Indiana Michigan Power scraps plans for wind RFP in lieu of developing wind power itself

摘要

Looking to develop its own wind energy projects in Indiana, American Electric Power subsidiary Indiana Michigan Power has decided not to issue a formal solicitation this year to purchase up to 100 MW of wind power as a late 2007 integrated resource plan indicated it would (EUW, 10 Dec '07, 21). "We'd like to develop some wind power within our own service territory," I&M spokesman Michael Brian said last week. To prepare for that possibility, I&M has set up wind testing towers in Jay, Randolph and Wayne counties. They will monitor wind speeds and availability of the free energy source for at least another year. Then, the utility plans to review the results and determine how to proceed with a commercial wind energy project. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission last year approved I&M's first wind purchase - a 20-year, 100-MW acquisition from the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm under development in Benton and Tippecanoe counties in Indiana. BP Alternative Energy and its project partner, Dominion, began construction work on the wind farm, located about 90 miles northwest of Indianapolis, in early June.