Rockport Plant became operational in 1984 with its first energy generating unit. A second unit was later put into operation in 1989, producing 2,600 megawatts of total power.

The plant, located along the Ohio River, is operational thanks to 144 employees who work around the clock to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of power. Leading those employees is Energy Production Superintendent, Kenneth Baker. He's been with I&M and at the Rockport Plant for 13 years and says he's always learning and is excited for the future. 

How long have you been with I&M and in what roles?

I was hired as an intern in February 2012 and then quickly hired on as a full-time employee in October of the same year as a plant equipment operator. In July of 2013, I received the opportunity to begin training to become a unit operator in the control room. In 2021, I was promoted to Production Support Leader and later that year Operations Team Leader. All roles were on the rotating shift teams in plant operations. I was in the Team Leader role until June of 2024 when I got the opportunity to take on the challenge of being an Energy Production Superintendent.

How would you describe your role at the Rockport Plant?

In my current role, I ensure the team at the plant has the training and resources needed to perform and operate the plant in the safest and most efficient way possible. I work with commercial operations with load scheduling to get the most value out of our units and I am also involved in budgetary decision making and future planning.

What’s something most people would be surprised to know about the plant or the employees?

Resilience. We have had many ups and downs at Rockport over the last several years between staffing reductions, reduced runtime followed by increases in runtime and the upcoming retirement date for the coal units. With these challenges, our team has remained focused and dedicated to serving our customers safely and reliably.

We've seen a lot of changes at Rockport in my 13 years. However, the commitment, integrity and character of the team has never been stronger. I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Can you share how the plant focuses on safety?

I would stand Rockport's pre-job briefings up against anyone. We focus on Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs) hazards and mitigations and Human Performance Index (HPI) tools every day, for every job. We also give everyone the power and responsibility to stop jobs where they see something they don't think is safe.

What’s your favorite part about working for I&M?

My favorite part has always been the opportunity to learn. I always tell people that if anyone working here says they haven't learned something on any given day - they weren't paying attention. It's a challenging field. There are a lot of moving parts, both physically and proverbially. I'm confident that a person could work here their entire career and learn something new every day.

What’s the biggest career lesson you’ve learned during your time with I&M?

Strong leaders need to have empathy. Having the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes can give you a great deal of insight on how best to train and coach your team.