Senate utilities committee advances HB 1007 on expedited energy projects, defeats low‑income assistance amendment

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Senate Utilities Committee advanced House Bill 1007 on a party‑line 8‑3 vote to recommit the measure to the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee, after more than two hours of testimony on proposals to speed approval of large electric generation projects, offer incentives for small modular nuclear reactors and impose stricter reviews before retiring coal plants.

The bill’s author, Representative Todd Solliday, told the committee the measure creates a multi‑part framework: an incentive and limited cost‑recovery mechanism for small modular reactors (SMRs), a 20 percent tax credit for in‑state SMR manufacturing, expedited review tracks for “large‑load” customers, and a process requiring the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to find that a planned plant retirement is cost‑effective and does not reduce overall grid availability. "What Quip does allow them to pay as they go and recover the cost," Solliday said of the construction‑phase cost recovery mechanism, and he described safeguards that would limit utility recovery if a project fails: "Now what happens if the project fails? ... they can only recover under the bill 80%. The last 20% they have to get in a rate case."

Why it matters: Committee members and witnesses framed the bill around two competing priorities — rapidly growing electric demand from large industrial and data‑center customers, and protecting existing ratepayers from paying for speculative projects. Supporters said the bill positions Indiana to win economic development and respond quickly to large customers; opponents said it shifts excessive financial risk onto residential and small‑business customers and moves prematurely toward unproven reactor technology.

Key provisions and protections

- SMR cost recovery and oversight: The bill…