Protecting Our Communities from Recession: Let’s Get Renewable-Ready

We’re all bracing for an economic recession.  That’s what we can expect, and economists say there’s a 70% chance of a downturn.

Hoosiers should guard against challenging times by making it easier for counties to diversify their economy with renewable energy. We can support a vibrant homegrown energy economy that benefits all Hoosiers – but only if we citizens demand it from our legislators. That’s why we’re calling on Hoosiers to write their legislators now and tell them to fully support Renewable-Ready Zones.

Here’s the background.

The state legislature created an economic tool called a Renewable-Ready Zone in last year’s session. Renewable-Ready Zones offer a voluntary set of standards for renewable energy placement and operation in a county. These zones set criteria, like setbacks and drainage, to be Renewable-Ready.

Yet the legislature left the job unfinished. Renewable energy opponents and NIMBY (Not-In-My-Backyard) activists won a victory when they weakened the Renewable-Ready Zones. legislation. Their victory encourages them to erect local roadblocks to renewable energy that can stop or slow Indiana’s economic growth, even as we stare down the barrel of a recession.

Those shouting “not in my backyard” are saying to economic growth and opportunity, “not in my community, not for my neighbors, not for our children and grandchildren.”

Every state wants these renewable energy projects – billions of dollars of investment are on the line. And we have the opportunity here in Indiana to gain an advantage on our neighbors. Hoosiers should tell their legislators to finish what they started – restore the financial benefits for counties ready to strengthen their local economies by becoming Renewable-Ready.

There are several reasons.

Renewable energy is an investment in saving our rural way of life. The Indy Star reported that, “…solar and wind projects can bring a much-needed boost in the tax base of some rural counties, providing several millions in property taxes to local governments. It can also provide struggling farmers an income source, if they choose to lease their property for development.”

Restricting renewable energy development restricts Indiana’s future.

Local employers want renewables. Companies like Cummins, Salesforce, and Roche, want utilities to provide more options to access clean power. A Renewable-Ready Zone is one more tool to make this a reality. Renewable energy is not just clean, but most importantly for these employers, it’s the most affordable source of energy available today.

An important point – this power is made and used locally – employing Hoosiers along the entire value chain.

Manufacturers require renewables. Do you want more jobs for Hoosiers? Manufacturers are looking for new places to locate in the US. Bloomberg reported a survey of 305 executives at manufacturing and transportation firms, 62% have started reshoring or near shoring production capacities, 350,000 jobs just in 2022. Indiana has been benefactor of some of that, but there’s much more to come.

We can continue to entice sustainable smart growth if the state provides monetary muscle to support its renewable-ready criteria. We all benefit because adding clean power sparks the economy, enables more manufacturing, more agriculture, and supports local business. These are Hoosier values.

As we start 2023 – after a pandemic, supply chain failures, an unsettled business environment, and staring down a potential recession – Indiana has the tools to beat the odds.

We just need our legislature to act. Speak up, contact your state representatives and senators. Tell them you want state financial support for Renewable-Ready Zones; you want your household to benefit from sensible support for Indiana’s economic future.