Duke Energy Indiana's solar power plant is now in commercial service and sending clean, renewable solar energy to customers throughout its 69-county service territory.
The plant, which can generate as much as 17MW of alternating current power, is located at Naval Support Activity Crane (NSA Crane), approximately 40 miles south of Bloomington, Ind. When operating at full capacity, the solar power plant can provide electricity for more than 2,700 average-size homes.
"This is a landmark development in renewable energy for our company and our customers," said Melody Birmingham-Byrd, state president, Duke Energy Indiana. "It demonstrates our continuing commitment to include renewable energy, such as solar, wind and hydro, in our diversified portfolio of generation sources."
The plant comprises approximately 76,000 solar panels on about 145 acres of land the company has leased from the Department of the Navy (DON). This solar facility contributed to the DON meeting its goal to bring one gigawatt of renewable energy into procurement by the end of 2015.