“Customer needs and the energy industry continue to evolve, and it’s vital that we plan for tomorrow, today,” said NIPSCO president Violet Sistovaris.
“We’ve identified a preferred path that provides customer and environmental benefits, reflective of our goal to focus on providing affordable, clean energy while maintaining flexibility for future technology and market changes.”
NIPSCO analysed a range of options for its existing electric generating fleet, while evaluating the unique impacts on customer costs, environmental compliance, communities and workforce needs. Based on a combination of those factors, the results led to a plan that will include the retirement of four of the company’s seven coal-fired electric generating units at two different power plants over the next seven years.
NIPSCO plans to retire its Bailly Generating Station coal-fired units as soon as mid-2018 and two of its R.M. Schahfer Generating Station coal-fired units by the end of 2023. These retirements would be subject to review and approval by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).
NIPSCO cites an aging fleet, low market prices for natural gas and new environmental regulations that would require significant investments as some of the primary drivers behind the need for a change.
