OUCC: Green Power

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, including the Wildcat Wind Farm now operating in Madison and Tipton Counties.

Solar and methane energy production also continue to grow in Indiana, with examples noted below.

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 page offers a basic summary of renewable energy initiatives throughout the state and will be updated periodically.

AES Indiana (formerly IPL)
AES Indiana offers an alternative billing option for Green Power. This option was created under an agreement among IPL, the OUCC and other parties.
- AES 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 requires 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, AES buys RECs which equal the portion of your electricity use you selected to supplement with renewable energy.
AES's renewable efforts include:
- A 100 megawatt (MW) purchased power agreement with the Hoosier Wind Farm in Benton County.
- An agreement to purchase up to 200 additional megawatts from a wind farm in Minnesota.
- The development of solar projects totaling nearly 100 MW. The largest airport solar farm in North America is now operating at Indianapolis International Airport, with another large solar farm adjacent to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
- Special rates for electric vehicles.
CenterPoint Energy (formerly Vectren)

CenterPoint Energy's 50 MW solar project in Spencer County is now online. A settlement agreement among the OUCC, Citizens Action Coalition, and Vectren received IURC approval in Cause No. 45086.
The utility is operating two solar projects in Evansville and has contracts with two wind farms in Benton County to purchase up to 80 MW.
In addition, CenterPoint Energy 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.
Duke Energy
“GoGreen Indiana” is a Duke Energy program that last received IURC approval in 2017, 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.
Under a partnership with the OUCC, Duke Energy has contributed $1 million to the Battery Innovation Center (BIC) near Crane. A 2016 settlement agreement regarding Duke Energy's Edwardsport generating station provided an additional $500,000 to the center.
Duke Energy:
- Has received IURC approval for the Camp Atterbury Microgrid and Nabb Battery. The OUCC recommended approval.
- Is operating a 17 MW solar-powered generating facility at NSC Crane, following an agreement with the OUCC that received Commission approval.
- Has received IURC approval of purchased power agreements with 4 solar energy facilities in Indiana (in Clay, Howard, Sullivan, and Vigo counties), including rate recovery for the costs. The OUCC filed testimony supporting the request, with recommended reporting requirements.
- Has received IURC approval of a solar purchased power agreement with an additional Clay County facility. The OUCC filed testimony supporting the request, with recommended reporting requirements.
- Receives power from the Benton County Wind Farm under a 20-year, 100 MW contract.
- Operates the Markland Hydro Station on the Ohio River in Switzerland County.
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M)

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) offers a voluntary green power rate, with customers able to buy renewable energy produced by the utility's new solar facilities.
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 two 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.
In Cause No. 45245, the IURC approved a settlement agreement allowing I&M to build and operate a new 20-MW solar project in St. Joseph County.
In 2015, the IURC approved I&M's proposal for a 15-MW solar pilot project including facilities in Marion, Mishawaka, New Carlisle, and Watervliet, Mich.
Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO)
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) has offered its 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.
NIPSCO has received and is seeking IURC approval for new wind and solar projects. For more information, please click here.
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.
Rural Electric Membership Cooperatives
Member-owners of rural electric membership cooperatives (REMCs) can purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) through the EnviroWatts program. A number of REMCs are involved in green power initiatives, especially the use of generation facilities fueled by methane gas at landfills.
- Wabash Valley Power Alliance (WVPA) - which provides electricity to REMCs in northern and central Indiana - operates facilities at 15 Indiana landfills that can generate 53 megawatts of power. The OUCC supported proposals allowing these plants to be built, purchased and operated. WVPA has also entered into agreements to purchase 219 MW from wind farms in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. In addition, WVPA operates a 1.7 MW cattle waste digester in Jasper County, along with solar facilities in Danville, Peru, and Wanatah.
- Hoosier Energy - which provides power to REMCs in southern and central Indiana - operates a 4-megawatt methane gas-fueled generating plant at the Clark-Floyd Landfill in southern Indiana, 2 methane-fueled plants in Illinois, and the 13-megawatt Osprey Point Renewable Energy Station in Sullivan County, fueled by coalbed methane. Hoosier Energy also has purchase agreements with Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa wind farms, operates several solar pilot projects, and has a 20-year purchase agreement from a hydroelectric facility in northern Illinois.
Municipal Electric Utilities

The Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) – which provides wholesale power to 60 municipally owned electric utilities in Indiana – operates 38 solar parks in communities throughout the state, with a total production of 140 MW.
IMPA has also entered into an agreement to purchase 50 megawatts of energy from an Iowa wind farm and has purchased renewable energy credits for wind power since 2007.
Customers of IMPA utilities can purchase renewable energy through a voluntary green power rate.
Distributed Generation
Consumers who wish to reduce their electric bills by generating their own solar or wind energy can do so by installing generators and metering equipment to measure energy output. When you don’t need all of your self-generated power, your system can be designed to sell power back to the utility – running your meter backward. Net metering tariffs for Indiana investor-owned electric utilities are ending this year, being replaced by Excess Distributed Generation (EDG) tariffs.
- You must follow specific rules to ensure your safety and the safety of utility workers.
- Each utility has specific parameters as approved by the IURC.
- If you are interested in installing such a system, talk to your utility and review the IURC’s applicable rules. Be aware of changes to the state's net metering policy under Senate Enrolled Act 309 (2017), including the conversion to Excess Distributed Generation (EDG) tariffs in 2022.
For More Information
Indiana-based resources:
National resources:

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