OUCC Seeking Comment on I&M Rockport Case
The Rockport Generating Station is I&M's lone coal-fueled power plant in Indiana. (photo courtesy AEP)
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is taking public comment on Indiana Michigan Power’s rate increase proposal filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The utility says the 1.6 percent overall rate increase will help cover the cost of installing new emission controls at its Rockport Generating Station.
The Fort Wayne-based utility announced in October the plan to install selective catalytic reduction emission controls on Unit 2 at the Spencer County plant. The controls will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions and would be installed by 2019, if approved by the IURC, according to I&M.
The project is expected to cost more than $270 million. The emission controls were installed on Unit 1 at the Rockport plant in 2015 after receiving approval from the IURC. The controls are being installed in order for the plant to be in compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
The OUCC is taking written comments on the project through February 22. You can click here for more information on submitting comments.
The IURC is also holding public field hearings, beginning at 6:00 p.m., on the following dates:
- Thursday, February 2, 2017 at the South Spencer High School Auditorium (1142 North County Road 275 West, Rockport, Ind.), and
- Tuesday, February 21, 2017 in the Homestead High School Community Room (4310 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, Ind.).
The Rockport plant employs more than 230 workers and each of the two units at the plant can generate up to 1,300 megawatts of electricity.