Burton celebrates passing of SB 178 and opportunity for relief from expensive utility bills

Today, March 24, Senate Bill (SB) 178 passed out of the House and heads to the governor's desk for final approval. SB 178 would recognize natural gas and propane as clean energy sources in Indiana.

State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) released the following statement on the bill’s passage:

“For the past decade, Democrats and Republicans alike have been frustrated with the energy costs in Southwest Indiana and Evansville. We have consistently paid the most expensive utility bills in Indiana, leading some community members to move to neighboring states in the Tristate area – unable to afford the cost of living.

“To be clear, since my swearing-in, my goal in the Statehouse has been to reduce the costs of energy utility bills for Hoosiers by any means necessary. SB 178 creates a pathway of possibility that I’m proud to co-sponsor and support by adding natural gas and propane to the list of clean energy resources. This new policy change may lead to our communities in Southwest Indiana accessing grants and subsidies that ultimately reduce our monthly energy bills. 

"While some may question this policy, this piece of legislation is the first this session to offer a clear path to relief for overburdened Hoosiers. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the legislature, the Braun Administration, and the federal government to address unreasonable consumer utility costs.”