A resolution opposing a potential water pipeline from the aquifers of the Wabash River to Lebanon in Boone County, has been postponed by Bloomington’s city council until March 27.
The council action came at its regular Wednesday meeting.
Lebanon is about 30 miles northwest of Indianapolis. From Lebanon, it’s another 35 miles, northwest along I-65, to West Lafayette.
The pipeline is part of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s eventual plan to provide resources to its LEAP (Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace) District near Lebanon in Boone County. The idea is to attract a mix of businesses and develop a workforce to support employment in and around Lebanon. Technically, the pipeline is on hold, while a water study is being done.
At Wednesday’s meeting, at-large councilmember Andy Ruff, who introduced the resolution, described the LEAP District as a “massive, largely speculative economic development project, spearheaded by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.”
The problem that Ruff and other pipeline opponents see in the LEAP District is a lack of enough water to support the kind of water-intensive industries that could locate there. One such industry is microchip manufacturing,
Why would Bloomington’s city council pass a resolution about an issue centered several counties away?
Ruff said on Wednesday that the purpose of the resolution is to “show solidarity with our fellow Hoosier communities that are grappling with shared concerns about essential public resources that really need to be thoughtfully managed and protected, rather than aggressively exploited for speculative economic development like this.”
It was Ruff himself who moved for the postponement—after pushback to his resolution from Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson, representatives from the economic development community, and his fellow councilmembers. Continue reading “Resolution opposing water pipeline put off by Bloomington city council until March 27”