Generating plant meets power needs of Indiana consumers

Indiana electric cooperative leaders and state and local government officials gathered in Lawrence County July 13 to dedicate the Lawrence Generating Station.

The 258-megawatt natural gas-fired generating plant began commercial operation May 1 and provides electricity to nearly 600,000 Indiana, Illinois and Michigan consumers served by 40 electric cooperatives (REMCs and RECs).

Hoosier Energy and Wabash Valley Power Association, power suppliers for Indiana’s electric cooperatives, are partners in the facility, which was constructed on a 50-acre site in southern Lawrence County.

The dedication ceremony included remarks by Hoosier Energy Chief Executive Officer Steve Smith and Wabash Valley Power Chief Operating Officer Rick Coons. Coons was recently named to succeed Ed Martin as the next CEO of the power supply cooperative.

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman also delivered remarks at the dedication. She spoke about the important role electricity plays in a healthy state economy.

“Rural development and energy infrastructure are both being advanced by this generating station,” said Skillman. “This improves the quality of life for all Hoosiers. Siting and building this station serves as a great example of the most effective way local governments, community leaders, neighbors and utility providers can work together to serve the public good.”

The $90 million project will help meet the power needs of the state’s consumer-owned electric cooperatives. The plant has six simple-cycle turbine generators to produce power at times when consumer demand for electricity is high and other periods.

“Central and southern Indiana electric cooperatives have invested considerable time and money so that homes, farms and businesses can continue to depend on reliable and affordable electric power in the future,” said Hoosier Energy CEO Smith.

Hoosier Energy owns four of the plant’s generating units. Wabash Valley Power owns two units. Calpine Power Services operates and maintains the Lawrence Station under a contract with Hoosier Energy.

The plant will increase reliability of electric supply and help manage costs for Indiana’s electric cooperatives. As well, the facility will add to the tax base of Lawrence County.

Project construction began in the fall of 2003. More than 180 workers were on site during peak construction. The site was selected due to its proximity to natural gas and water supply, and access to Hoosier Energy’s high-voltage transmission (161-kilovolt) lines.

Bloomington-based Hoosier Energy is the power supplier for 17 central and southern Indiana electric cooperatives that serve 270,000 consumers in 48 counties. Its member systems include Orange County REMC, Daviess-Martin County REMC, Jackson County REMC and Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC, all of which serve portions of Lawrence County.

Hoosier Energy’s other generation resources include two coal-fired power plants: the 1,070 megawatt Merom Generating Station in Sullivan County and the 250 megawatt Ratts Station in Pike County; and a peaking power facility the, 174 megawatt Worthington Station in Greene County. The power supplier also operates a transmission network with 1,400 miles of line and 200 substations.

Indianapolis-based Wabash Valley Power Association supplies electricity to 27 distribution cooperatives that serve 325,000 customers in northern Indiana, southern Michigan and Illinois. The association is a fully-integrated provider of wholesale electricity, with a diversified power supply portfolio of wholesale market pricing products, effective energy management programs and owned generation.