Questions about education, employment and industry are center stage in the Indiana gubernatorial race.
But the future of the state’s land, water and air are equally important to Hoosiers.
Here's a look at the gubernatorial candidates' views on environmental policy, based on questions posed to them.
Democratic candidate John Gregg sat down for an interview with CNHI News Service. Though multiple attempts were made to meet with Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb, he declined. He instead answered questions through emails sent by his communications director, Pete Seat. Holcomb is the Republican candidate for governor.
Q. Coal is an incredibly important industry to the state of Indiana, but it is also a large polluter that contributes to climate change. How would you approach policy or regulations concerning coal power plants?
GREGG: “Our challenge in Indiana is that now we see less and less coal being able to be burnt because of EPA regulations. What governors from other coal-dependent states have done is work out plans to lessen the impact and stop a rate shock. ... I do disagree with President Obama and Clinton on their coal policies.”
HOLCOMB: “I will continue to support Indiana’s most abundant and reliable energy sources, while developing an all-of-the-above approach to keeping Hoosier energy costs down. We have begun to diversify our portfolio to add more gas and renewables, which is the prudent thing to do.”
Q. Agriculture is vital to the state’s economy and a means of income for many Hoosier households. How would you approach agricultural regulation or policy?
GREGG: “Most farmers are good stewards of the land. But we have to have common sense regulations. We cannot not have them. And our regulations have common sense and should be geared at getting the bad actors: those people who do pollute, those people who do cause problems. We need to bring both sides together and come up with some plans to move forward.”
HOLCOMB: “I will not waiver in my support of this industry. We hear repeatedly from diverse agricultural businesses that they like Indiana's firm but fair and predictable agricultural regulatory framework. Indiana has found that right balance between proper and appropriate regulation of operations like CFOs (confined feeding operations) and the need to continue to strengthen important sectors of our economy.”
Indiana is regularly cited as one of the most highly-polluting states in the country. How would you work toward changing that?
GREGG: “You have to have a governor who will regularly talk about the environment, something we haven’t had for several years.”
HOLCOMB: “I know we have made great strides in environmental quality and will continue to do so. At the same time, Indiana’s economic strength is in our capacity to make and grow things, a fact that has resulted in record jobs for Hoosiers and has enabled us to reach an economic position on par with the largest and fastest-growing states in the nation. As we continue to grow our economy and attract new jobs, we must continue to clean up pollution of the past and minimize our impact going forward.”
Q. What is your philosophy about measures to protect or promote wildlife and state recreational areas including state parks and reservoirs?
GREGG: “We grossly underfund the Department of Natural Resources (and) we have underfunded our state parks. Because of (Gregg and his running mate Christina Hale's) belief in the wildlife and wilderness, that’s why we have an area (like state parks) and money set aside for green spaces in our Hoosier state inventory bank. All of these are not only areas of recreation, they are income generators.”
HOLCOMB: “As part of the (former Gov. Mitch) Daniels administration, I saw the impact of the largest land acquisition in the state’s modern history. Migratory patterns changed and the varieties of birds visiting the state have increased. I resolutely support continued protection and utilization of our state lands.”
Q. Would you support policy that promotes or requires recycling?
GREGG: “We can create 20,000 new jobs if we just divert 50 percent more into recyclables. Start with educating, talking with the business community and average Hoosiers. We wouldn’t mandate it, because mandates aren’t popular in Indiana. I think one thing we can do is, working with those cities, we need to be working with our local governments, to see how we can help them because they are really on the front lines of the recycling battle."
HOLCOMB: “Not require. We must do a better job as individuals and citizens to understand our choices -- from the packaging of the products we purchase to where our trash goes. I support minimizing waste, maximizing reuse and, where appropriate, recycling. Government can help inform decisions and can support those choices with efficient delivery of service.”
Q. How can Indiana meet growing water needs and assure high water quality for the future?
GREGG: “I think we are going to realize that water is the oil of the future, so we have to have a good idea where our water is, what types of quantity we have and how we are going to keep it safe for drinking. … We need to make sure our cities and towns can treat their sewer overflow and wastewater.”
HOLCOMB: "We know access to quality affordable water is necessary for Hoosiers and for economic development. We are in a much better position than the western or southeastern U.S., but we cannot squander that advantage. As for water quality, much progress is being made in our urban and agricultural sectors. In urban centers, more and more communities are addressing the issue of combined sewer overflow in times of significant rain by adding infrastructure to prevent such overflows."