Building for the Next Millennium: A Common-Sense Energy Blueprint for Our Community
When we look at public projects today, we are used to a short-sighted cycle. Roads need patching every few years, equipment wears out, and taxpayers are constantly asked to foot the bill to replace things that broke.
But what if we built infrastructure meant to last centuries instead of decades?
Right now, we have a massive opportunity sitting right on the west side of Bluffton. Every single day, local industrial facilities vent millions of BTUs of high-grade thermal energy—heat—straight into the sky. It’s energy that has already been paid for, completely wasted into the atmosphere.
I have proposed a solid-state, closed-loop pilot project that changes the game entirely.
The "Net Gain" Blueprint
Instead of letting that heat disappear, our project captures it using an elegant phase-change loop. The fluid flashes to vapor, transfers that intense energy to an underground storage vault filled with crushed basalt sand, and returns safely to help the factories lower their internal cooling loads.
By using magnetic wraps on the outside of the pipelines and static engineering, we eliminate the heavy mechanical moving parts that constantly break down in traditional power plants. The core of the battery is made of regional earth materials bedded in self-healing concrete. It cannot rust, it cannot wear out, and it doesn't degrade.
The Real Math for Local Taxpayers
Let’s talk straight economics. A localized industrial pilot project like this requires an initial capital investment of roughly $2 million.
By taking that captured thermal river and running it through a 250-kilowatt generator module, the system will produce a continuous, unblinking stream of baseline electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
At current Indiana commercial energy rates, that baseline power generates over $300,000 a year in direct revenue or offset utility bills.
The project completely pays for itself in less than 7 years.
Unlocking the Future: Safe Data Center Growth
There is one final, crucial piece to this puzzle. Across Indiana, communities are struggling with the massive rise of technology and AI data centers. Towns want the high-tech jobs and the tax revenue, but they are terrified of the millions of gallons of water these facilities consume and the massive strain they put on local power grids during peak demand hours.
Our closed-loop basalt battery system provides the ultimate solution.
Because our system handles energy transfer through a completely sealed, recycled fluid network, it loses absolutely nothing to evaporation. This means we can attract and support high-value data centers without wasting a single drop of our local community's water supply. Furthermore, by storing massive amounts of energy in our fluidized sand bed, we can deliver a rock-solid, dedicated power source directly to those facilities during peak demand periods—safeguarding the rest of the town's grid from blackouts or price spikes.
True Intergenerational Stewardship
A 6.5-year payback timeline is solid on its own. But here is the kicker: because of the solid-state design and indestructible earth materials, this infrastructure is built to last for over a millennium.
For the remaining 993 years of its lifespan, that system will produce pure, uncompromised net-gain electricity for our locality at near-zero operational cost.
This is what true fiscal stewardship looks like. We aren't passing a massive debt down to our kids and grandkids. We are using local materials, regional supply chains, and smart engineering to hand them a fully paid-off, permanent energy foundation that will keep our community independent for generations.
Let’s stop throwing money into the sky and start building things that last.
Socialism is good for the rich, and forbidden to the poor.
Every day, people here in Indiana wake up, beginning their day at a punch clock. They do the hard work that keeps our communities moving, growing, and thriving. We balance our budgets at the kitchen table or a desk. We make hard choices based upon what we can afford. We live by a simple rule: you earn what you get, and you pay your own way.
We’re told that's just the way things have to be. That’s the free market, baby!
However, if you look at where all that money is going, where our tax dollars are being spent, you’ll see that all our hard work is not paying off for us working-class people. The rules change depending on how much money you have in your bank account. If you’re well-connected and have the dough, you get preferential treatment when it comes to how we spend our tax dollars.
When a billionaire or a massive corporate project comes knocking, the state checkbook flies wide open. The financial risk is shared by the taxpayers, and a massive safety net is thrown out to make sure they can't fail.
That is socialism for the rich.
But when a regular family, a local school, or a small business needs a hand? Suddenly, the safety net disappears. The state tells us the budget is too tight, the red tape is too thick, and we have to rely strictly on our own personal responsibility.
That support is forbidden to the poor and the working class.
Look at the books!
This isn't just theory—it’s exactly how our tax dollars are being spent right now:
The Billion-Dollar Stadium Deals: State politicians are fast-tracking creative new tax districts and pushing up to $1 billion in public money to lure a professional sports team across the state line. But when our local teachers ask for a living wage, the state dries up and forces school districts to beg local homeowners to raise their own property taxes through a referendum just to keep the lights on.
The $1 Billion Highway vs. Summer Lunches: The state is pushing forward with the Mid-States Corridor—a highway project whose estimated cost has ballooned past $1 billion. Yet, at the exact same time, Indiana opted out of a federal summer food program. It would have cost the state a fraction of that—around $5 million—to bring in grocery assistance for over 600,000 Hoosier kids who lose access to school lunches during the summer months.
Time for Real Stewardship
This isn't about being against growth or infrastructure. It’s about basic fairness and common-sense stewardship.
A tax dollar is a tax dollar, no matter what bucket the politicians try to hide it in. If our state can find the money, the time, and the bureaucratic will to build playgrounds for billionaires and cut massive highways through our countryside, we can find the will to support our teachers and keep our kids fed.
It is time for a state government that stops protecting big money from risk while leaving regular families to shoulder it all alone. We need a system that works for the people who actually pay the bills—the working people of Indiana.
Please, donate to my campaign today, so I can help build the movement to make your tax dollars work for you.
From the Primary to the Pavement
What’s Next for District 79
The primary results are in, and while the dust is still settling across Indiana, one thing is clear: the road to November starts today.
Congratulations and Reflections
First, I want to send a huge congratulations to our friend Natasha Baker on her hard-fought victory in State Senate District 22. Natasha has been a tireless advocate for public education and rural healthcare, and her win is a testament to what happens when you lead with heart and authenticity. Having her voice moving toward the general election is a win for all of us.
On a harder note, I want to take a moment to acknowledge Jackson Franklin. It’s never easy to see a campaign with such vision and passion come to an end. Jackson’s focus on working-class issues and the future of our climate set a bar that we should all strive for. To everyone who poured their soul into that campaign: your energy isn't lost. It’s part of the movement now, and we carry that momentum forward.
The Road Ahead: Why I Need You
Now, we look at our own backyard. For too long, the "status quo" has had a comfortable seat in District 79. But as I’ve been saying, grassroots means we are beholden to no one but the voters.
I’m ready to hit the streets. I’m ready to talk to the people who feel ignored by the current system—the "General-only" voters, the new neighbors, and anyone who thinks their vote doesn't matter. But here’s the honest truth: I can’t do this alone.
Canvassing is the most important work we do, but it’s also tough work. Walking these neighborhoods, especially in the further reaches of our district, isn't just about efficiency—it's about safety. Having a partner on the sidewalk makes a world of difference. It keeps the energy up, it keeps us organized, and it ensures we’re looking out for one another.
Join the Crew
I’m looking for volunteers to join me for "Walk-and-Talk" shifts. Whether you have two hours on a Saturday or an evening during the week, your presence on the sidewalk is what turns a campaign into a community.
We aren't just knocking on doors; we’re opening them. We’re going to prove that you don't need a massive party machine when you have neighbors who care about the future of Indiana.
Who’s coming with me?
The Three-Hat Campaign
People ask me how the campaign is going, and the honest answer is: it’s a lot of work.
Right now, "Ian G for Indiana" is a one-man show. I’m the one building the website, tracking the budget, ordering the materials, and hopefully, being the face that folks can trust.
There’s no high-priced campaign manager in a suit telling me what to say, and there’s no big-city treasurer handling the books behind closed doors. It’s just me, a desktop I built myself, and a whole lot of coffee.
Is it a challenge to do it all myself? Absolutely. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
By doing the legwork myself, I’m learning the district better than I ever would from a report generated in an office. I’m seeing the streets, hearing the concerns of my neighbors, and managing every dollar as carefully as I manage my own household budget. When I get to the Statehouse, I want to bring that same "get-it-done" attitude with me.
There’s something to be said for doing things the hard way—the honest way. It reminds me why I’m doing this in the first place: not for the title, but to do right by the people of Bluffton and District 79.
Thanks for sticking with me while I manage the paperwork and the pavement-pounding. We’re just getting started.
Real Support, Real Results
I’m often asked how we’re funding this campaign. I think it’s important to be transparent with you from day one.
As of today, we’ve raised just over $500 from supporters across the state. On top of that, I’ve personally contributed $278 to get the ball rolling on materials, printing, and the essentials we need to reach voters.
Doing this without a professional fundraising team means every single dollar is accounted for and spent with purpose. Whether it’s coming from a neighbor who wants to see change or from my own pocket, I treat that money with the respect it deserves.
It’s not a massive war chest, but it’s real money from real people who care about our future here in District 79. I’m proud of what we’ve done so far, and I’m grateful for every bit of support that helps us take the next step.
We’ve prepared 100 of these cards alone.
Trust isn't something you get by running expensive ads; it’s something you earn by showing up, listening, and being accountable for every dollar and every decision.
Getting to Work for Indiana
Hi everyone,
I’m Ian Richardson, and I’m running to represent District 79.
Rain, shine, or snow, I’m putting in the miles. I’m Ian Richardson, and I’m ready to get to work for our community.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what our community needs—not just today, but for the years to come. Whether I’m at the drive-in, working on my own projects, or talking to neighbors, I see the potential we have here in Bluffton and across the district. But to get things moving, we need leadership that understands the day-to-day reality of working families.
I’m launching this blog to keep you in the loop on the campaign, share my ideas on everything from our local infrastructure to our future energy, and—most importantly—to hear from you.
Things are moving fast. The website is live, I’ve got stickers and business cards on the way, and we’re getting the ground game organized. This isn't about fancy slogans or playing political games; it’s about rolling up our sleeves and getting to work for the people who live here.
I’m looking forward to walking this path with all of you. Check back here for updates, or find me over on X, Threads, Instagram, and Facebook to keep the conversation going.
Let’s get to work.
— Ian