NIPSCO northwest Indiana solar projects are live
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The Northern Indiana Public Service Co. announced this week that two of its first Indiana-based solar energy projects are operational.
Together, the northwest Indiana projects are expected to produce hundreds of megawatts of power and bring millions of dollars in economic investment to surrounding communities. They come as NIPSCO pursues a goal to go coal free by 2028.
“The addition of our first solar parks to our electric generating portfolio represent meaningful investments in the state of Indiana and a direct benefit to our customers,” NIPSCO President Mike Hooper said in a news release. “These completed projects are a crucial step in advancing our long-term energy transition plan, providing sustainable, reliable and cost-effective energy now and into the future.”
The Indiana Crossroads Solar project is a 200-megawatt facility in White County. It is expected to bring $2.6 million in economic development agreement funds to the county for investment in other projects. It will also bring more than $42 million in property tax payments over the project’s 35-year life span, NIPSCO officials said, reducing the property tax burden on White County residents.
The project was developed and constructed by EDP Renewables North America.
“Indiana Crossroads Solar is a shining example of how clean energy projects bring investment and economic benefits to Hoosier communities and the state of Indiana while contributing to the energy transition,” EDP Renewables CEO Sandhya Ganapathy said.
The second project, Dunns Bridge I Solar, is in Jasper County near an existing NIPSCO generating station that the company expects to retire in 2025. Dunns Bridge I Solar will produce 265 megawatts of power and is the first of a two-part project.
Dunns Bridge II, located in both Jasper and Starke counties, is under construction and expected to go live next year. That project will produce 435 megawatts of solar energy and 75 megawatts of battery storage.
Together, the two Dunns Bridge phases are expected to produce about $59 million in additional tax revenue for Jasper and Starke counties, NIPSCO officials said.
Both the Dunns Bridge I and Indiana Crossroads solar projects are funded by tax equity investments, which NIPSCO officials say will allow the company to provide electricity to its customers at a lower cost.
NIPSCO, which is headquartered in Merrillville, Ind., serves about 850,000 natural gas and 483,000 electric users across 32 counties.
The company plans to retire its remaining coal-fired units with a goal of reducing its carbon emissions by more than 90% by 2030, as compared to its 2005 baseline.
NIPSCO has completed three northern Indiana windfarms — in White, Benton and Warren counties — and expects to open another in White County later this year. The company also expects to bring two additional solar projects, in White and Sullivan counties, online in 2024 and 2025 respectively.