The latest Integrated Resource Plan has been released by Indiana Michigan Power. Spokesperson Tracy Warner tells WSJM News under state law I&M has to release a plan covering the next several years every five years. This latest plan includes a commitment to quadrupling I&M’s use of wind and solar energy by 2028.
“One of the things that is driving this is that I&M’s coal-fueled Rockport plant in southern Indiana will be retired by the end of 2028, and I&M obviously has to have the resources and the generation to make up for that,” Warner said.
Warner says I&M is looking to add 2,100 megawatts of wind and solar energy generation by 2028. That’s almost as much power as is generated by the Cook plant. Warner says there are multiple benefits to using clean energy.
“One thing about wind and solar energy are there are no fuel costs, so we know these will be an affordable way to generate electricity.”
Another benefit, Warner says, is relying on renewables at home reduces vulnerability to future events that could affect energy supply. I&M is now looking at where to have these wind and solar farms, and will be announcing more in the coming years.
