INDIANAPOLIS – On Feb. 1, the Senate Natural Resources Committee will hear SB 373, arguably the most meaningful, proactive environmental policy to emerge from the Indiana General Assembly in years. Yes, you read that right. Tim Maloney of the Hoosier Environmental Council described the magic bill this way: “It’s based on the idea that Indiana businesses – who are interested in reducing their carbon footprint and in the market to buy carbon offsets – should be able to buy these offsets in Indiana, offsets that are generated by Indiana farmers and woodland owners, and by state-run forest conservation projects. If enacted, the bill will leverage new private investment for land, water and wildlife conservation in Indiana and reward farmers and woodland owners for stewardship practices that sequester carbon.” That’s right, folks. Indiana’s ready to jumpstart a carbon market, incentivize sustainable agriculture and forestry, and implicitly acknowledge the climate crisis! Predictably, and in true Hoosier fashion, the bill contains no mandates, only a set of dangling financial carrots. Also in true Hoosier fashion, it’s low-risk, and not a new idea. No matter. SB 373 is an elegant triple win: For state government coffers, for the pocketbooks of forest and farm owners, and for Indiana’s corner of Planet Earth.