michigan announcing $1.9 million in grants to study PFAS impacts on farms and livestock. Childcare Crunch: Indiana communities are scrambling as childcare voucher support has shrunk; thousands remain on waitlists and providers are cutting back, even as short-term state funding helps only a portion of families. Waste & Recycling: Kosciusko County’s solid waste district reported results from September tire week at KC Recycling, including 124 people bringing 764 tires. Health Innovation: A report highlights fish-skin grafts made from cod for treating severe skin trauma, including potential benefits for Indiana patients with hard-to-heal wounds. Indiana Education: Indianapolis students at H.L. Harshman Middle School use a peer mediation program to defuse conflicts early, aiming to reduce fights and suspensions.

EPA Rollback Watch: The U.S. EPA is proposing to rescind major greenhouse-gas rules for fossil-fuel power plants, a move Indiana advocates warn could weaken public health and climate protections. Energy & Reliability: Separate reporting highlights Indiana’s energy push, including plans for a microreactor at Naval Weapons Station Crane in southern Indiana. Weather & Farms: A sharp Midwest rain-and-south-drought pattern is raising concerns for crop stalk and root health, with Indiana among areas seeing heavy totals. PFAS & Health Justice: A new Environmental Scholars Program application spotlights environmental health and justice, including PFAS in drinking water and its health impacts on underserved communities. Local Water Safety: Bloomington Utilities lifted a precautionary boil-water advisory for Monroe County. School Safety Funding: Madison County schools received over $475,000 through Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant program. Data Centers, Local Concerns: A Northwest Indiana Forum explainer addresses myths vs. facts about an Amazon Web Services data center near NIPSCO’s Schahfer plant, focusing on water, costs, traffic, and emergency services. Wildlife/Preparedness: A discussion piece argues lockdown drills should be clearly distinguished from active shooter simulations to protect children’s emotional well-being. Community Resilience: North St. Louis tornado survivors plan a Washington, D.C. funding push to address ongoing disaster recovery gaps.

School Safety Funding: Madison County schools received $475,000+ from Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant Program, with multiple districts and schools in the county getting matching funds for security upgrades. County Budgeting: Hamilton County Council wrapped hearings on its proposed 2027 budget, focusing on staffing needs tied to new courts and a Public Safety Center opening next year. Data Center Air Pollution: Google is seeking another Fort Wayne air-permit change to add 228 emergency diesel generators, raising questions about particulate limits and wetland mitigation tied to the project’s expansion. Power Reliability vs. Retirements: The U.S. DOE renewed emergency orders keeping NIPSCO’s R.M. Schahfer plant running through Dec. 18, extending a dispute over costs and reliability. Flooded Harvest Outlook: Heavy “ring of fire” rain patterns are stalling parts of the Corn Belt, with northeast Indiana among areas seeing record-wet September conditions. Energy Policy Debate: Indiana lawmakers and advocates continue clashing over “all-of-the-above” energy plans, coal retirements, and federal pollution rollbacks. Local Infrastructure: Lane and ramp closures are scheduled along I-65 in Lake County for bridge and concrete repairs, with overnight detours affecting drivers.

NOAA Outlook: Indiana is leaning warmer-than-normal for fall (Oct–Dec), with precipitation more mixed and a weaker tilt toward below-average totals in parts of the Great Lakes region as El Niño strengthens. Outdoor Access & Conservation: Indiana DNR is encouraging Hoosiers to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 26, highlighting free fishing opportunities and youth deer hunting milestones while noting license revenue supports habitat and public access. Data Center Transparency Fight: A new report finds some Indiana communities signed nondisclosure agreements tied to AI data center deals, including Morgan County and New Carlisle, raising concerns about secrecy and local control. Local Water Safety: Bloomington Utilities issued a precautionary boil water advisory for Monroe County. Flood Aftercare: A counseling center is offering free support after mid-August floods in Indiana. Wildlife Health Watch: After white-nose syndrome decimated Indiana bats, the Indiana bat is showing a hopeful increase. Severe Weather Tools: New technology aims to improve flash flood warnings using satellite data. Energy & Grid Pressure: Experts warn federal energy regulatory actions could affect Northwest Indiana, as grid reliability and demand pressures grow.

Indiana Water Safety: Bloomington Utilities issued a precautionary boil water advisory for Monroe County after storm-related power outages lowered production at the Monroe Water Treatment Plant and turbidity rose above the state threshold. Federal Climate Policy: A report highlights EPA moves to repeal major greenhouse gas requirements for power plants, raising concerns about public health and the federal government’s ability to address climate pollution. Energy & Grid Watch: Coverage also points to federal energy regulatory actions that could affect Northwest Indiana, as well as broader grid reliability debates tied to power generation and data-center growth. Wildlife & Conservation: Indiana-linked conservation news includes a hopeful update on the Indiana bat after recovery from white-nose syndrome, plus a nomination for the Indianapolis Prize for a cheetah conservationist working on human-wildlife conflict. Local Environment Notes: Indiana Dunes visitors and park-related updates round out the week, alongside ongoing community responses to flooding impacts and storm debris.

Water Safety: Bloomington Utilities issued a precautionary boil water advisory for Monroe County after turbidity exceeded drinking-water standards, tied to storm-related power outages that lowered production at the Monroe Water Treatment Plant. Energy & Grid: Indiana Michigan Power unveiled plans for a proposed 765-kilovolt transmission line that could run through multiple northeast Indiana counties, with open houses and route options still under study. Data Centers & Local Control: Michigan City’s proposed data center moratorium was tabled by the council, frustrating residents and environmental groups worried it could “open the floodgates” to development. Workforce & Health Care: Gov. Mike Braun announced Power Up Indiana, employer-led training to move workers into higher-paying health care roles, including nursing and imaging pathways. Wildlife Conservation: The Indianapolis Prize nominated Namibia conservationist Dr. Laurie Marker for decades of cheetah protection and human-wildlife conflict reduction. Flood Recovery Support: CTS Counseling Center will offer up to five free counseling sessions for Indiana residents affected by historic central Indiana floods.

Workforce & Health Care: Gov. Mike Braun’s Power Up Indiana backs employer-led training to move workers into higher-paying health care roles, with Deaconess Health System expanding credential pathways for nursing, imaging, lab tech and more. Flood Recovery Support: A Carmel-area counseling center at Christian Theological Seminary will offer up to five free sessions for Hoosiers impacted by historic central Indiana floods, including telehealth options. Energy Infrastructure: Indiana Michigan Power unveiled plans for a proposed 765-kilovolt transmission line study that could run through Allen, DeKalb, Noble, Steuben and Whitley counties, with routes to be set by year’s end. Data Center Pressure: Michigan City’s council tabled a proposed data center moratorium, delaying permit and tax-abatement pauses and drawing frustration from residents and environmental groups. Wildlife & Conservation: After white-nose syndrome devastated bat populations, Indiana bat numbers show slow recovery in 2026, with local research and DNR involvement credited for progress. Public Lands & Accessibility: Indiana Dunes National Park welcomed a legally blind visitor and her guide dog, highlighting access and outdoor inclusion. Solar Trend: A new report finds Trump-voting states—including Indiana—are leading solar buildout despite earlier GOP opposition.

Flood & Mental Health: A Carmel-area counseling center is offering up to five free sessions statewide for people and families still reeling from Indiana’s historic central Indiana floods, with in-person or telehealth options. Energy & Pollution Costs: A Hoosier Environmental Council-linked op-ed argues Indiana’s push to keep coal and expand gas to serve AI data centers could mean more coal ash, more flood-prone contamination risk, and higher long-term bills for residents. Solar Boom in Red States: A new report says states that voted for Trump are driving most of the nation’s solar growth, with Indiana named among the leading builders. Hoosier National Forest Halt: A federal judge stopped a logging, burning, and herbicide plan in the Hoosier National Forest tied to drinking-water concerns, ordering the Forest Service to pause major work. Bats Recovery Update: After years of white-nose syndrome devastation, Indiana bats show signs of slow recovery in 2026, thanks to long-term research and response efforts. Disaster Funding: Indiana’s Bond Bank launched the RAPID program to speed money for public infrastructure repairs after storms and floods. Local Cleanup Scale: Northwest Indiana officials report massive derecho debris piles and multi-million-dollar cleanup needs.

Hoosier Water Protection: A federal judge halted a long-running logging, burning and herbicide plan in the Hoosier National Forest that threatened Bloomington’s drinking-water supply, ordering the Forest Service to stop clearcutting and related work across the affected land. Storm Recovery: Northwest Indiana communities are still digging out after the Aug. 11 derecho, with Portage alone estimating 500,000 cubic yards of tree debris and Porter County projecting millions in cleanup and repair costs. Disaster Funding: The Indiana Bond Bank launched the RAPID program to speed money to communities for emergency infrastructure repairs, debris removal, and related costs after storms and floods. Flood-Alert Tech: A new machine-learning system using satellite data is set to improve flash flood warnings, aiming to get alerts out sooner for places like Indiana that have seen fast, dangerous flooding. State Forests & Wildlife: Indiana DNR will host an open house Oct. 1 on managing Morgan-Monroe and nearby state forests, with a guided hike and Q&A on long-term forest health and wildlife habitat. Local Safety Planning: Bloomington is starting a Safe Routes to School planning process with surveys and public meetings to improve school transportation safety and accessibility. Energy & Air Quality: An Exxon Mobil refinery in Joliet remains offline after flood-related problems, raising the risk of continued Midwest fuel price pressure.

Hoosier National Forest Fight: A federal judge ordered the U.S. Forest Service to stop clearcutting, logging, burning, and herbicide use in part of the Hoosier National Forest under the Houston South project, after years of lawsuits tied to concerns about impacts on Lake Monroe drinking water. Coal Ash Oversight: The EPA proposed letting Indiana’s environmental agency run what would be the nation’s largest coal-ash permitting program, but critics warn a new Indiana law could limit how protective state rules can be if federal standards get weakened. Water & Dams: A separate dispute near Cedar Lake is shifting from unpermitted dams to who can withdraw water from streams feeding the lake, after an Oklahoma board approved a dam safety settlement and opened the door to stream-permit challenges. Storm Aftermath in Gary: More than a month after a historic NIPSCO outage tied to an Aug. 11 derecho, families in Gary say they’re still waiting for full relief and worry about future failures. Local Privacy & Surveillance: Bloomington City Council advanced zoning changes for housing affordability and introduced an ordinance to ban automated license plate readers and related surveillance data sharing. Grid & Data Centers: A report warns the PJM electricity grid could fall short of demand multiple times per decade as data centers expand, raising the risk of prolonged reliability problems.

SNAP Storm Relief: Indiana got federal approval for an Automated Mass Replacement waiver so eligible SNAP recipients in affected ZIP codes can see replacement benefits added to EBT cards around Sept. 26, with no paperwork required. Local Housing & Privacy: Bloomington City Council passed zoning changes for housing affordability and introduced an ordinance to ban the city from using automated license plate readers and sharing that data with third parties. School Safety Funding: Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant Program continues to send money to local districts, including Jay County ($110,000+), Hamilton County (nearly $1M), and Hancock County ($300,000+), aimed at upgrades, training, and safety tech. Wildlife Watch: Confirmed mountain lion sightings in Illinois’ Union and Jackson counties near Shawnee National Forest highlight rare cross-state wildlife movement. Energy & Climate Policy: Coverage also flags Indiana’s coal ash permitting and EPA actions, plus broader Great Lakes conservation funding momentum. Community & Animals: Indy Neighborhood Cats launched a silent auction to fund spay/neuter and rescue care for community cats.

Indiana Energy & Nuclear: The U.S. Department of Defense says Indiana’s first advanced nuclear micro modular reactor will be installed at Naval Weapons Station Crane by September 2028, aiming to provide reliable power for critical missions. Rural Health Funding: Indiana is set to receive $120 million in federal support to expand rural health care, including primary care, behavioral health, maternal and infant services, mobile clinics, and workforce training. Coal Ash Regulation: The EPA is moving forward with approval of Indiana’s coal combustion residual program, a step that could shift how coal ash permits are handled in the state. Data Centers & Local Impacts: St. Joseph County council candidates are centering data center development, with multiple candidates calling for limits or a pause over concerns about long-term effects on quality of life. Wetlands Education: Kosciusko County homeschool families can join Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams “Wacky Wetlands” days in October, with hands-on activities focused on wetlands and watersheds. Wildlife & Water Quality: Indiana’s neighbors are seeing wildlife die-offs tied to suspected botulism in Chicago-area harbor waters, underscoring how quickly water conditions can affect birds. Community Food Security: Community Harvest Food Bank’s Harvest for Hope fundraiser raised nearly $200,000 to support hunger-relief programs across northeast Indiana. Environmental Compliance Notice: Blue Star Redi Mix filed an NOI with IDEM to discharge stormwater from its Pendleton facility to Thorpe Creek under Indiana’s stormwater rules.

Coal Ash & Energy Policy: Indiana’s coal ash permitting push is moving through federal channels, with EPA approval steps and state efforts to take over regulation—while Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is celebrating a court ruling that blocks Trump’s order to keep coal plants running longer, arguing it would raise bills. Water & River Response: The U.S. Coast Guard led a large emergency drill on the Ohio River with Indiana and Kentucky responders, practicing vessel boarding, oil-spill response, and multi-agency coordination. Pollution Incident: Indiana regulators reported a hog manure spill in Rush County after a leak in a farm pit sent manure into Conns Creek and Mud Creek. Data Centers & Wetlands: Indiana’s environmental agency approved another data center request involving wetland filling, as the broader debate over growth, water impacts, and transparency continues. Climate Outlook: IU researchers say a strong Super El Niño could mean a relatively dry winter for Indiana, though impacts are uncertain amid rapid climate change. Public Lands Day: Indiana DNR is inviting Hoosiers to National Public Lands Day events statewide on Sept. 26, with volunteer trash pickup and habitat-focused activities.

Coal Ash Oversight in Indiana: The EPA says it’s moving toward proposed federal approval of Indiana’s state-led coal combustion residuals (coal ash) permit program, a shift that would let IDEM run permitting for legacy sites with design, groundwater monitoring, closure, recordkeeping, and financial assurance—framed by officials as stronger, more locally guided safeguards. Wetlands Under Pressure: A letter urges Hoosiers to comment against a proposed federal move that would strip protections from most wetlands nationwide, warning that wetlands help filter drinking water, protect wildlife, and reduce flooding. Data Centers vs. Wetlands: An opinion piece flags rapid growth of hyperscale data centers in Indiana and argues wetlands are being destroyed for energy- and water-intensive facilities, with concerns about transparency and incentives. Local Conservation Events: Fort Wayne’s “Conservation Conversation” focuses on greening watersheds and greenspace protection, tying community discussion to river and tree-loss concerns. Agriculture Grant: Northwest Indiana farmer Daniel Perkins received an NCR-SARE grant to test soil steaming and compost for weed control across small farms, supporting on-farm research tied to sustainable practices.

Coal Ash Oversight Shift: The EPA is moving forward with approval of Indiana’s state-led coal ash permitting program, with a 60-day public comment period and a Nov. 12 hearing—transferring day-to-day authority to IDEM while keeping federal standards in place. Local Energy & Jobs: A study says a hypothetical $10 billion, 1-gigawatt data center campus in Northwest Indiana could support about 2,986 jobs annually (mostly in local trades and services), even as communities debate power and environmental impacts. Wetlands Under Review: IDEM approved a Google data center permit in Fort Wayne to fill 2.13 acres of protected wetlands, requiring mitigation and protections for endangered and threatened bats. Waterfront Development Pressure: Indiana threatens to pull millions from the stalled $1B Jeffboat riverfront project in Jeffersonville unless developers show real progress by mid-November. Public Safety & Water Systems: Indiana American Water opened a $2.2 million Gary training center to strengthen field and safety skills, including fire hydrant readiness. Spill Response: Jasper County identified the driver in a soybean/cooking oil spill and says cleanup is complete after roadway hazards were addressed. Wildlife & Habitat: A Barber Creek Wildlife Area feature highlights wetlands, prairie management, and hunting/fishing access in Indiana’s region.

Renewables & Property Values: A Ball State study finds Indiana homeowners near large wind and utility-scale solar projects saw no statistically significant drop in value, using Indiana sales data from 2004–2024 and comparisons before/after projects began operating. Water & Invasive Species: The U.S. Army Corps says it will resume work on the Brandon Road Lock and Dam as invasive carp encroach on the Illinois River, after a stop-work order and new findings of small silver carp upstream of prior monitoring. Nuclear Resilience in Indiana: The Navy plans to install an advanced shore-based nuclear microreactor at Naval Weapons Station Crane, aiming for deployment by September 2028 to keep critical operations running if the grid fails. Soil Health for Farmers: Indiana’s State Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for a no-cost Mississippi River Basin Soil Sampling Program to support nutrient management and reduce nutrient loss. Heat & Health: Purdue researchers and global health reporting underscore the stakes of extreme heat, with NOAA noting 2026 as the hottest U.S. summer on record and the WHO warning Western Europe’s deadly heat was a “dress rehearsal.” Wildlife & Community Safety: Evansville residents are urged to watch for a coyote after multiple sightings near Boeke Road and Pollack Avenue, with officials monitoring for next steps. Local Climate/Environment Capacity: Purdue Extension and livestock groups host a hands-on “Stockmanship with Curt Pate” event that also addresses sustainability impacts of better animal handling.