Indiana utility company Northern Indiana Public Service Co. LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc., has selected three new wind farms that will be tied into its electric system. The announcement is part of the energy provider’s “Your Energy, Your Future” initiative, focused on delivering a more affordable and sustainable energy mix. Under NIPSCO’s plans to be coal-free by 2028, the company is replacing coal-fired generation with a combination of wind, solar and battery storage. NIPSCO has finalized agreements with three renewable energy developers for Indiana projects: Apex Clean Energy, EDP Renewables North America LLC and NextEra Energy Resources LLC. The new wind capacity is expected to be in operation by late 2020. The three announced projects represent approximately 800 MW of nameplate capacity. The three projects were selected following a review of bids submitted through a request for proposals (RFP) that NIPSCO ran as part of its 2018 integrated resource plan process, which concluded that wind and solar resources were shown to be lower-cost options for customers compared to other energy resources. NIPSCO has requested the addition of these new projects in filings with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission: Based on NIPSCO’s preferred plan, the amount of renewable energy resources NIPSCO is planning to add to its system over the next decade would more than double the amount of existing renewable energy in the state of Indiana. NIPSCO expects to announce additional renewable projects and plans to issue a second RFP later in the year. “We’re excited for the opportunity to add more homegrown renewable energy in Indiana,” says Violet Sistovaris, NIPSCO’s president. “In addition to the economic benefits that projects like these add, the transition we’re making in our electric generation equates to an estimated $4 billion in cost-savings for customers over the long term.”
The renewable Indiana Public Service Company ( NIPSCO ) has signed contracts for three wind projects as part of its efforts to replace dams with more sustainable alternatives . The Jordan Creek project will be located in Benton and Warren counties . Developed by NextEra Energy Resources , the 400 MW wind farm will comprise 160 wind turbines . The 300 MW solar Bison project , in Montgomery County near Waynetown , will be powered by Apex Clean Energy , and will include 107 turbines . The third project , Rosewater , will be based in White County . Developed by EDP Energy , the 102 MW wind project will comprise 25 turbines .