Indiana Michigan Power is looking to build and operate five solar energy facilities in the two states.
This addition would add solar energy to the Forte Wayne-based company's list of emission-free power sources, which currently consists of nuclear, hydro and wind, according to WNDU-TV.
The Clean Energy Solar Generation Facilities are expected to be located in the Muncie-Marion area, South Bend area and in Michigan, but I&M has not finalized the locations of the generators yet.
"I&M constantly looks at emerging technologies and our customers' evolving needs, and now is the right time to move forward with solar power," said Paul Chodak III, president and COO of I&M.
Chodak added that the company would use the project to "further broaden the diversity of our power generation, with three sources of renewable energy- solar, wind and water. In addition, more than one-third of the power we produce comes from the emission-free Cook Nuclear Plant."
The Clean Energy Solar Pilot Project must be approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in order for the facilities to be built. If the project gains approval, it will be able to generate 16 megawatts, which is equal to powering over 2,500 homes for a year, News Sentinel reported.
The company is also looking for permission from state regulators to let customers subscribe to receive 50-kilowatt hour blocks of Solar Renewable Energy Credits through the new Green Power Program. The program is designed for customers to show support for solar power.
The project, which is estimated to cost $38 million, will allow I&M to study first-hand how utility-scale solar facilities are designed, constructed and operated, WNDU-TV reported.
"We will use the knowledge we gain from operating this pilot project to help offer customers additional safe, reliable, clean energy as we further expand solar production and examine other generation options in the future," Chodak said.
I&M is expected to start construction for the project in early 2016, and it is slated to be finished later that year.
