IPL Gets Approval To Convert More Of Harding Street Facility From Coal To Natural Gas

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Power & Light Company received approval Wednesday from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to convert another portion of its Harding Street Station from coal-fired to natural gas-fired.

IPL says its plans will reduce its dependence on coal from 79 percent in 2007 to 44 percent in 2017, making natural gas IPL’s largest fuel generation source. The utility company is also adding advanced battery-based energy storage to its fleet, which will increase efficiency, and support the integration of renewable power sources.  

“IPL is upgrading existing plants, converting some units from coal to natural gas, and replacing retiring units with natural gas, wind and solar generation as part of its strategy to comply with current and future environmental rules,” said Ken Zagzebski, President of AES United States.

Last year, IPL received approval to convert Units 5 and 6 at the Harding Street plant from coal to natural gas. It now has the green light to invest approximately $70 million to convert Harding Street Unit 7.  

The IURC also approved IPL's request to install and operate wastewater treatment technologies at Harding Street and the Petersburg Generation Station in southern Indiana.