NIPSCO's first two Indiana solar projects now online

[Finishline42]

Generating electricity and tax dollars for the local community.

NIPSCO has brought online its first two Indiana solar farms, which are now generating more than 465 megawatts of electricity.

Indiana Crossroads and Dunns Bridge I Solar, NIPSCO's first two Indiana solar farms, are now operating and producing cleaner energy.

“The addition of our first solar parks to our electric generating portfolio represents meaningful investments in the state of Indiana and a direct benefit to our customers,” said NIPSCO President Mike Hooper. “These completed projects are a crucial step in advancing our long-term energy transition plan, providing sustainable, reliable and cost-effective energy now and into the future.”

The Merrillville-based utility estimates customers have gotten $60 million in direct benefits from credits it's sold from excess renewable energy it has generated thus far.

EDP Renewables North America developed Indiana Crossroads Solar, a 200-megawatt solar farm in in White County. It's expected to generate $42 million in property tax payments over the next 35 years, also contributing $2.6 million in Economic Development Agreement funds to the county.

snip

Dunns Bridge I Solar generates 265 megawatts of electricity. It's in Jasper County near the R.M. Schahfer Generating Station, which will be retired in 2025 if NIPSCO's renewable energy transition goes according to plan. It will be followed by the construction of the Dunns Bridge II Solar Farm in Jasper and Starke counties, which will be able to produce 435 megawatts of solar energy with 75 megawatts of battery storage.

The two Dunns Bridge solar farms are expected to contribute $59 million in tax revenue after they're both online next year.

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/nipscos-first-two-indiana-solar-projects-now-online-and-generating-electricity/article_1475f588-2010-11ee-8e97-7f02226fb10e.html

[NNadir]

1. Really? For what period of time are they generating 465 Megawatts?

Do they do it at night?

Under snow?

The unit of energy, of course, is not the Watt, it's the Joule. There is a well known term by which power plants are rated on their reliability, which is called the "capacity factor."

What is the capacity factor of these 465 "Megawatt" plants?

If it's something like 25% - probably extremely generous for Indiana - then the plant is roughly the equivalent of a 90 Watt gas plant, with the main difference being that one doesn't have to build two gas plants to have an average continuous power of 90 Watts.

I've been seeing these "Megawatts" of solar power announced with excitement here for twenty years. Have any of them had any effect on climate change, or is climate change getting worse faster?

[Think. Again.]

2. REALLY!!!

As the article clearly states, this solar project will REPLACE the existing coal -fired plant

"....in Jasper County near the R.M. Schahfer Generating Station, which will be retired in 2025 if NIPSCO's renewable energy transition goes according to plan."

So YES!!! these megawatts WILL have an effect on clmate change by eliminating the CO2 emissions of the coal plant they are replacing.

[Finishline42]

3. I think every time DQ VIII jumps up and down in rage

Another wind or solar farm comes on line...

[honest.abe]

4. Pardon my ignorance.. what does DQ VIII stand for?

TIA