The Appeal of Renewables in Indiana
Hoosiers for Renewables Executive Director Rachel Conner Interview with
WIMS Radio Host Ric Federighi
Note: The following conversation took place on air on WIMS radio on May 11, 2023. This transcript has been edited for brevity. You can listen to the entire conversation online. Click the audio file below to listen to the full interview.
Ric: Welcome Rachel Conner, executive director with Hoosiers for Renewables, in the studio. Rachel, welcome to the show.
Rachel: Hi, thanks for having me, Ric.
Ric: So, Rachel, obviously a little bit about yourself. You know, you are a farm girl, right?
Rachel: I am, yeah.
Ric: Tell me a little bit about your youth.
Rachel: My family farm, which is still in operation, is in Henry County, just a little bit east of Newcastle. My grandparents are actively involved. My dad and my uncle are doing the day to day. My younger brother is all hands in all the time. I'm just the bookkeeper. I'm the relief milker. When everyone else has gone down from an injury or gotten a head cold, then they will let me, you know, touch equipment and do things with the cattle. I'm not anyone's favorite helper. I'm a little bit clumsy, but I do really love it and enjoy it. And I'm proud to be a fifth generation Hoosier farmer. And I'm hoping that my kids will be the sixth generation.
Hoosiers for Renewables Executive Director in studio at WIMS radio.
Ric: So tell me a little bit, how did you get involved with Hoosiers for Renewables?
Rachel: Prior to this I was with a couple of the state commodity organizations, and this seemed to fit with what I think is the future of farming, not just in Indiana but around the Midwest. We're going to see changes in the global economy and need to see some diversification of income sources for farmers and different ways that they can produce products, such as energy, which they're already doing. About 40% of the corn in the state of Indiana goes to ethanol production. A lot of soybeans go to biodiesel production. We're already doing massive energy production here in the state. And renewable energy is just kind of the next phase of that.
Ric: I love it. Talk about some of the new developments we're here to discuss today here.
Rachel: I go all around the state. We help people who want to see renewable energy come to their community. That may be farmers who want to see income diversification. That may be young moms, kind of like me, who want to see clean energy and environment for their kids. That may be people who want to see economic development come to their community. There are a lot of companies that are demanding clean energy.
Coca-Cola told some of their investors not too long ago -- I'm going to flip to my notes here so I get their quote right:
“As we continue to invest in Indiana, we are hopeful that Indiana utilities can offer more options to purchase our electricity from more sustainable sources of energy like wind and solar.”
If our major employers are asking for it, we need to help.
Ric: Can you give us the skinny on the energy, the wind and solar energy and the benefits to Hoosier communities?
Rachel: One of the reasons that Indiana is a top state for renewable energy is that we have all of the factors that come together to make renewable energy a success. I do sometimes get the question why Indiana? Indiana's got the right topography. We're a fairly flat state. We've got the right climate. We do get a fantastic amount of sun, enough to grow crops and certainly enough to power solar panels. We get enough wind to move those wind turbines. There are now panels that are dual sided so they can absorb light rays that bounce up off the ground, like if you've got snow or, you know, a super bright day, they're absorbing on both sides. How fantastic is that? I love new technology.
Ric: Yep, I agree.
Rachel: And we've got the transmission lines. We have a robust transmission infrastructure here. We are the place where the PJM and MISO service grids come together.
Ric: I know that on your website, it says Hoosiers for Renewables latest statewide survey results showing strong bipartisan support for solar and the clean, reliable and affordable energy can deliver to Indiana.
Rachel: I would say we're seeing bipartisan interest. We're seeing interest across industries. We're seeing massive benefits in the short term. It's a win for Indiana. We've got elected officials who are in support. We've got community leaders and business leaders who are in support. We are primed and ready for this kind of development.
Ric: So if folks want to be a part of the solution and not the problem, how could we as community leaders, parents, grandparents, families, how can we help out? Do you need the voice to back?
Rachel: I do need the voice to back it. We have a lot of people who tell us, I support what you're doing. I want solar energy in my community. I want a clean environment for my kids. But those people tend to not come to public meetings or informational meetings or events. So, I would love to see more folks come out and participate in their communities.
Renewables are such a fantastic opportunity for the health and for the economic future of our youngest Hoosiers. This is really a huge opportunity for farm families that want to have some stability in the decades going forward.
Ric: Thank you Rachel. Safe travels.