Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company, is committed to developing diverse, reliable energy to power customers' homes and businesses. I&M recently filed plans with Michigan regulators for additional generation resources, including solar, wind and natural gas, which will play a key role ensuring I&M can meet its customers' future energy needs.  

Plans for these projects were also submitted by I&M to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) in June 2024.

When combined with I&M's existing resources and projects previously approved by regulators that are under development, these proposed projects will provide an increasingly diversified and flexible mix of reliable resources to support customer demand into the future. Further, the transition to additional cleaner energy sources supports I&M's and AEP's target of achieving net zero carbon dioxide emission by 2045.

"I&M is committed to fully supplying the energy needs of our customers now and into the future," said Steve Baker, I&M president and chief operating officer. "Our goal is to develop and reliably operate a robust energy portfolio, with a focus on resource adequacy, affordability and environmental sustainability."

Flexibility to Best Serve Customers

I&M is in the process of a major generation transformation. These proposed resources offer a significant opportunity for I&M to transition to a more diverse generation portfolio while replacing retiring generation.

Additionally, I&M’s Cook Nuclear Plant in Michigan serves as the anchor of the company’s energy resources, generating carbon-emission free energy 24/7. The variety of additional energy sources including solar, wind and natural gas will continue to strengthen the resilience of I&M’s generation resources.  

Access to reliable and clean energy is important to supporting economic development opportunities in the communities I&M serves. Businesses and industries are increasingly looking for access to clean energy in areas where they locate or expand to meet their individual sustainability commitments in a safe and reliable manner. Increasing the availability of these forms of energy will benefit the retention and attraction of new investment and jobs to the region.

Planes Presentados a los Estados

I&M has submitted detailed plans to the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) for additional generation sources detailed below:

(*Energy generated when operating at full capacity)

(**The approximate number of typical homes using 1,000 kilowatt hours of energy per month that each plant would power when generating at capacity)

(***Lawrenceburg will serve as a capacity-only agreement, which enables I&M to buy capacity and not the energy produced; 143MW represents a Michigan-specific contract value)

I&M will purchase the power generated from the independently operated wind and solar power plants. Both solar generation plants will be built by private developers.

Previously announced in 2022, the Elkhart County Solar Plant details have been updated for the 2024 filing, allowing the project to continue to benefit I&M customers.

Plans before the MPSC would also provide I&M the ability to include 143 MW of generation capacity from an existing natural gas facility in Dearborn County, near Lawrenceburg, Ind.

I&M's vision for the future is an integrated approach to developing resource solutions that provide reliability and further create a resilient electric power system. To determine how customer demand can be met, I&M develops a comprehensive Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that evaluates future load requirements and how to fulfill those obligations. I&M's last IRP was approved by the MPSC in 2023, and sought to balance the objectives of affordability, sustainability, reliability and resource diversification. 

If approved, these resources would complement I&M's current clean-energy generation, which includes five solar power plants; wind power from four plants; six hydro-electric plants; and the Cook Nuclear Plant. I&M also continues the development of two additional solar facilities, totaling 469MW, previously approved by both the IURC and MPSC. I&M's coal-fueled plant in Rockport, Ind., will be fully retired in 2028. More than 85% of energy I&M generated in 2023 was carbon-emission free.