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Indiana Michigan Power asked the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to approve a 1,520-megawatt natural gas combined cycle generating facility at its Rockport site in Spencer County.
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If approved, the Rockport Energy Center would start construction in 2027 and enter service in summer 2030. I&M said the project would bring about 1,200 construction jobs.
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The development is part of its Future Ready generation strategy and is intended to add capacity as power demand in its Indiana service area is projected to more than double by the early 2030s.
The utility said in a July 20, 2026, statement that it had filed for a certificate of public convenience and necessity with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for the proposed Rockport Energy Center. I&M said it expects a decision in early 2027. Under the company’s timeline, construction would begin in 2027, and the plant would be operational in summer 2030.
I&M described the Rockport Energy Center as one of the largest utility construction undertakings in Indiana, with an estimated 1,200 construction jobs tied to the buildout.
Rockport Site Set for Next Phase
The project would be built at I&M’s existing Rockport energy site, which the company said has powered homes and businesses for more than 40 years.
I&M said the site offers existing infrastructure, available space and a skilled workforce, making it suitable for additional generation development as the Rockport coal units prepare to retire.
The utility said Rockport’s location and operating history position it for a broader role as an energy hub capable of supporting multiple forms of generation over time.
In addition to the estimated construction employment, I&M said the facility would support 30 to 40 ongoing operational roles after startup.
A map shows Indiana Michigan Power energy resources and assets across Michigan and Indiana. The Rockport site is located at the southern tip of Indiana, shown in a green coal bucket icon. Image: Indiana Michigan Power
The company said the project would increase its generation capacity and reduce reliance on market power purchases, limiting exposure to price volatility.
The scale of the build, 1,520 MW of generating capacity, is, in simple power terms, roughly equivalent to the electricity needs of about 1.2 million to 1.5 million homes.
I&M also said the investment does not change its plans to reduce rates for customers. According to the company, the project is already contemplated within its upcoming rate reduction filing and non-fuel rate freeze.
Power Demand Drives Need for Additional Energy Source
Power demand in its Indiana service area is expected to more than double by the early 2030s, driving the need for additional generation resources.
“The new combined cycle facility will deliver dependable baseload energy, allowing us to serve our existing and future customers efficiently and provide electricity at an affordable cost,” Maryam S. Brown, I&M president and chief operating officer, said in the announcement.
The Rockport Energy Center filing includes details on the anticipated construction schedule, allocation of construction and operating costs, regional transmission capacity, and environmental factors, I&M said.
The proposal is part of the utility’s Future Ready plan, which outlines the generation resources I&M says it needs to maintain reliability and serve future customer demand.
Indiana Michigan Power, based in Fort Wayne, serves more than 600,000 customers across a portfolio that includes nuclear, wind, hydro, solar, and coal generation.
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