March 27, 2021 Updated: March 27, 2021 12.10.
MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (AP) – North Indiana Public Service Co. adds more than 400 megawatts of wind and solar energy to its energy portfolio in the latest step towards stopping reliance on coal.
NIPSCO announced Monday that it has reached an agreement to buy a 204-megawatt Indiana Crossroads II wind farm, located in White County, northwest Indiana. That farm is a joint venture with EDP Renewables North America LLC and is scheduled to begin operations in 2023.
The Merrillville-based utility also announced that it has signed a 200-megawatt Indiana Crossroads solar park contract in White County that begins operations in 2022. NIPSCO said it will enter into a joint venture with EDP Renewables when it is built.
Wind farms and solar farms represent NIPSCO’s third and fourth joint renewable energy project in Indiana. They are monitoring the collaboration of the utility service at the 302-megawatt Indiana Crossroads I wind farm, which is still under construction, and the 102-megawatt Rosewater operational wind farm.
These moves are part of NIPSCO’s strategy to stop burning coal to produce electricity by 2028. NIPSCO predicts that the change will save $ 4 billion in operating costs, The Post-Tribune of Merrillville reported.
NIPSCO President Mike Hooper said in a statement that the utility is “committed to working with experienced energy developers like EDP Renewables who share our long-term vision of a cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy future.”