Indiana

Solar belongs on rooftops, not Indiana farmland | Opinion

Published

9 months ago

June 18, 2025

Press Room

Solar belongs on rooftops, not Indiana farmland | Opinion

Solar farms depend on subsidies. It is hard to justify this corporate welfare while the state and federal governments take away similar benefits from homeowners.

While solar farms might not cross your mind as an issue that can decide elections, their development fills town halls in rural Indiana with angry locals. Tippecanoe and Clark counties passed new restrictions on solar farms this month, while more than 70 other counties have temporary bans, for good reason.

“The locations that solar companies want are in the best agricultural grounds in my district,” state Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, told me over the phone. Leising is the chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. “[Some people are] worried about the valuation of their property. Then you have people that are saying, plus, I just don’t want to look at it in my backyard.”

Leising successfully pushed the state to study the loss of prime farmland last year. Indiana has lost 345,000 acres of farmland and over 3,050 farms since 2010. However, the farmland still in use has become more efficient and the state is producing more crops than ever before.

A bigger concern is that commercial-scale solar farms depend on government subsidies and tax abatements. It is hard to justify this corporate welfare while the state and federal governments take away similar benefits from individuals looking to make their homes more self-sufficient. If the state and federal governments are going to invest in solar somewhere, it should be on rooftops, not on Indiana farmland.

The state recently created the ultimate tax abatement for solar farms. Businesses won’t pay any personal property taxes if they have less than $2 million worth of equipment in 2026, and the personal property taxes paid for new equipment can lower to zero as the equipment fully depreciates in value. Some estimates show Indiana solar farms averaged about $50,000 in personal property per acre, meaning they will likely save hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In the same bill, Indiana eliminated a property tax deduction for homeowners whose home values increase after installing solar panels. A study from Zillow showed that homes that installed solar panels increased in value by 4.1%, and the deduction was originally put in place to make sure they weren’t unfairly punished for making their homes more energy efficient.

Not to mention, the state recently eliminated net metering on behalf of energy companies. Rather than receiving full retail rates for excess electricity sent back to the grid, homeowners are now paid at a much lower rate. Meanwhile, new limits on tax credits for solar energy in the federal budget reconciliation bill are predicted to favor large companies that can pass on development costs and make it much harder for homeowners to invest in solar.

Not only do large solar corporations receive unfair advantages at the expense of homeowners, but also they’re getting these benefits despite being less efficient at producing energy.

“Some people say sun is free and wind is free, but they’re not … because there’s a huge transmission cost,” Leising said. “When you site a solar field in the middle of nowhere … then how are you going to get that power to where it needs to go? Right now, we don’t have enough battery storage to store the energy produced when the sun is shining.”

Solar panels on homes, on the other hand, are right next to where most of the energy produced is used.

If there is any benefit to solar energy, it is the possibility of seeing more self-sufficient homes and a more decentralized energy grid, where people aren’t dependent on government-granted monopolies to live their daily lives.

The benefit is almost entirely lost when it becomes another tool in the belts of those monopolies, because there are more efficient, reliable and cleaner forms of energy out there.

Any issue that involves personal property rights is going to be complicated, but when a community’s tax dollars are being stewarded poorly, it should surprise no one to see them mobilize like they have in rural Indiana.

Contact Jacob Stewart at 317-444-4683 or jacob.stewart@indystar.com. Follow him on X and Instagram.

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Indiana

International academy proposes tennis center in Noblesville

Published

3 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

International academy proposes tennis center in Noblesville

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — An international tennis training group wants to open a facility in Noblesville, and the City Council on Tuesday night introduced the proposal.

Mouratoglou Tennis Center hopes to open a new academy at 14469 Olio Road for upcoming and professional athletes in September at the Deer Creek Business Park, located just off I-69 northwest of The Arena at Innovation Mile and east of Ruoff Music Center.

Just before the council meeting, the business and the Hamilton County city’s government announced the proposal in a news release.

News 8 reached out to the city government and the business to find out how much will be spent on the tennis center, and whether any government incentives were to be issued. Those questions are ones that could be asked during a public hearing for the project at 6 p.m. April 20 before the Noblesville Plan Commission.

The Noblesville tennis center would feature six indoor tennis courts, eight padel courts and four indoor futsal pitches, the release said. Construction would scheduled to begin in May, the release said. The facility would hold a soft opening in August, with a full opening expected by September.

Joyceann Yelton with the Noblesville Planning Department told the council that an existing building next to the roundabout at East 146th Street and Olio Road would be refurbished as part of the project.

Patrick Mouratoglou, a coach for more than 25 years, founded the tennis center, with the flagship being in France. Others are in China, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Malaysia and Mexico. In the United States, there are centers in California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts and Texas. Mouratoglou previously coached Serena Williams.

Mouratoglou said in a statement, “Bringing Mouratoglou Tennis Center to Noblesville is an exciting step in our international expansion. What makes this project truly special is the ambition of the city to build a complete sports ecosystem where performance, education and community come together.”

The new academy will join several other major sports and wellness projects in the area: The Arena at Innovation Mile, which serves as the home for the Indiana Pacers G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom; and the future site of the USA Gymnastics Training and Wellness Center and headquarters. Additionally, The Arena was recently selected to host the 2027-2031 Horizon League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.

In July, the Noblesville government announced Gared Performance Sports Systems, a maker of institutional-grade sports equipment, would be coming to the 45-acre Deer Creek Business Park by August.

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Indiana

Indianapolis police investigate shooting near downtown canal

Published

15 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Indianapolis police investigate shooting near downtown canal

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — One person was taken to the hospital Monday night after a shooting near the canal in downtown Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded just before 8 p.m. to a shooting in the 300 block of West 9th Street. That’s an address within the 9 on Canal apartments near North St. Clair Street and West Senate Avenue.

Officers entered an apartment building and found a male who had been shot. He was taken to Eskenazi Health in stable condition.

A police report obtained by News 8 identifies the suspect as a male.

Police did not say what led to the shooting. No arrests have been made.

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Indiana

Does this diner serve the biggest pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana?

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2026

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Does this diner serve the biggest pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana?

EDINBURGH, Ind. (Amazing America) — Is a trip to the Hoosier state complete without digging into a massive Indiana-style breaded pork tenderloin sandwich?

The Edinburgh Diner, a classic small-town joint about 40 minutes south of Indianapolis, serves up a delicious version of the staple that just might be the biggest one out there.

Drawing locals and road trippers alike, the menu at this cozy diner focuses on classic comfort food, with burgers, fries & onion rings, hearty breakfast spreads, and hefty portions of homestyle dishes — all for an affordable price.

The Edinburgh Diner’s 16-ounce behemoth of a pork tenderloin sandwich costs just $9.99.

The recipe is pretty simple overall, but there is a whole culture built around the Indiana pork tenderloin sandwich.

A large piece of pork is pounded super thin, then dipped in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Deep-fried until golden brown and crispy, it’s served on a basic hamburger bun with toppings like pickles, onions, mustard, or mayo.

The thing the otherwise no-frills sandwich iconic is the pork cutlet being way bigger than the bun, hanging over the edge dramatically. Locals say that if the tenderloin fits inside the bun, it’s not done right.

A crispy, salty exterior, tender pork, a soft bun and tangy toppings combine to form a simple yet beloved, satisfying Midwest meal.

Inspired by European schnitzel brought to the Midwest by German immigrants, the sandwich made its Indiana debut at Nick’s Kitchen in Huntington in the early 1900s. Over time it skyrocketed in popularity, becoming what many call Indiana’s unofficial signature dish.

It’s not just a sandwich. It’s a slice of Midwestern food culture. The debate over who makes the best one might never be settled, but until then, we are more than happy to try any and every version of this scrumptious dish — for research, of course.

The Edinburgh Diner is located at 413 S Eisenhower Dr, Edinburgh, Indiana 46124. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Mondays.

We know there are plenty of other stories of unique landmarks and cultural experiences in all corners of the USA, and we’re making it our mission to find and highlight them. If you know of one, we’d love to hear about it. Send a DM to @amazingamericatv on Instagram!

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