October 4, 2026 · Boone · DUKE INDIANA
IURC Grants Eminent Domain for Boone County LEAP Transmission Lines to Blackstone-Backed Developer
IURC granted eminent domain for Boone County LEAP lines to a developer fighting a federal case in Wisconsin. What Indiana manufacturers must track now.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission granted eminent domain authority to Wabash Valley Transmission for 100 miles of new line into Boone County's LEAP district, over the objection of the state's consumer counselor. The developer behind that line, Viridon Midcontinent, is backed by Blackstone and is fighting a federal case in Wisconsin after missing a certification deadline on three substations there. If your Boone County expansion depends on power from these lines by 2029, that in-service date now rests on a company that could not hold a comparable deadline eleven states away.
01Boone
IURC Eminent Domain for LEAP Transmission Lines Clears Despite OUCC Objection
The IURC ruling Wednesday gives Wabash Valley Transmission public utility status and the power to condemn Boone County land for two lines feeding the LEAP district in Lebanon, where Eli Lilly plans manufacturing and Meta plans a data center. The commission found Viridon's capital base makes abandonment unlikely.
- For the huddle
- Given Viridon's track record of losing certification races in Wisconsin, how confident are we that the 2029 in-service target tied to LEAP's transmission buildout actually holds, and what's our backup plan if it slips?
02Statewide
Duke Energy's $103 Billion Capital Plan Targets Data Center Load in Indiana
Duke Energy raised its five-year capital plan 18 percent to $103 billion, with another $5 billion to $10 billion earmarked for large loads in Indiana and Florida. Duke already holds 7.8 gigawatts of signed data center agreements and 15.4 gigawatts more in advanced discussion.
- For the huddle
- If even a fifth of Duke's 15.4 GW advanced-discussion data center pipeline doesn't convert to signed contracts, how much of that stranded generation and turbine cost ends up socialized onto our electric bills through the next IURC rate case?
03Statewide
CAFE Rollback Eases Stellantis Kokomo's Engine Math, Not the Legal Risk
The federal CAFE rollback eases the standards that previously targeted roughly 50 miles per gallon by 2031, and it ends tradeable compliance credits starting with model year 2028. Stellantis is slated to build its new GMET4 EVO four-cylinder engine in Kokomo starting this year, and the rollback reduces the compliance penalty on four-cylinder-heavy fleets.
05Statewide
Trump Rolls Back Biden-Era Fuel Economy Standards, Names Indiana Among States With New Auto Investment
President Trump announced via Truth Social that his administration approved new, looser fuel economy standards replacing Biden-era rules that had targeted roughly 50.4 mpg by 2031, touting more than $100 billion in automotive investment and naming Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and South Carolina as states set to see new or expanded plants. GM and Stellantis shares rose 3% and Ford gained about 1% on the news, while Tesla fell 2%; Trump credited Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
- For the huddle
- If we supply components into Kokomo's new ICE engine line, how exposed are we if EV adoption rebounds before this rule's 2031 horizon plays out?
06Statewide
Trump Threatens Up to 300% Tariffs on Foreign Firms That Don't Build U.S. Factories, Names South Korea
Speaking at a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio on Saturday, Trump said foreign companies that fail to build U.S. factories within roughly 18 months could face tariffs of 150% to 300%, naming South Korea, China, Japan, and Canada. The threat comes amid separate pressure on Seoul over its $350 billion U.S. investment commitment, including a disputed Alaska LNG project that South Korea's Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan says must meet commercial viability standards before any money moves, with Glenfarne Group estimating the project at $44.5-$54.5 billion.
- For the huddle
- Since SK Hynix's West Lafayette build already satisfies the 'build here or pay' mandate, are there other Korean or Japanese suppliers facing this same deadline that we should be courting for Indiana relocation now rather than waiting?
Questions for Your Morning Huddle
Q: How do I find out if my Boone County expansion timeline depends on the LEAP transmission lines? A: Ask your serving utility directly whether your interconnection or service date is tied to the Wabash Valley Transmission corridor, then ask what happens to that date if the project slips past 2029.
Q: Will Duke Energy's capital plan raise my electric bill? A: Duke's $103 billion plan, including $5 billion to $10 billion aimed at data center load, enters the rate base that Indiana commercial and industrial customers pay into, and the next rate case, likely in the 2027 to 2029 window, will determine how much of that cost lands on your rate class versus large load customers.
Q: Should I count on CAFE rollback relief holding through 2031? A: Treat it as current relief, not guaranteed, since a pending Sierra Club challenge and the possibility of a future administration reinstating tighter standards mean the rule could change before 2031. Tie supplier capacity commitments to Stellantis volume guarantees instead of the rule itself.
For more on how utility capital spending on data center load gets allocated back to manufacturers, see our guide to utility cost allocation for data centers. For background on the standards shift behind the Kokomo engine line, see our earlier coverage of the CAFE rollback, Amazon Greenwood, and SK hynix.
This brief
More from Boone County
- Indiana Foreign Trade Zone Tariffs Surge, Kratos Breaks Ground Near Crane, and Urschel Names a New President
- NIPSCO IURC Investigation Goes Official, Indiana Industrial Property Assessments Jump 25.8%, and Honda's Ohio Plant Opens a Supplier Window
- AES Indiana Rate Case Returns September 17, Aluminum Tariff Jobs at Risk and THOR Industries Restructures: TEG Daily September 11, 2026
Manufacturers Energy Grant Program
Free for Boone County manufacturers
Boone County manufacturers receive free, ongoing energy auditing and cost control that reduces their energy bills and keeps them low, month after month. Every line item checked and validated, every opportunity found comes with a step-by-step guide to capture it.
EDCs: sponsor this program and it carries your organization's name For economic developers →