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INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER Friday, March 13, 2026 Page A7EPA Revises Cost of Keystone Corridor Groundwater Superfund Site Cleanup Indianapolis, Indiana U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in consultation with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), has issued an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) document for Operable Unit 1 of the Keystone Corridor Groundwater Superfund site located in Indianapolis, Indiana. ESDs are required when remedial actions differ significantly from the remedy originally selected in the site%u2019s Record of Decision (ROD) but do not fundamentally alter the remedy%u2019s scope, performance, or cost. EPA is alerting the community of this change as part of Superfund law. To better address site impacts, cleanup areas were delineated into multiple parts known as operable units, or OUs. The cleanup plan for OU1 addresses contamination at the primary source area through insitu thermal treatment (ISTT), construction for which commenced in July 2024 and was completed in February 2025. The ESD includes a change to the originally selected remedy%u2019s cost due to several factors, including an increased rate of groundwater infiltrating the treatment zone, which resulted in the treatment system not having sufficient heating capacity to overcome the cooling effect of the groundwater%u2019s infiltration, as well the rate of inflation and technical differences between the conceptual design and actual implementation of the remedy. Modifications to the system were proposed in June 2025 and were approved by EPA in September 2025. The cost estimate provided in the ROD is $3 to $5 million; however, the remedy is now estimated to cost approximately $10 million. EPA has determined this cost increase is reasonable and the basis for the selection of the ISTT remedy remains. More information is available at the Indianapolis Public Library%u2019s College Avenue Branch, 4180 North College Avenue, and also online at www.epa.gov/superfund/keystone-corridor-groundwater. If you have any questions about the ESD, please contact: Erik Hardin Kirstin Safakas Remedial Project Manager Community Involvement Coordinator 312-353-8892 312-919-4621 hardin.erik@epa.gov safakas.kirstin@epa.gov You may also call U.S. EPA toll-free at 800-621-8431, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays. But energy experts say there are several steps residents can take to reduce consumption before those bills spike.Start with your thermostatOne of the simplest ways to lower electricity costs is adjusting thermostat settings. Raising the thermostat by just a few degrees when leaving the house or going to bed can reduce energy usage without sacrificing comfort. Smart thermostats can automate those adjustments throughout the day.The U.S. Department of Energy recommends setting thermostats higher in summer when no one is home and using programmable schedules to reduce unnecessary cooling.Even small adjustments can make a difference. Energy experts note that lowering cooling demand during peak hours can significantly reduce electricity consumption over the course of a month.Seal the leaks that waste energyMany homes lose cooled air through small leaks around windows, doors or ductwork.Sealing those gaps with weatherstripping or caulk can help keep cool air inside, reducing how hard air conditioning systems have to work. Improving insulation %u2014 particularly in attics %u2014 can also prevent heat from entering the home.While some upgrades require upfront investment, many are inexpensive DIY projects that can lead to noticeable savings on monthly energy bills.Unplug the %u201cphantom%u201d energy drainsAnother hidden source of electricity use is what experts call %u201cphantom load.%u201dElectronics such as televisions, gaming consoles and kitchen appliances continue drawing power even when turned off if they remain plugged in.Using power strips or unplugging devices when they%u2019re not in use can eliminate that wasted energy. Over time, reducing phantom loads can shave a small but meaningful amount off monthly bills.Track your energy usage onlineCustomers of AES Indiana can also monitor electricity use through their online account dashboards.Tracking daily or weekly energy use can help identify patterns %u2014 such as spikes during certain times of day %u2014 and give residents a clearer picture of what activities or appliances are driving higher bills.Comparing usage with previous months or similar households can also help identify opportunities for savings.Rebates and efficiency programsFor residents interested in larger upgrades, AES Indiana offers rebates for energy-efficient home improvements, including insulation, HVAC system upgrades and other improvements designed to reduce electricity use.Energy-efficient appliances and smart home technology can also help lower consumption. Some home automation systems automatically adjust lighting, heating and cooling based on occupancy, helping households reduce unnecessary energy use.AES Indiana says certain energy management systems can cut electricity consumption significantly by optimizing when and how energy is used.Help for households struggling with billsFor some Indianapolis residents, especially those on fixed incomes or facing financial hardship, even modest increases in electricity bills can be difficult to manage.Programs such as the Energy Assistance Program provide financial support to income-eligible households to help cover heating and electricity costs.Community organizations across Marion County also offer utility assistance resources and payment plans to help residents avoid service disconnections during periods of financial strain.AES Indiana also offers a budget billing option that spreads energy costs evenly across the year. That program can help households avoid large seasonal spikes by averaging bills over a 12 month period.The larger debate over utility costsEnergy affordability has become a growing issue in Indiana as utility companies invest billions in grid modernization and new energy infrastructure.Consumer advocates say those investments are necessary but argue they must be balanced with protections for ratepayers who may struggle to absorb higher costs.The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will ultimately decide whether AES Indiana%u2019s proposed rate increases are justified and how much customers may see their bills change.The regulatory process typically includes testimony from consumer groups, energy experts and utility officials before a final decision is made.What residents can do nowWhile the outcome of that review remains uncertain, energy experts say residents can start lowering electricity costs immediately by reducing energy use at home.Adjusting thermostat settings, sealing air leaks, unplugging unused electronics and monitoring electricity usage are among the easiest ways to control costs.Those steps may seem small individually, but together they can significantly reduce household electricity consumption %u2014 particularly during the high-usage summer months.For Indianapolis residents watching their budgets closely, that proactive approach could make the difference between a manageable energy bill and an unexpected financial strain when the next AES statement arrives.For more tips, rebates, and programs designed to help Indianapolis households lower their electricity costs, AES Indiana customers can visit%u00a0aesindiana.com/energy-saving-tips%u00a0for guidance on everything from simple thermostat adjustments to energy-efficient home upgrades.Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.Africans who, without formal education, learned foreign languages and forged new ones %u2014 creating culture out of catastrophe. That is genius. Enslaved Africans resisted bondage and, as Freedom Seekers, engineered escape routes %u2014 encoding maps in quilts and even in braided hair. That is genius.Though freedom was known to exist in the northern states, some fled south first, toward Spanish Florida, joining with Native Seminoles. What we now call Florida became home to the Black Seminoles %u2014 a brilliant strategy of alliance and survival. That was genius.Harriet Tubman made more than 13 rescue missions and led over 70 enslaved individuals to freedom. That was genius in motion.Black genius showed up during slavery and after. From designing floating schools in Missouri to educate Black children, to establishing maroon communities that evaded enslavers for decades %u2014 Black brilliance persisted. In December 1864, twenty Black ministers met with Union General William Tecumseh Sherman and advocated for 40 acres for newly freed families %u2014 a visionary demand for economic independence. That was pure genius. From inventing the modern elevator door to creating the mailbox, Black innovation has continually shaped the world.It is time to flip the script and reframe our definition of genius.Genius does not belong exclusively to white men enshrined in European textbooks. Genius shows up in survival. In strategy. In creation under constraint. It may look different across cultures, but it is genius, nevertheless.Black people are the Original Geniuses %u2014 the OGs.That is our heritage. That is our lineage. That is who we are.Maxine Bryant, Ph.D., is the founder of GriotSpeaks, an author, and an African American culture keeper. For more information, visit www.drmaxinebryant.com.GENIUSContinued from A6BILLContinued from A1Follow these home heating safety tips:%u2022 Have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level.%u2022 Never use a natural gas oven to heat your home.%u2022 Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from furniture.Find more tips at CitizensEnergyGroup.com/SafeHome14381 W2SM Game Show_5.075x10.5.pdf 1 12/8/25 6:37%u202fPM