NiSource

NiSource, Inc., based in Merrillville, Indiana, is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to 3.8 million customers located within the high-demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England.

NiSource companies include:
 * Columbia Gas (Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia)
 * NIPSCO, "Northern Indiana Public Service Company" (Indiana)
 * Bay State Gas (Massachusetts)
 * Columbia Gas Transmission

CEO compensation
In April 2008, Forbes listed NiSource CEO Robert C. Skaggs Jr. as receiving $810,000 in total compensation in the previous fiscal year, with a five-year total compensation of $2.58 million. He ranked 39th on the list of CEOs in the Utility industry, and 498th out of all CEOs in the United States.

Power portfolio
Out of its total 4,079 MW of electric generating capacity in 2005 (0.38% of the U.S. total), NiSource produced 85.1% from coal, 14.5% from natural gas, and 0.5% from hydroelectricity. All of NiSource's power plants are in Indiana.

Political contributions
NiSource is one of the largest energy company contributors to both Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress. These contributions total $151,400 to the 110th US Congress (as of the third quarter), the largest of which has been to Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) for $7,500. Rep. Boehner, for his part, has consistently voted with the coal industry on energy, war and climate bills.

Contributions like this from fossil fuel companies to members of Congress are often seen as a political barrier to pursuing clean energy.

More information on coal industry contributions to Congress can be found at FollowtheCoalMoney.org, a project sponsored by the nonpartisan, nonprofit Oil Change International and Appalachian Voices.

Existing coal-fired power plants
NiSource owned 10 coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 3,470 MW of capacity. Here is a list of NiSource's coal power plants:

In 2006, NiSource's 4 coal-fired power plants emitted at least 17.9 million tons of CO2 and 61,000 tons of SO2.

Contact details
NiSource Inc. 801 East 86th Avenue Merrillville, IN 46410 Website: http://www.nisource.com/

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Robert C. Skaggs Jr.
 * Indiana and coal
 * United States and coal
 * Global warming
 * Coal