4 new Indiana
solar power plants to boost reliability, sustainability of energy
grid
FORT
WAYNE, Ind., April 3,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Indiana Michigan Power (I&M)
is taking steps to significantly expand the volume of clean energy
powering our customers' homes and businesses. I&M filed plans
with state authorities for four solar power plants capable of
generating power for more than 200,000 typical homes by
mid-2026.
In a related significant step, I&M is also seeking new
proposals for a combination of additional energy sources –
including wind, solar, battery storage and natural gas (peaking) –
to generate power for hundreds of thousands of homes by
December 2027. These future projects
will further diversify I&M's sources of generation to
significantly increase the amount of clean energy and provide more
flexibility in meeting customer needs.
The important advances in clean energy are part of the
Powering the Next Tomorrow Integrated Resource Plan that
I&M previously submitted to regulators in Michigan and Indiana. These solar power plants and the
company's plans to add even more clean-energy resources are part of
I&M's and American Electric Power's commitment to achieve net
zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2045.
"I&M is taking these major strides in transitioning to
cleaner, more diverse energy sources to best serve our customers,
the environment and the economies of the communities we serve,"
said Steve Baker, I&M president
and chief operating officer.
"These steps are the result of exhaustive studies and a
stakeholder process that included input from advocates for
customers, communities, the environment and more," Baker added.
"Importantly, they are also consistent with the energy policies of
both states we serve."
More Flexibility to Best Serve Customers
The four new solar facilities mark an important next step in
I&M's continuing transition to a more diverse energy supply and
meeting the need for new sources to energize homes and businesses
as the coal-fueled units at our Rockport,
Ind., generation plant phase out of service. The
Rockport Plant will be fully retired by the end of 2028.
While I&M's Cook Nuclear Plant in Michigan consistently generates energy 24/7 as
the anchor of I&M's generation, the variety of additional
energy sources strengthen I&M's resilience.
The diversity of generation sources also increases I&M's
flexibility to better serve customers by having options to address
future changes in regulatory policies and price volatility of
energy prices for the various forms of generation.
The availability of renewable energy is important to support
economic development opportunities in the communities I&M
serves. Businesses and industries are increasingly looking for
access to clean energy in areas where they locate or expand.
Increasing the amount of renewable energy available to them will be
a significant benefit to maintaining and attracting new investment
and jobs to the region.
Plans Submitted to States
I&M has submitted detailed plans to the Indiana Utility
Regulatory Commission and Michigan Public Service Commission for
four new solar power plants in Indiana with a combined generation capacity of
749 megawatts (MW):
Name
|
Megawatts*
|
Homes
Powered**
|
Lake Trout
|
245
|
73,500
|
Mayapple/IN
|
224
|
67,200
|
Sculpin
|
180
|
54,000
|
Elkhart
County
|
100
|
30,000
|
(* Solar power plant capacity is the maximum amount of energy
it can generate)
(** The approximate number of typical homes using 1,000 kilowatt
hours of energy per month that each plant would power when
generating at capacity)
Each of the four solar power plants will be built by private
developers. I&M will invest about $1
billion in the Lake Trout and Mayapple/IN facilities, which I&M
will own and operate. I&M will purchase the power generated
from the independently operated Sculpin and Elkhart County solar power plants.
Plans before the two state commissions would also provide
I&M the ability to include 210 MW of generation capacity from
an existing natural gas "peaking" plant in Wells County, near Montpelier, Ind.
I&M's plans will require the approval of the utility
regulatory commissions in both states. The four solar power plants
are expected to be placed in-service delivering energy to customers
over a period from late 2025 to mid-2026.
Requests for Proposals
The four solar facilities described above were chosen from among
32 proposals submitted to I&M in response to a competitive 2022
Request for Proposals (RFP) process.
Looking forward, I&M issued a new RFP on March 31 seeking additional energy resources. The
2023 RFP is an "all-source" solicitation seeking proposals from
various types of generation, including proposals for more solar and
wind generation as well as battery storage, natural gas generation
and other possible forms of generation.
Specifically, I&M is seeking proposals for:
- Wind: Approximately 800 MW
- Solar: Approximately 850 MW
- Battery storage: Approximately 315 MW
- Natural gas (peaking): Approximately 540 MW
- Other: I&M is also open to other proposals that
could involve emerging technologies, thermal energy or other
resources.
I&M is making a portion of the Rockport Plant site available
for proposals for natural gas peaking generation and battery
storage projects.
Projects must be located in Indiana or Michigan, with the exception of wind projects
that also have the option to be sited in Illinois or Ohio. I&M encourages the use of local
goods or services from Indiana
and/or Michigan businesses where
feasible. Bids will be due by May 26.
I&M is seeking some projects that involve power purchase
agreements and others that the company will own and operate.
I&M anticipates that projects resulting from the 2023 RFP
will be generating power for customers by Dec. 31, 2027, but more definitive in-service
dates will be determined later in the process.
A link to the complete RFP is available here.
I&M's current clean-energy generation includes five solar
plants; wind power from four Hoosier plants; six hydro-electric
plants; and the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Mich. I&M's coal-fueled plant in
Rockport will be fully retired in
2028.
"I&M is committed to sustainability – supporting the
environment, economic growth and social well-being," Baker said.
"Our pursuit of a diversified suite of generation resources to
supply the reliable energy our customers count on is part of that
commitment. With solar, wind, nuclear and other sources, these
projects help ensure an adequate supply of energy under all weather
conditions."
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in
Fort Wayne, and its approximately
2,100 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 80% of
its energy delivered in 2022 was emission-free. I&M has
at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278
MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation
from Indiana, more than 22 MW of
hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of
large-scale solar generation in both states. The company's
generation portfolio also includes 2,620 MW of coal-fueled
generation in Indiana.
American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), based in Columbus, Ohio, is powering a cleaner,
brighter energy future for its customers and communities. AEP's
approximately 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's
largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles
of distribution lines to safely deliver reliable and affordable
power to 5.6 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is
one of the nation's largest electricity producers with
approximately 31,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity,
including more than 6,900 megawatts of renewable energy. The
company's plans include growing its renewable generation portfolio
to approximately 50% of total capacity by 2032. AEP is on track to
reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels
by 2030 and has committed to achieving net zero by 2045. AEP is
recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community
engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. AEP's family of
companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power
(in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in
Tennessee), Indiana Michigan
Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power
Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas
Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides
innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more
information, visit aep.com
News releases and other information about I&M
are available at IndianaMichiganPower.com
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SOURCE Indiana Michigan Power