MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc., announced that its first two Indiana-based solar projects – Indiana Crossroads Solar and Dunns Bridge Solar I – have broken ground and are currently under construction, expected to be online and operating in 2022.
“Breaking ground on our first two solar projects is a critical next step in the evolution of our ‘Your Energy, Your Future’ electric generation transition plan,” said Mike Hooper, NIPSCO President. “We’re proud to be investing in our state and local economies with these two Indiana projects designed to generate lower-cost, sustainable energy.”
Dunns Bridge Solar I is a 265 megawatt (MW) facility located in Jasper County, Ind. A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, is constructing the project. Dunns Bridge Solar I will include an estimated 900,000 solar panels, is expected to be operational in 2022 and will be capable of producing enough energy to power 79,500 homes. The second phase of the project, Dunns Bridge Solar II, which will also be constructed by NextEra Energy Resources, will have 435 MW of solar paired with 75 MW of battery storage. Dunns Bridge Solar II will include an estimated 1,500,000 solar panels and is expected to be operational in 2023. NextEra Energy Resources will sell both completed projects to NIPSCO.
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with NextEra Energy Resources and NIPSCO to deliver one of the largest solar investments in the nation, right here in Jasper County, Indiana,” said Stephen Eastridge, Jasper County Economic Development Director. “Dunns Bridge Solar will provide a sustainable future for Jasper County, by injecting much-needed tax base and jobs, both construction and permanent, into our local economy.”
Dunns Bridge Solar I & II are expected to generate approximately $59 million in additional tax revenue for Jasper County over the life of the projects and approximately 300 jobs during construction. This project was originally developed by Orion Wind Resources LLC, a joint venture between Orion Renewable Energy Group LLC and MAP® Energy. Learn more about Dunns Bridge Solar I & II at www.DunnsBridgeSolar.com.
Indiana Crossroads Solar is a 200 MW solar farm located in White County, Ind. EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) is developing and constructing the project. The solar park will be a joint venture between NIPSCO and EDPR.
Indiana Crossroads Solar will disburse more than $1 million each year to landowners and more than $40 million in local government payments over the life of the project. The project will also support hundreds of jobs during the solar park’s construction and several full-time, permanent jobs to maintain and operate the project.
“Indiana Crossroads Solar Park is the fourth project EDPR NA and NIPSCO have collaborated on, and we are pleased to expand our partnership with NIPSCO and our presence in the Hoosier State,” said Miguel Prado, EDP Renewables North America CEO. “White County has long embraced renewable energy projects, and the addition of the Indiana Crossroads Solar Park will mean even more economic and environmental benefits for the local community.”
These solar projects were selected through a Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation in 2019 that NIPSCO conducted as part of its “Your Energy, Your Future” electric generation strategy.
The company plans to be 100 percent coal-free by 2028 by retiring its coal-fired generation and adding a combination of cleaner energy sources to its existing portfolio*, which includes wind, natural gas and hydroelectric generation. This generation transition helps deliver a more affordable, reliable and sustainable energy mix for NIPSCO customers for years to come – saving customers $4 billion over the long term.
With these two solar projects, two completed wind farms and 10 more renewable projects planned or under construction, NIPSCO will have a total of 14 completed renewable projects by the end of 2023. These projects include a combination of similar joint venture agreements and power purchase agreements.
Current Project Profile List
These projects were selected following a comprehensive review of bids submitted through the all-source RFP process that NIPSCO conducted in 2018 and again in late 2019 – which continues to affirm the conclusions of the 2018 NIPSCO IRP, that wind and solar resources were shown to be lower-cost options for customers compared to other energy resource options. Projects are listed with projected in-service dates.
- Rosewater Wind Farm – 102 MW of wind, located in White County, Ind. (Complete)
- Jordan Creek Wind – 400 MW of wind, located in Benton and Warren counties, Ind. (Complete)
- Indiana Crossroads I Wind – 300 MW of wind, located in White County, Ind. (2021)
- Dunns Bridge Solar I – 265 MW of solar, located in Jasper County, Ind. (2022)
- Indiana Crossroads Solar – 200 MW of solar, located in White County, Ind. (2022)
- Brickyard Solar – 200 MW of solar, located in Boone County, Ind. (2022)
- Greensboro Solar – 100 MW of solar and 30 MW of battery storage, located in Henry County, Ind. (2022)
- Green River Solar – 200 MW of solar, located in Breckinridge and Meade counties, Ky. (2023)
- Dunns Bridge Solar II – 435 MW of solar and 75 MW of battery storage, located in Jasper County, Ind. (2023)
- Cavalry Solar – 200 MW of solar and 60 MW of battery storage, located in White County, Ind. (2023)
- Gibson Solar – 280 MW of solar, located in Gibson County, Ind. (2023)
- Fairbanks Solar – 250 MW of solar, located in Sullivan County, Ind. (2023)
- Indiana Crossroads II Wind – 204 MW of wind, located in White County, Ind. (2023)
- Elliot Solar – 200 MW of solar, located in Gibson County, Ind. (2023)
These projects have been approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC).
NIPSCO is currently finalizing its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) – a regulatory process used in Indiana and other states to thoroughly analyze and outline how electric utilities plan to serve customers’ energy needs in the future. The process includes multiple public forums involving participation and input from customers, consumer representatives, environmental organizations and other stakeholders that will extend through October, when the plan will be submitted to the IURC.
Learn about NIPSCO’s “Your Energy, Your Future” plans and the latest information at NIPSCO.com/future.
*NIPSCO may sell in the future and has previously sold the Renewable Energy Credits from this generation to a third party because this helps keep our energy more affordable for our customers.
