TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Duke Energy is proposing a new energy facility in Vermillion County, and Thursday evening, the public was invited to share their thoughts on the idea.
Duke Energy’s Cayuga Station Power Plant is the oldest coal plant in Indiana, approaching 60 years old.
Angeline Protogere, a representative for Duke Energy, said they are looking to replace it.
“We are proposing to replace it with highly efficient natural gas turbines, but we are going to add about 450 megawatts to the site”, Protogere said. “That will be much needed additional energy on the Indiana grid.”
Duke Energy said the need for energy across the state is at an all-time high.
“Since 2013, when our last power plant that was added, we have about 116,000 new customers”, Protogere said. “With that growth, comes a higher demand for power.”
Thursday evening, a hearing was held by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor. Residents were given the chance to share their thoughts on the proposal.
Many area leaders gave their support for Duke Energy, including Vermillion County Commissioner RJ Dunavan. He shared how the plant would not only produce cleaner energy, but benefit the local community.
“The construction phase alone is expected to generate hundreds of jobs in our county, providing work for approximately 250 individuals per year and peaking at 550 jobs during the busiest periods of construction”, Dunavan said. “This not only supports our local workforce but injects meaningful growth into our county.”
Although based in Cayuga, the plant will contribute energy across the state.
“Indiana’s electrical demand has been growing because Indiana has been growing”, Protogere said. “This plant is adding a significant amount of new energy to the Indiana grid.”
Duke Energy said they will not retire existing units until they can be fully replaced.
If the proposal is accepted, construction will begin in late 2025, with completion for the first unit planned for 2029 and the second in 2030.
