Carmel utility grows toward more sustainable energy

CARMEL (Inside INdiana Business) — Indiana Municipal Power Agency, operating in Carmel, has agreed to purchase 100 megawatts of solar energy from Clean Energy Infrastructure, a company in New York that invests in renewable energy projects.

CEI purchased 14 solar park projects from Nebraska-energy company Tenaska, including a solar farm under development in Indiana providing the power to be acquired by IMPA.

Financial details of the agreement with IMPA were not disclosed.

CEI says Tenaska is still in charge of pre-construction of the solar park, which is located on about 1,200 acres in southern Indiana.

“We are honored to collaborate with Capital Dynamics and Tenaska on this project,” said IMPA President and Chief Executive Officer Raj Rao. “We are confident the solar project will meet the long-term power needs of our members and their customers, and we’re grateful for their contribution to making it happen.”

Construction is expected to finish and reach commercial operations in the second half of 2022.

“This agreement with IMPA strengthens our presence in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) market and demonstrates our long-term commitment to helping the region reach its renewable power goals,” said Benoit Allehaut, managing director on Capital Dynamics’ Clean Energy Infrastructure team. “This project is a part of our larger goal to foster the development of a solar-dominant culture throughout the Midwest.”

IMPA is a nonprofit organization whose members include municipally-owned electric utilities. They provide power to 61 communities in Indiana and Ohio.