INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana regulators have approved
Indianapolis Power & Light Co.’s nearly $670 million plan to upgrade
two of its power plants as part of a push to meet tougher environmental
regulations.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission endorsed
IPL’s plan to build a $631 million natural gas turbine power plant near
Martinsville. That 650-megawatt plant will replace six coal-fired power
units IPL will retire in the face of new federal mercury and air quality
standards.
The utility also received IURC approval Wednesday for a
$36 million plan to convert two coal-fired units to natural gas at its
power plant complex on Indianapolis’ south side.
But
environmentalists say IPL will continue adding to the Indianapolis
metropolitan area’s air quality woes by keeping its "dirtiest"
coal-fired unit running in Indianapolis for years to come.