The Indiana General Assembly will soon vote on a new bill which would require 20 percent of the state’s energy to come from renewable or energy-efficient sources by 2020. The bill would create thousands of new jobs.

Currently, Indiana relies on coal for 97 percent of its electric supply, according to state senator Sue Errington (D- Muncie).

“This is a way to diversify so that when new regulations go into effect, we won’t be so reliant on one type of electricity,” she said.

Known as  the Green Jobs Development Act, the bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Ryan Dvorak (D-South Bend) as well as Errington and another state senator, Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn).

Jesse Karbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environment Council, said “Indiana is the only state in the Midwest without a comprehensive policy on renewable energy and energy efficiency. We’re accordingly losing out on opportunities to attract green businesses, create green jobs.”

Indiana is ranked in the top five for most toxic emissions in the country, he added.

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