The global electric utility AES announced it will go coal free by 2025. But does that mean AES Indiana will fully close its Petersburg coal plant by then? It's hard to say.

The author of the bill, Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport) said banks in favor of clean energy are "discriminating against" Indiana businesses by choosing not to lend to or invest in coal, oil, and natural gas companies.

When Congress failed to pass the Build Back Better Act before the end of last year, it neglected to extend an excise tax on coal sold in the U.S. — which is the main source of revenue for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund.

The EPA is denying requests by three Midwest power plants to extend operations of leaking or otherwise dangerous coal ash storage ponds. EPA says plants in Indiana, Ohio and Iowa will have to close coal ash ponds months or years ahead of schedule.

The incident occurred late Friday at the Sunrise mine in Oaktown in Knox County, near the border with Illinois.

The northern Indiana utility NIPSCO has refined its long-term plans to be mostly powered by renewable energy in the next 20 years.

Among other things, the coalition wants Duke Energy to retire its Gibson coal plant by 2030, stop burning coal at its Edwardsport plant and replace that energy through renewables and energy efficiency.

Coal production dropped by nearly 37 percent last year -- more than any of the other top coal mining states.

The group plans to hold a series of town hall meetings between Biden officials and the top coal communities, which include areas in Indiana, Illinois, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.

Much like refinancing a home, securitization allows customers to pay off the remaining costs of coal plants over a longer period of time at a lower rate -- which is supposed to lower their energy bills.