Dive Brief:

• Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) finalized agreements on Friday with three renewables developers for a trio of wind projects capable of generating up to 800 MW, the first steps in its plan to stop delivering coal-fired power.
• NIPSCO filed an integrated resource plan (IRP) in October that lays out a route to be coal-free by 2028, relying on a combination of wind, solar and battery storage technology. Projects selected in the first RFP were all wind-powered.
• To develop the projects, the NiSource subsidiary selected Apex Clean Energy, EDP Renewables North America and NextEra Energy Resources. The wind power is expected to be in operation by late 2020.

Dive Insight:

With a nameplate capacity of 800 MW, and an expected capacity credit of 15.6%, NIPSCO should get about 125 MW from the wind resources it has selected — "not far off what was in our IRP" last year, utility spokesman Ken Stammen said. 

That means the next RFP, out later this year, is likely to focus on other resources. NIPSCO's IRP included a mix of 1,500 MW of solar and storage, 150 MW of wind, 125 MW of efficiency and demand-side management and 50 MW of market purchases by 2028.

NIPSCO wants to add enough renewable energy resources to its system over the next decade to more than double the existing renewable energy in Indiana. Utility officials say the generation transition it is undertaking will mean $4 billion in cost-savings for customers over the long term.

NIPSCO said it has already made a request for the projects with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

NextEra will construct the largest project, the 400 MW, roughly 160-turbine Jordan Creek project, near Williamsport, Indiana. NIPSCO will purchase the power directly from Jordan Creek, which will operate the facility. 

The 300 MW Roaming Bison project will be developed by Apex, near Waynetown, Indiana. The project will include an estimated 107 turbines, and run under a similar operating structure as Jordan Creek.

The 102 MW Rosewater project will be developed by EDP in White County, Indiana, with an estimated 25 turbines. NIPSCO has entered into a joint venture and ownership agreement with EDP on the project.