WASHINGTON, DC — Global warming legislation that mandates a huge reduction in carbon dioxide emissions would hit Indiana’s economy harder than any other state, according to an analysis by The Heritage Foundation.

The Waxman-Markey bill currently under consideration in Congress seeks to cut emissions from fossil fuels by 83 percent. To do so, it would create a cap-and-trade system that would raise energy prices dramatically. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would cost the typical American household an extra $1,600 annually within a decade.

Indiana emerged as the state most at risk from cap-and-trade. Its large manufacturing sector accounts for nearly 20 percent of all employment.

But energy-intensive businesses – such as manufacturers – would pay a far greater price. And those manufacturers most dependent on coal-generated power would be the most severely crippled.

To determine which areas of the country would be hit hardest, Heritage researchers devised a simple “Manufacturing Vulnerability Index” that reflects both the degree to which regional employment is concentrated in manufacturing and the degree to which it is dependent on coal-generated energy. The greater a region’s reliance on manufacturing and coal, the more vulnerable it would be to severe job loss resulting from the proposed $1.9 trillion cap-and-trade plan.

Indiana emerged as the state most at risk from cap-and-trade. Its large manufacturing sector – more than 600,000 jobs accounting for nearly 20 percent of all employment – combined with a heavy reliance on coal (94 percent of all energy) put it at the top of the national Manufacturing Vulnerability Index. Its MVI rating was 28 percent higher than runner-up Ohio and more than three-and-a-half times that of the median rating.

Five of the 10 most vulnerable congressional districts are located in Indiana as well. The 3rd District (represented by Mark Souder-R), topped the national rankings, followed closely by the 2nd District (Joe Donnelly-D). Indiana’s 6th (Mike Pence-R) and 9th (Baron Hill-D) districts finished in the fifth and sixth spots, respectively, and the 8th District (Brad Elsworth-10) ranked tenth.

“The best that can be said of cap-and-trade regimes is that they spread the pain in a bi-partisan fashion,” said Heritage energy economist David Kreutzer. “But they don’t spread it evenly. Indiana will pay a much higher price, in terms of lost jobs and higher energy costs, than the rest of the country if Congress adopts this approach to environmental improvement.”

Heritage expects to complete a more detailed economic analysis of the Waxman-Markey bill within a week. And Kreutzer predicts the job loss numbers “won’t be pretty.”

A Heritage analysis of last year’s Lieberman-Warner cap-and-trade bill estimated it would lead to nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs lost by the year 2029. And, Kreutzer noted, that bill was far less stringent than Waxman-Markey.

“The CO2 reductions envisioned in Lieberman-Warner would have destroyed more than half the jobs in some manufacturing sub-sectors like machinery manufacturing and those that make plastic and rubber products,” Kreutzer noted. “Under this year’s bill, things would only get worse.”

The Heritage Foundation is a non-partisan think tank based in Washington, DC.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -– Indiana American Water today filed an application with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) requesting a $9.43 per month increase in rates for a typical residential customer.

Indiana American Water’s ongoing infrastructure investments, rising expenses related to water treatment and delivery systems, and increased operating costs are the main drivers behind today’s rate request.

The company’s request would increase the typical monthly residential water bill in the West Lafayette District, using 6,000 gallons per month, by 31 cents per day, keeping the costs of water service for most local households at about a penny per gallon.

The company will have invested approximately $198 million statewide to enhance its water infrastructure between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009. All these investments in local water infrastructure systems enhance water quality, service reliability and fire protection for customers.

Many communities across the country are facing a challenge of deteriorating water and wastewater infrastructure and associated rate hikes. The United States EPA says the nation’s water and wastewater utilities will need to make more than $335 billion in infrastructure investments over the next 20 years to replace thousands of miles of pipe and for upgrades to treatment plants, storage tanks and other assets to ensure public health.

Indiana American Water’s strategy is to make prudent infrastructure investments, which is more cost-effective in the long run and reduces the risk of major service and water quality issues. Much of this rate request is driven by Indiana American Water’s investments to maintain and upgrade infrastructure and ensure that drinking water service meets all quality standards.

According to West Lafayette Operations Superintendent Chris Johnsen, Indiana American Water has invested nearly $38 million in the West Lafayette District’s local infrastructure during the last 2 ½ years. The local capital improvements are numerous and include investing nearly $35 million to greatly enhance water quality by removing iron and manganese through new treatment processes at the district’s new and existing facilities. The project includes construction of a new treatment facility at Davis Ferry Road and 9th Street and adding filtration and upgrading the existing Happy Hollow treatment facility. Other investments include nearly $1.7 million to replace or relocate water mains, nearly $1 million to install new meters and service lines, as well as improvements to water pumping and storage facilities.

No rates will change until the IURC completes a comprehensive review of the request and determines it is reasonable and justified. The regulatory process normally takes about a year to complete. If approved as requested, the typical residential bill would increase by 42.55 percent. The company last filed for new rates in December 2006 and received an order from the IURC on October 10, 2007.

Indiana American Water’s rates are based on the true costs of providing water service, as reviewed by the IURC. The company works hard to operate efficiently and control operating expenses. The company’s goal is to balance that objective with the continuous need for significant capital investment to meet increasing state and federal requirements and customer needs.

Many expenses to provide water service, most notably production expenses such as chemicals used in the water treatment process, have far out-paced the rate of inflation.

Following today’s filing, a comprehensive review process by the IURC is the next step in the rate-making process. Public hearings and opportunities for public comment are part of the process, under the direction of the IURC.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Commencement exercises for Ivy Tech Community College in Lafayette will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 2:00 pm in Elliott Hall of Music on Purdue University’s campus. Guests of graduates may arrive one hour prior to the ceremony.

From the Lafayette region, Ivy Tech will graduate 724 students who have earned an associate of applied science degree, associate of science degree, associate of arts degree, technical certificate, and/or certificate. Participating in the ceremony will be 327 students.

The ceremony will include a message from the president of Ivy Tech Community College, Thomas Snyder, and a commencement address by Connie Neininger, Executive Director for White County Economic Development.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly-accredited statewide community college system with more than 120,000 students enrolled annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Local artist Sunny Miller will be in residence through the end of April with Purdue University’s Child Development Lab School and during May with the Ben & Maxine Miller Child Learning Center.

The theme of “families are special – see how special?” will be explored using the creative arts during the monthlong project.

Local artist Sunny Miller will be in residence through the end of April with Purdue University's Child Development Lab School and during May with the Ben & Maxine Miller Child Learning Center.

Jim Elicker, associate professor in child development and family studies and director of early childhood programs, said there are four goals behind the program:

• Provide creative opportunities for all children to express ideas and feelings about their families;
• Inspire and educate the early childhood teachers;
• Build community and sense of shared mission with and in support of families, in all their forms;
• Produce children’s art for public exhibition;

Miller has worked as a muralist, portrait artist, ceramics teacher, carpenter, gallery coordinator and teacher at the Hershey Elementary School in Lafayette, at the Lafayette Museum of Art and at Dance New England Summer Camp.

A Purdue graduate, Miller also taught for eight years at the Lafayette Art Center and Greater Lafayette Museum of Art. She specializes in large murals, which she has done for several major hotels in Boston, including the Copley Square Hotel, the Park Plaza Hotel and the Copley Plaza Hotel. She is working on a mural on North Ninth Street in Lafayette.

The Child Development Laboratory School offers morning or afternoon preschool classes during the academic year for children ages 2 to 5. A six-week summer morning program also is offered. Each classroom is staffed by professional head teachers with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in child development or early childhood education and extensive experience teaching young children. The program, established in 1926, was the first nursery school in Indiana.

The Ben & Maxine Miller Child Learning Center serves families with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Infant or toddler and preschool classes operate year-round. Classrooms are staffed by professional head teachers who have bachelor’s or master’s degrees in child development or early childhood education and extensive experience teaching young children. The program was founded in 1983.

The artist residency at the Purdue preschools is supported by grants from Chase Bank through the Tippecanoe Arts Federation and by the Florence and Richard Kerckhoff Fund at Purdue University.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fifteen Lafayette-area string musicians, including four who are home-schooled, are winners of this year’s McPherson String Scholarships to advance their musical training, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra announced Tuesday (April 28).

The 2009 McPherson Scholarship recipients are Daniel Choi, Agustina de la Fuente, Joseph Frank, Mark Timmerman, Amy He and Bryce Wang of West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School; Kaleb Emery, Adrian Escobar, LeAnn Hackerd, and Dillon Miller of Frankfort Middle School; Kayla Newcomb of Central Catholic Jr./Sr. High in Lafayette; and Nathan Davis, Christina Doerr, Clara Loisch and Gabriella Loisch, who are home-schooled.

The Lafayette Symphony Orchestra announces the 2009 class of McPherson String Scholarship winners

Winners receive $300 each through the Dr. and Mrs. Richard C. McPherson String Instrument Scholarship Fund. This year, 54 scholarship applications were submitted. The Greater Lafayette Community Foundation distributes the annual scholarships on behalf of the Lafayette Symphony.

Ken Bootsma, executive director of the LSO, said the McPherson scholarships are designed to encourage interest in string instruments such as the violin, viola, bass or cello among the many young musicians in local and regional communities.

“The $300 individual awards, made possible for the 12th straight year through the generosity of the McPherson family, can be extremely helpful, especially during these tough economic times, for private lessons or music camps to foster a love for music for all ages,” Bootsma said.

Musicians who were nominated by local and area music instructors were asked to submit an application along with a 100- to 300-word essay about how the scholarship would help them advance their musical interests. An ad hoc committee of three LSO musicians recommended the 15 recipients to the LSO’s Education Committee for final approval.

“The McPherson scholarship program pays particular attention to those students whose interest in string playing proficiency is limited by financial constraints,” said LSO musical director Nicholas Palmer. “It also is a key part of the LSO’s outreach mission into our local and regional communities and to help these young musicians and their families grow their love of performance.”

The program was created in 1998 by the McPhersons in honor of their children, Gregg A. McPherson and Kimberly McPherson, to encourage and stimulate interest in string-playing proficiency.

Applicants for yearly scholarships must be enrolled in school in grades 7-12, which includes the summer following the 12th grade. They must be permanent residents of Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Warren and White counties.

The deadline for the 2010 McPherson scholarships is mid-February. Application forms can be picked up at the LSO offices on the second floor of the Long Center for Performing Arts, 111 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, IN, 47901. Prior scholarship applicants are eligible to reapply, and recipients from the last three years are not eligible to reapply.

Launched in 1950 as a nonprofit organization, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra is focused on enriching the cultural life of the Lafayette-West Lafayette community, which includes Purdue University, and 14 surrounding counties through excellence in orchestral music and educational experience.

About 80 percent of the Lafayette Symphony’s patrons live in Lafayette, West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County, while the remainder resides in the surrounding counties of Benton, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tipton, Warren and White.