As Indiana manufacturing grows, ‘we clearly don't have enough electricity,' governor warns
Gov. Mike Braun warned that Indiana needs swift solutions for its bevy of water and energy 'challenges' to support the state's expanding manufacturing sector.
The Republican governor gave candid remarks at a fireside chat at the 2025 Indianapolis Investment Forum held Tuesday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
He touted Indiana as 'the biggest manufacturing state in the country' and hoped for the Hoosier State 'to be on the leading edge of the new base load.' Currently, though, 'we clearly don't have enough electricity.'
'Right now, (Indiana has) all kinds of opportunities that straddle AI and technology. We've got the biggest two issues, probably in the state, that have come out of nowhere — the availability of water and electricity,' Braun said. 'Neither one of those was on the horizon. But if you're going to tap into that new technology, you've got to have it.'
Utilities based in Indiana currently produce just 20 gigawatts of electricity, Braun emphasized. A single data center could consume 5% of that total capacity.
Data centers are choosing Indiana. Is the state's electricity supply ready?
Indiana is already home to more than four dozen data centers — powerhouses for the AI boom. Citizens Action Coalition, a utility-focused customer advocacy group, has tracked nearly 30 more energy-demanding facilities that have been proposed across the state.
Part of the issue, Braun said, 'is we're shutting down our coal fleet prematurely.' Had Indiana 'known' earlier that an influx of data centers and other development would create such an energy demand, 'then we wouldn't be in the pickle we're in now — because we were so dependent on (coal).'
'If you don't keep up with it, you're going to pay even more for it,' Braun continued, referring to energy generation. 'You've got to get a little bit out of your comfort zone.'
An ongoing, statewide push seeks to attract various high-tech industries to Indiana. Braun said data centers, in particular, 'want to come here because we're at least one of the 15 states blessed with some water.' Even so, it's a resource that Indiana 'doesn't have in abundance.'
The governor said Indiana's energy future 'will probably be small modular reactors,' or SMRs. State lawmakers, with Braun's support, already adopted new nuclear energy incentives during the 2025 session.
'I see an unbelievable opportunity, if again, we can set the stage,' Braun said about SMR technology, although nuclear developments are likely still a decade away. 'I hope to be the first guy. We're leading a consortium of them to get out on the leading edge.'
And with more manufacturing comes a need for even more STEM-trained workers, Braun added.
The governor said he'll largely judge his administration's achievements by its economic development gains — particularly around workforce development, skills training and attracting young talent for careers in emerging technologies.
'Are we getting more of our own kids to come back to Indiana, to raise a family, and start a business?' Braun asked. 'If we can measure that, and do it well … we would call it a real success.'
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Adams is polling last—here's what he has to say about it
NEW YORK - For weeks, polls have shown that New York City's Mayor Eric Adams isn't what the people want come November, at least so far. What we know A recent Siena poll of registered voters shows that Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani holds a strong lead in the race. Mamdani polls at 44%, while former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, trails at 25%. Republican Curtis Silwa stands at 12%, and Mayor Adams is at 7%. He's also running as an independent. These numbers are unusual considering the fact that in local elections, incumbency typically has positive effects. Big picture view Adams' poor numbers thus far can at least partially be attributed to his favorability ratings. Last year, the Department of Justice charged him with bribery, conspiracy and campaign finance crimes, which has contributed to a sense of distrust between the mayor and his constituents. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul even weighed removing him as mayor earlier this year. Although the case was dropped, his ratings have remained low. Adams appeared as a guest on this week's "Politics Unusual" program, where FOX 5 NY Political Reporter Morgan McKay asked him if he had any plans in the coming weeks to pump up his numbers. What they're saying "My breakout moment is when New Yorkers are going to say, 'I know this guy's record, and I know he's a working-class New Yorker,'" he said, referencing the fact that the city experienced the lowest number of shootings and murders in recorded history back in May as an example. "We're building our foundation, starting our communication," Adams said of a campaign that's already months in. Adams also admitted that he "made a lot of mistakes" during his first two years as mayor. "Yes, I made mistakes. Yes, I trusted people I should not have trusted. Yes, some people had jobs that they should not have had," he said. Additionally, Adams discussed the fact that his former staffer Mohamed Bahi pled guilty last week for his role in a scheme to funnel illegal donations to his campaign in order to get public matching funds—which are taxpayer dollars—and how that's affected his run for reelection as well. "Some people think they're helping the campaign," he said. "They do things that technically they should not have done. I think that they make mistakes, but at no time did we coordinate with anyone that told them to do something inappropriate." Mayor Adams' matching funds Dig deeper Earlier this month, the New York City Campaign Finance Board denied Adams' millions in public matching funds for the tenth time. The board said they denied his campaign for two reasons—the first being his campaign not having submitted the required paperwork, and the second being the fact that the board had reason to believe his campaign previously violated the law. "The board finds the campaign has provided incomplete and misleading information to the CFB and has impeded the CFB staff's ability to complete its investigation," Board Chair Frederick Schaffer said during a board meeting, referencing Adams' denial of funds. "With respect to the second ground, the board's conclusion is based upon its review of all of the available evidence, including, but not limited to, its own independent investigation." Without these funds, Adams' campaign will have an even harder time bouncing back. After all, matching funds incentivize candidates to seek broader support from individual donors instead of solely relying on larger contributions from wealthy donors and special interest groups. In the meantime, Adams isn't giving up. He told POLITICO that he plans to ride out the campaign to the very end to stop frontrunner Mamdani last week. "If there were people running for mayor that I believe would continue the progress of our city, that's an easy call," Adams said. "The people who are running — they are harmful to our city and the progress we've made. And I owe it to New Yorkers to get my story out to them and to run a campaign." The Source The information provided in the article above was sourced from the NYPD, previous FOX 5 NY reporting, the Siena Research Institute, the Justice Department, The New York Times, NPR, THE CITY, and POLITICO. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Are we getting a $5000 DOGE dividend or $600 rebate? Fourth stimulus check eligibility
If you're wondering about a fourth stimulus check in 2025 from President Donald Trump or the IRS, here's what to know about eligibility and the reality of it happening. On July 25, Trump floated the idea of a tariff rebate check for American taxpayers in response to questions about all the new tariff revenue being generated, "We have so much money coming in, we're thinking about a little rebate. But the big thing we want to do is pay down debt. But we're thinking about a rebate." A few days after the president's tariff rebate comments, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley announced the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025 aimed at sending checks to Americans. Note that a few months back, in February, Trump also said he would consider a plan to pay out a portion of the savings identified by the Department of Government Efficiency in the form of a $5000 dividend check as payback to taxpayers. The DOGE dividend proposal, authored by Azoria investment firm CEO James Fishback, was meant to give back or refund taxpayers a savings from Elon Musk's DOGE related cuts and reductions in government spending. Here's what to know about Trump's two proposals this year, what the amounts would be, qualifications and status. Are we getting a fourth stimulus check in 2025? While speculation about a of $2,000 has surfaced on social media and unverified websites, there has been no official confirmation of any additional economic relief package in 2025 from Congress or the IRS to support this claim. Any such news should be taken with caution as it could be misinformation or attempted fraud. Either of Trump's ideas for a tariff rebate or DOGE dividend this year would be similar to a fourth stimulus check, if approved. Albeit, there are differences between a stimulus check versus a dividend, refund or rebate. By definition, a dividend is a distribution of profits by a corporation to its shareholders and refund is a payment made back to a user that previously paid for something. While a rebate is a partial refund of the purchase price that a consumer paid, often upon meeting certain conditions — more like a discount that is refunded after the purchase versus a discount that is applied at the point of sale. A stimulus check on the other hand, is a direct payment to encourage spending and stimulate the economy by putting money directly into the consumers' hand. Also similar to the stimulus checks sent during the pandemic, these proposals would require congressional approval. What is the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025? Hawley's bill, called the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025, would provide a minimum of $600 per adult and dependent child, or $2,400 for a family of four, according to news officials. The benefit would be reduced by 5% for joint filers with an adusted gross income above $150,000 or single filers earning more than $75,000 individually. According to an analysis from the Budget Lab at Yale released July 28, Trump's tariffs could cost U.S. households an average of $2,400 in 2025 through higher prices passed on from companies paying higher tariff taxes. The Treasury Department said on July 25 that the U.S. government posted a $27 billion surplus in June, following a $316 billion deficit in May. Customs duties totaled approximately $27 billion for the month, up from $23 billion in May and 301% higher than in June 2024. On an annual basis, tariff collections have totaled $113 billion, or 86% more than a year ago. The bill would allow for a larger rebate if the tariff revenue exceeds projections. What is the status of the DOGE dividend check proposal? Fishback announced that he was stepping away from the DOGE dividend check movement after Musk lashed out at the president in June, although he also said he would continue working with the administration "to return savings to taxpayers." The latest update on DOGE dividend came from Fishbacks tweet on June 6, "I believed in Elon Musk's vision to shrink government and make it work better for Americans. I'm proud of the DOGE Dividend proposal I developed and will keep working with the administration to return savings to taxpayers." He added, "The truth is that Elon set expectations that he relayed to the President, me, and the country that he did not come close to fulfilling. That's disappointing, but okay." According to Fishback's proposal, the DOGE dividend check was described as tax refund check to be sent to every taxpaying household, funded exclusively with a portion of the total savings delivered by DOGE. The potential refund would be sent only to households that are net-income taxpayers — people who pay more in taxes than they get back — with lower-income Americans not qualifying for the return, according to news reports. The Pew Research Center cites most Americans who have an adjusted gross income of under $40,000 pay effectively no federal income tax. According to the DOGE website, it cites an estimated $205 billion — approximately $1,273 per individual federal taxpayer — in savings and proof in their "Wall of Receipts." Albeit, only half the amount is itemized thus far, raising doubts about accuracy. Amy Gleason is the acting administrator and head of DOGE. Musk's departure from the federal government will likely do little to change DOGE's work carrying out Trump's vision of downsizing the federal government or eliminating the 'fraud and waste.' Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: How to check your stimulus check status? Trump $600 - $2400 rebate Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
California Republicans accuse Newsom of 'sinister redistricting scheme' after Trump mockery
After California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he would move forward with a state redistricting plan – replete with implied mockery of President Donald Trump – California Republicans responded late Thursday. Newsom had declared "liberation day" – an apparent reference to Trump's own moniker for the day he introduced a comprehensive tariff regime – and preceded the announcement with "ALL CAPS" social media posts meant to mock the president's penchant for doing the same on Truth Social. California Republicans were not amused and pushed back on the project that could put an end to their already muted federal representation in America's most populous state. "Californians demand and deserve transparency from their government. Governor Newsom's sinister redistricting scheme is the opposite," the top Republican on the state's Elections Committee said. California's Top Republican Rips Dems Blocking 'Oil Goldmine' After New Trump Project Rebuffs Schiff "There is no public input," lamented state Assemblywoman Alexandra Macedo, R-Tulare, as the state hosts nine Republican federal House lawmakers of the 52 total. The state's last Republican senator was Sen. John Seymour in 1991 – who had been appointed for a brief stint after Sen. Pete Wilson resigned to take the governor's office. Read On The Fox News App Macedo suggested Newsom would go to great lengths just to grab national headlines, no matter what the "will of the voters" is in reality. "Governor Newsom is on a mission to take power away from the California Citizens Redistricting Commission," Macedo said of the panel that typically would help decide decennial mapping. "Governor Newsom's power-grab erodes public trust in our government. Undermining the commission's hard work … is shortsighted and insulting to voters," said Macedo, whose caucus holds 19 of the 60 assembly seats. Mamdani Studies 'America's Worst Mayor' Brandon Johnson To Avoid His Political Pitfalls: Report Newsom, however, defended his decision, saying that Trump "poked the bear" – the animal which also appears on the Golden State's flag – and that California will therefore push back. "DONALD 'TACO' TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, 'MISSED' THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE 'BEAUTIFUL MAPS,' THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!)," Newsom wrote in his Trump-esque post. Trump has supported a "simple redrawing" of the Texas congressional map to represent the state's Republican bent, he said. "We have an opportunity in Texas to pick up five seats. We have a really good governor, and we have good people in Texas. And I won Texas, I got the highest vote in the history of Texas as you probably know. And we are entitled to five more seats," Trump recently said. Sen. Brian Jones, R-San Diego, leader of the upper chamber's minority in Sacramento, directed Fox News Digital to recent comments prior to the official announcement by Newsom. "Californians didn't elect Newsom to play gerrymandering games to boost his presidential campaign, they elected him to solve problems here at home," said Jones, who leads 10 senators compared to the Democrats' 30. "What he's doing now undermines the independent redistricting commission that voters created to stop exactly this kind of political manipulation." He also ripped Democrats after hearing that California Secretary of State Shirley Weber told reporters the legislature would have only a short window to schedule a special election for redistricting to coincide with the November elections. California lawmakers are on summer recess until Monday. The process would have to finish by next Friday; five days. "Once again, Newsom convinced Senate and Assembly Democrats to roll over, ignore voters, rush sham hearings, and violate the California Constitution," Jones said. "Democracy is dead in California, killed by Newsom's corrupt pursuit of the presidency." Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this article source: California Republicans accuse Newsom of 'sinister redistricting scheme' after Trump mockery
