NIPSCO’s coal generating station in Michigan City. The company has announced plans for two solar farms in central Indiana on Friday, furthering its plans to be coal free by 2028. Photo by Matt Fritz
NIPSCO’s coal generating station in Michigan City. The company has announced plans for two solar farms in central Indiana on Friday, furthering its plans to be coal free by 2028. Photo by Matt Fritz
NIPSCO said it expects to announce additional renewable projects later this year. Learn about NIPSCO’s “Your Energy, Your Future” plans and the latest information at NIPSCO.com/future.
MERRILLVILLE — The next phase of NIPSCO’s transition to lower-cost, cleaner energy resources will be the addition of two new solar farms based in central Indiana, the company said in a press release Friday.

This includes solar farms in both Boone and Henry counties.

The update follows announcements that NIPSCO will retire 100 percent of its remaining coal-fired generation by 2028, including its coal generating station in Michigan City. It has also announced intentions to close the coal ash ponds in Michigan City and remove the coal ash waste there starting in the spring of 2021, and finishing by 2023.

There is an estimated 170,600 cubic yards of coal ash that needs to be removed.

On Friday, NIPSCO said it has finalized two, 20-year purchase power agreements (PPAs) with subsidiaries of experienced renewable energy developer NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, for the electricity generated by its planned solar projects.

The new solar capacity is expected to be in operation by mid-2023 with the two announced projects representing approximately 300 megawatts (MW) of nameplate capacity, NIPSCO said.

“We are pleased to work with our partners at NIPSCO to bring low-cost, renewable energy to customers and economic growth to the state of Indiana,” said Matt Handel, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources.

“These two solar projects will provide exciting new job opportunities, economic growth and clean, homegrown electricity in Indiana for decades to come.”

NIPSCO Communications Director Tara McElmurry said the two projects were selected following a comprehensive review of bids submitted through the all source Request for Proposal (RFP) process that NIPSCO underwent in late 2019.

She said the results affirmed the conclusions of the 2018 NIPSCO Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), that wind and solar resources were shown to be lower cost options for customers compared to other energy resource options.

The two new solar projects include:

Brickyard Solar – A 200 MW solar farm in Boone County. The project will include an estimated 675,000 solar panels. NIPSCO will purchase the power directly from Brickyard Solar.

Greensboro Solar – A solar farm in Henry County to provide 100 MW of solar, along with 30 MW of battery storage. The project will include an estimated 329,500 solar panels. NIPSCO will purchase the power directly from Greensboro Solar.

But Just Transition NWI coalition, a group comprised of community organizations, members and partners, including the NAACP, that have come together to educate and organize NWI communities and workers impacted by current and transitioning energy industries, expressed concerns about the announcement.

Member and Michigan City resident Sunny Gardner urged NIPSCO to consider a plan that “supports and builds renewable energy locally, rather than maintaining the status quo or simply polluting locally.”

“Unemployment remains at approximately 15 percent across Northwest Indiana with cities, including Michigan City, being hardest hit. During the current crisis, we need job creation that safely and justly bolsters local economics, while assisting impacted communities and workers. NIPSCO’s plan is outsourced and we believe that is not an acceptable option for our region.”
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