Fort Wayne & NE Indiana News

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I&M Begins Generating Solar Energy

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M), an operating unit of American Electric Power

(NYSE: AEP), has begun generating solar power, adding an important form of renewable energy to its

generation fleet.

The Deer Creek Solar Facility, just south of Marion, Ind., went online Dec. 31 following a thorough

commissioning process to ensure all equipment is functioning properly and safely. The facility is

generating up to 2.5 megawatts of electricity, and its generation is expected to power the equivalent of

about 350 homes annually.

“This is a significant milestone for Indiana Michigan Power and our customers,” said Paul Chodak III,

President and Chief Operating Officer of I&M. “Our large-scale solar facility in Marion and the three

I&M is building in the Michiana area in the coming year are an important achievement now, and they

collectively mark an important first step into a future that includes more renewable solar energy for

I&M customers.”

In addition to the Deer Creek facility, I&M broke ground last fall on the Twin Branch solar facility just

outside Mishawaka. Two more facilities – near Watervliet, Mich., and New Carlisle, Ind. – will also

begin generating solar energy in 2016. Combined, the four facilities will have a capacity of nearly 15

megawatts and produce enough energy to power 2,000 homes annually.

Indiana customers can demonstrate their support for solar energy by participating in IM Solar, a

program that allows participants to attribute part or all of their electricity consumption to solar.

Customers can subscribe to retire Renewable Energy Certificate blocks at $2.21 per month. One

50 kilowatt block is equivalent to about 5 percent of a typical home’s electric use. To learn more about

IM Solar or to sign up, go to www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/Solar.

“Customers have increasingly told us they want more renewable energy, and our large-scale solar

facilities will be significantly more efficient than rooftop solar,” Chodak said.

The new solar power further diversifies I&M’s generation portfolio, which also includes nuclear, hydro,

coal and, through power purchase agreements, wind. About half of I&M’s generation portfolio is from

non-carbon-emitting sources.