For Immediate Release
October 29, 2025
Reliable Energy Statement on the Approval of Duke Energy’s Feasibility Study to Preserve Cayuga Coal Units
Indianapolis, IN. – Today, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approved Duke Energy Indiana’s plans to build a new natural gas plant at its Cayuga Generating Station and conduct an engineering study to evaluate the technical feasibility of continued operation of the site’s current coal units by third parties that may be interested in purchasing them.
Reliable Energy President Savannah Kerstiens shared the following statement after the announcement:
“Duke Energy’s exploration of selling its coal units to an independent third party represents a significant step toward Governor Braun’s vision of ensuring reliable, affordable energy, preserving valuable in-state generation, and strengthening Indiana’s power supply. As power demand continues to rise, a central goal of this vision is to position Indiana as an energy exporter rather than an importer – a milestone that can be achieved by keeping every megawatt of capacity online. Enabling third parties to help advance that effort demonstrates the innovative, entrepreneurial approach that defines Indiana’s energy strategy.”
Duke Energy Indiana added the following statement:
“We appreciate the commission’s careful deliberation and constructive order. Duke Energy covers parts of 69 of Indiana’s 92 counties stretching from Rochester in the North to New Albany in the South, and the Cayuga project will add highly efficient natural gas power generation to supply the growing electric needs of our more than 920,000 Indiana customers. Our Indiana service area has expanded by approximately 126,000 new customers since we brought our last power plant online in 2013. This includes homes and small businesses as well as large power users such as manufacturers. For generations our Cayuga power plant in Vermilion County as served the state, and today’s decision ensures it will continue to be a major source of our state’s power generation for decades to come. Today’s regulatory approval also covered agreements with a group representing our largest business customers as well as Reliable Energy Inc., which represents some of the state’s largest coal producers. The Reliable Energy settlement aligns with Indiana Governor Mike Braun’s recent executive orders encouraging additions to the state’s power supplies and making sure there’s careful evaluation before retiring coal units.”
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Reliable Energy, Inc. (REI) is committed to ensuring an abundant supply of available, affordable, and dependable energy in our great state of Indiana and nationwide. Our members manage the operations of coal, natural gas, solar, and recycled battery storage. To learn more about Reliable Energy, click here.
