Cap & trade opponents rally in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indiana is one of the top ten coal producing states in the country. That's makes it a target in the battle over climate control versus affordable energy and both sides are trying to sway the public.

A hot air balloon is the symbol used by opponents of President Barack Obama's cap and trade proposal. They offered free rides in one at White River State Park Tuesday.

Cap and trade is designed to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, but the people at the rally think it's misguided.

"Because it will increase our taxes, it will increase the price of our gasoline. It will increase everything," said Dan Beck, an opponent of cap and trade.

By contrast supporters of the president take a mass media approach with radio and TV ads.

But in the shadow of smokestacks from an old technology plant the people at Tuesday's rally argue that the energy from wind turbines is no replacement for coal.

"They're dependent on the wind so if there's no wind today, there's no electricity today," said Jim Boerger, cap and trade opponent.

Jesse Kharbanda of the Hoosier Environmental Council said, "It is a tough sell here."

And at the back of the rally supporters of cap and trade admit that Indiana is not the best place to expand their base. They resort to the soft sell.

"We do have a significant renewable energy potential that we could diversify into," said Kharbanda.

Nevertheless, the message at the rally was split; some in the crowd are more concerned with health care reform than cap and trade.

One thing that both opponents and supporters of cap and trade share is a desire to influence Indiana Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar. They must vote on it this fall and, so far, neither one have taken a firm position for or against cap and trade.