Green Industries Initiative

Indiana's General Assembly has passed House Bill 1280, Energy Efficient Buildings, which requires the environmental quality services council (EQSC) to study whether public entities should be required or encouraged to seek to achieve energy and environmental design ratings in the construction and renovation of buildings and structure and related issues. The General Assembly adjourned sine die March 14.  The Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate have seven days after sine die to sign all bills, after which they are sent to the Governor's office.  Once a bill reaches the Governor's office, the Governor has seven days to take action (sign, veto, or let the legislation become law without his signature). March 28 is the Governor's final deadline for signing bills. A technical corrections day, if needed, is set for April 15.  Both houses would convene at 1:30  p.m . The bill originally required a building constructed or designed under certain public works contracts entered into after December 31, 2008  to be designed with the goal of achieving the United States Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, the Green Globes Two Globes level or equivalent standard under an accredited program.  It contained provisions regarding state energy purchases and Energy Star rated equipment. It allowed the Indiana  Economic Development Corporation to adopt rules regarding priority for economic development projects that met or surpassed LEED criteria. The EQSC will likely consider these types of issues in determining whether public entities should be required or encouraged to seek to achieve energy and environmental design ratings.