City Council votes to relocate Hoosier Energy

The Bloomington City Council reconvened Wednesday for the first time in 2013.

New officers were elected for council positions. Darryl Neher, 2012 district 5 representative, is the 2013 president. Timothy Mayer, 2012 president, is the 2013 parliamentarian. Dorothy Granger, 2012 district 2 representative, is the 2013 vice president.

“2013 will be a challenging year for all of us on the council, so I ask for your support,” Mayer said.

Ordinance 13-01 and Resolution 13-02 were the first items on the agenda for the Committee of the Whole. The passing of the legislation would grant the vacation of right-of-way and tax abatement for the relocation of Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Hoosier Energy is a member-owned wholesale power supplier headquartered in Monroe County. The proposed ordinance called for the vacation of the right-of-way for Tech Boulevard, east of State Road 37 and north of Tapp Road. Hoosier Energy will build its new headquarters in this location.

The proposed project would add a $20 million investment to the city’s tax base on parcels that are already ready for development. It would also bring 116 jobs, according to Hoosier Energy.

Spechler also said the state of Indiana was far too dependent on coal energy and asked how Hoosier Energy could change that.

Hoosier Energy estimated that 60 to 65 percent of their energy comes from coal but said they aim to increase its renewable energy capacity by 90 megawatts by 2015.

“The environmental benefits are good, and these folks have been good Samaritans in the community since my birth,” said Larry Jacobs, member of the chamber of commerce.

Ordinance 13-01 passed with seven votes, and one pass. Councilman David Rollo was not present for voting. Councilman Stephen Volan said he passed because he would not settle for the building’s LEED silver certification.

“Make that building something that you can be proud of, I’m asking for gold and will withhold my vote,” Volan said.  

Resolution 13-02 also passed with seven votes.

The project would cost an estimated $27 million investment. The target move-in date for Hoosier Energy is Dec. 1, 2014.  

Anu Kumar