Indiana Michigan Power Expands Clean Energy Capacity with Plans for Solar Power Plants

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), a subsidiary of American Electric Power, is taking significant steps to increase its clean energy capacity, filing plans with state authorities for four solar power plants capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 200,000 homes. The company is also seeking proposals for a combination of additional energy sources, including wind, solar, battery storage, and natural gas, to power hundreds of thousands of homes by 2027. This expansion is part of I&M's commitment to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2045 and aligns with the energy policies of both Indiana and Michigan.

Key Takeaways:

• I&M filed plans with state authorities for four solar power plants capable of generating enough electricity to power more than 200,000 homes by mid-2026.
• The company is seeking proposals for a combination of additional energy sources, including wind, solar, battery storage, and natural gas, to power hundreds of thousands of homes by December 2027.
• The four solar power plants have a combined generation capacity of 749 megawatts (MW) and will be built by private developers.
• I&M will invest about $1 billion in the Lake Trout and Mayapple/IN facilities, which the company will own and operate.
• The Rockport Plant, a coal-fueled plant, will be fully retired by the end of 2028.
• The expansion of clean energy is part of I&M's Powering the Next Tomorrow Integrated Resource Plan, which aims to achieve net zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2045.
• 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 Michigan.
• I&M is seeking some projects that involve power purchase agreements and others that the company will own and operate.

**Steve Baker, I&M president and chief operating officer** emphasized the importance of these steps, stating, "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."

Statistics:

• The four solar power plants have a combined generation capacity of 749 MW.
• I&M will invest about $1 billion in the Lake Trout and Mayapple/IN facilities.
• The Rockport Plant will be fully retired by the end of 2028.
• 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 Michigan.
• The company is seeking proposals for approximately 800 MW of wind power, 850 MW of solar power, 315 MW of battery storage, and 540 MW of natural gas peaking generation.

Sources:

• Indiana Michigan Power, "I&M Expands Clean Energy Capacity with Plans for Solar Power Plants," April 4
• American Electric Power, "Indiana Michigan Power Expands Clean Energy Capacity with Plans for Solar Power Plants," April 4
• Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
• Michigan Public Service Commission