I&M solar plants are expected to generate energy this year

The Fort Wayne-based utility’s plant in Marion is already complete.

The other three plants are in various stages of construction. Construction just started at the site in Watervliet, where contractors are driving posts into the ground for the racks that hold solar panels. Meanwhile, solar panels are being installed at Olive Solar Power Plant near New Carlisle. Construction is nearly complete at Twin Branch Solar Power Plant in Mishawaka and testing is scheduled to begin at that location in July.

“I&M is excited to see these solar power plants grow from fields near South Bend and in Michigan,” Paul Chodak III, president and COO I&M, said in a news release. “Along with I&M’s Cook Nuclear Plant, wind and hydroelectric plants, these three solar power plants will add to the 60 percent carbon-free energy I&M customers use today.”

The utility chose the plant locations because of their proximity to existing and future I&M substations, which minimizes the cost to deliver the energy to its transmission grid and its more than 589,000 customers.