I&M Seeks Approval for 1.5-GW Rockport Gas Power Plant

(P&GJ) — Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) has filed an application with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) seeking approval to construct a 1,520-MW natural gas combined-cycle power plant at its Rockport, Indiana, generating site as part of its strategy to meet growing electricity demand.

The proposed Rockport Energy Center would replace retiring coal-fired generation at the site and is expected to begin operating in the summer of 2030, pending regulatory approval. If approved, construction would begin in 2027.

I&M said electricity demand across its Indiana service territory is projected to more than double by the early 2030s, making additional dispatchable generation necessary to maintain system reliability.

The company said the existing Rockport site offers established infrastructure, available land and a skilled workforce, allowing it to transition into a broader energy hub as the coal units retire.

I&M President and Chief Operating Officer Maryam S. Brown said the project is intended to provide reliable, long-term generation while supporting customer demand.

"The new combined-cycle facility will deliver dependable baseload energy, allowing us to serve our existing and future customers efficiently while providing affordable electricity," Brown said.

The utility said the project is expected to create approximately 1,200 construction jobs and 30 to 40 permanent operating positions. It also expects the plant to reduce reliance on wholesale electricity purchases, helping limit exposure to market price volatility.

Local officials also voiced support for the proposal.

"We are pleased that I&M is seeking to build new generation at the Rockport site and continue investing in Spencer County," the Spencer County Board of Commissioners said in a joint statement.

The filing requests a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) from the IURC. A decision is expected in early 2027.