Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) has received approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to build five solar power facilities across northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

I&M intends to use the power to generate electricity and supplement its coal-fired, hydro-electric, nuclear and wind farm operations. Two of the solar facilities will be built in St. Joseph county, one will be in Marion and one will be in Watervliet, MI. The location of the fifth facility has not yet been decided.

“This historic utility-scale solar project will further diversify I&M’s generation sources, creating flexibility to economically and reliably provide energy under a multitude of potential circumstances,” said Paul Chodak III, I&M’s president and COO.

The project is estimated to cost $38 million, with the impact on customer rates expected to be approximately 0.3 percent. The five solar sites are expected to generate around 16 megawatts once up and running. I&M plans to build additional solar facilities in the coming years.

Source: WANE