Plans to bring a casino to Terre Haute and changes to how customers get credits for excess renewable energy were the topics of the day at Saturday morning’s Crackerbarrel session.

About 100 residents packed into the downstairs meeting area of the Vigo County Public Library in Terre Haute to hear state representatives discuss 2017 legislative issues.

Audience member William Moe kicked off the casino conversation during the public questioning phase of the event, saying he supports the casino and the jobs it may bring to the area.

Senate Bill 354, by Sen. Jon Ford, R-Terre Haute, would allow a casino in Terre Haute by transferring unused gaming positions from Rising Star casino in Rising Sun. 

“Why would anybody want to be against the casino when it’s a draw for the community?” Moe said. “It can draw conventions, it can grow revenue, people and organizations coming to Terre Haute will want to have a meeting here, and I see this as a very positive thing.”

Shawn Bohner, of Terre Haute, disagreed with Moe later in the event and voiced his displeasure with the Terre Haute City Council’s approval of a casino. He asked the legislators if, as he put it, despite considerable public opposition, the lawmakers supported a casino coming to Terre Haute.

Rep. Clyde Kersey, D-District 43, once again denounced adding a casino, saying there is considerable opposition and a good chance the bill will fail to get out of the Senate.

Bruce Borders, R-45, echoed Kersey’s sentiment, saying the social costs of a casino are greater than any benefits.

Sen. Brandt Hershman’s, R-7, Senate Bill 309 was addressed a number of times at Saturday’s event. The bill focuses on the process of net metering, or the process by which the owner of solar panels or wind turbines create surplus energy and feed it back to the grid in exchange for a credit.

Senate Bill 309, if passed, would pay solar producers 125 percent of wholesale price for their excess energy, instead of the retail exchange rate they’re getting currently.

Sarah Dillon, of Terre Haute, and coordinator of the Terre Haute Green Party, first raised the question of net metering and asked the legislators if they would support the stripping of incentives from green energy production.

Fern Edwards, of Terre Haute, came forward later in the event to voice her opposition to SB 309. She said that the argument is being painted as a rich person-poor person conflict, where the rich could afford to live off the grid and leave the poor to support it.

She also said that Indiana needs to take a proactive approach to green energy production and make Indiana a state where people want to live.

Kersey, Borders and Rep. Bob Heaton, R-46, each said they were aware of such a bill but couldn’t offer specifics on the language or possible outcomes. They did say, however, that they do support incentivizing green energy production and don’t see a necessity for hampering it.

Reporter Alex Modesitt can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Follow Alex on Twitter @TribStarAlex.