Consumer interest in “green power” - electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind, landfills, the sun, and hydroelectric generation facilities - continues to grow in Indiana and throughout the nation.

In Indiana, the electric utility industry is pursuing a variety of green power initiatives, including the development of renewable generation facilities, agreements to purchase renewable energy on the wholesale electric market, and green power billing options for customers. Initiatives and options vary among utilities.

A number of wind energy facilities are operating in and near Benton County, Indiana including the Benton County Wind Farm, the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm, the Hoosier Wind Farm, and the Meadow Lake Wind Project. Wind energy development projects are operating or have been proposed in a number of additional Indiana counties.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) has supported various green power proposals before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) in recent years. This fact sheet offers a basic summary of renewable energy initiatives throughout the state and will be updated periodically.

IPL | Duke Energy | Vectren | I&M | NIPSCO
REMCs | Municipal Utilities | Net Metering
For more information | Energy efficiency

Indianapolis Power & Light Co. (IPL) offers an alternative billing option for Green Power. This option was created under an agreement among IPL, the OUCC and other parties in 1998.

• IPL purchases an amount of renewable energy certificates (RECs) equaling a percentage of the participating customer’s power from renewable sources such as wind, solar or biomass.
  
  
• This voluntary program does require an extra monthly fee. Consumers can cancel at any time at no cost.
  
  
• You choose the equivalent amount (25, 50 or 100%) of your power that is to come from green sources. Using the program's fees, IPL buys RECs which equal the portion of your electricity use you selected to supplement with renewable energy.

“GoGreen Indiana” is a Duke Energy program that last received IURC approval in July 2009, under an agreement between the utility and the OUCC.

• Under this voluntary program, Duke Energy buys an amount equaling the designated amount of the participating customer’s power from environmentally friendly sources. The utility purchases renewable energy certificates (RECs) in order to do so.
  
  
• Customers purchase monthly “blocks” of Green Power for an additional charge. Program participants may cancel at any time by providing 30 days advance notice to Duke Energy.

In April 2008, Duke Energy started receiving power from the Benton County Wind Farm under a 20-year contract to purchase up to 100 MW of wind generation. The OUCC supported this contract and supports other market-driven efforts to create new, cost-effective renewable generation in Indiana.

Duke Energy also operates the Markland Hydro Station on the Ohio River in Switzerland County.

Vectren Energy Delivery has contracts with two wind farms in Benton County to purchase up to 80 MW.

In addition, Vectren operates a 3.2-MW methane gas generation facility at the Blackfoot Landfill in Pike County. The OUCC filed testimony supporting this request before the IURC.

Indiana Michigan Power's (I&M's) parent company - American Electric Power (AEP) - has entered into a contract to buy 100 MW from the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County that will serve customers in Indiana and Michigan. I&M has also received approval to buy 100 MW from the Wildcat Wind Farm in Grant, Howard, Madison and Tipton counties.

I&M operates 2 hydroelectric stations on the St. Joseph River in Indiana and 4 hydroelectric stations in southern Michigan, with a combined capability of just over 22 MW.

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) operates 2 hydroelectric stations in northern Indiana and has received IURC approval to pursue up to 100 MW in power purchase agreements with wind farms in Iowa and South Dakota.

NIPSCO has offered a green power billing option since 2012, which the OUCC supported in IURC filings:

• NIPSCO purchases an amount equaling a percentage of the participating customer's power from renewable sources.
  
  
• This voluntary program requires an extra monthly fee. Consumers can cancel at any time at no cost.
  
  
• You choose the equivalent amount of your power that is to come from renewable sources. Residential customers can choose 25, 50 or 100 percent; 5 and 10 percent options are also available for commercial and industrial customers. NIPSCO buys RECs using the program's fees.

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• Wabash Valley Power Association (WVPA) - which provides electricity to REMCs in northern and central Indiana - operates facilities at 14 Indiana landfills that can generate nearly 44 megawatts of power. The OUCC supported proposals allowing these plants to be built, purchased and operated. WVPA has also entered into an 11-year agreement to purchase power from a wind farm near Bloomington, Illinois.
  
  
• Hoosier Energy - which provides power to REMCs in southern and central Indiana - operates a 3.5-megawatt methane gas-fueled generating plant at the Clark-Floyd Landfill in southern Indiana and an 11-megawatt methane-fueled plant at a Michigan landfill. Hoosier Energy also has a 25-megawatt purchase agreement from an Iowa wind farm, and operates several solar pilot projects.

• You must follow specific rules to ensure your safety and the safety of utility workers.
  
  
• Each utility has specific parameters for net metering, as approved by the IURC.
  
  
• If you are interested in installing such a system, talk to your utility and review the IURC’s
  net metering rule.

Indiana-based resources:

• Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED)
  
  
• Purdue Energy Center at Discovery Park
  
  
• Purdue Extension - Renewable Energy
  
  
• Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy (IUPUI)
  
  
• State Utility Forecasting Group Renewable Energy Resources Study (Sept. 2012)
  

National resources:

• American Wind Energy Association
  
  
• Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy
  
  
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  
  
• Solar Basics
  
  
• US EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program

The OUCC is actively working with Indiana's major energy utilities to expand energy efficiency programs and increase their effectiveness. These include lighting efficiency programs, home weatherization efforts, smart meter proposals and consumer education. The OUCC offers free consumer fact sheets on managing your summer electric, winter energy and water bills.

Conservation tips are also available from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Also, the OUCC strongly encourages qualifying customers to enroll in the voluntary direct load control programs offered by IPL (CoolCents), Duke Energy Indiana (Power Manager), Vectren (Summer Cycler), and various REMCs. These programs offer bill credits in return for letting the utility install a “switch” on your central air conditioning unit. This allows the utility to “cycle” the appliances for brief periods during peak demand times – resulting in little discomfort for the customer but helping the utility ensure reliable service. The OUCC consumer fact sheet on these programs offers more details.

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Toll-free: 1-888-441-2494
Voice/TDD: (317) 232-2494
Fax: (317) 232-5923
Website: www.IN.gov/OUCC
E-mail: uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov
Twitter: @IndianaOUCC
Facebook: IndianaOUCC

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