Indiana's energy future.

• Position: Brief article

Indiana is a major coal consuming state. In 2008, over half of Indiana's energy came from coal, compared to less than 23 percent for the nation. From 2008 to 2012, U.S. consumption of coal dropped 4.3 percent and natural gas consumption rose 3.3 percent. By 2012, the nation's use of coal stood at 18.3 percent, according to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. (Data for states were not available for 2012.)

This shift is both monumental and rapid. Cheaper natural gas prices due to the supply surge attributed to hydraulic-fracturing of shale and tight gas formations are the forces behind this shift. But more stringent regulations of electricity generation are also responsible.

As a result of these new regulations, one can expect that Indiana power generation fuels will also shift from coal to natural gas. Indeed, Duke Energy and Indianapolis Power and Light have announced closings of coal-fired plants in the state. The closings of non-compliant plants, new plant design and planning, securing...