As coal plants close around the country, the demand for natural gas is going up. But an expert says it likely won’t have a big effect on Hoosier’s heating bills in the long run.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor says Vectren needs to explore all its options before it builds a new $780 million natural gas plant.

A circuit court ruled that Duke violated its contract with Benton County Wind Farm and has to pay $29 million in damages.

Vectren, which serves a significant portion of central and southern Indiana, has had some of the highest rates in the state. The merger with Houston-based CenterPoint Energy will not reduce rates immediately.

The study finds cheap natural gas and declining power demand are driving coal and nuclear power plant closures.

While coal advocates praise the move, it introduces "uncertainty" for the state's electric utilities.

Critics say the measure would muscle out smaller competitors from the emerging solar market.

The company wants to modernize the nearly 50-year-old Markland Hydro Station on an Ohio River dam, about 25 miles southwest of Cincinnati.

President-elect Donald Trump promised to revive the U.S. coal industry, but many industry experts are skeptical.

Both candidates have similar views, but differ slightly when it comes to priorities.