Indiana energy advocates say that It is time to pursue alternative forms of energy to help bolster reserves

Click here to watch the WTHI-TV interview aired on August 29, 2024.

 

WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTHI) – At a recent energy conference in Indianapolis, executives with the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator (MISO) highlighted the importance of expanding Indiana’s energy reserves to keep up with the flood of data centers coming to the Hoosier state.

Data centers are large facilities that house high end computer equipment used for large scale quantum computing, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence. As AI becomes more prevalent in the modern business world, data centers have become commonplace necessities for new businesses across the country, and world. Data centers run 24 hours-per-day, and require tremendous amounts of power.

Indiana has seen robust business growth in recent years, from both in and out of state. Many of these opportunities are data centers, such as the $11B Microsoft data center currently under construction near South Bend.

As more and more data centers spring up, Indiana’s energy reserves have become deleted, potentially limiting future growth. A data center can be built within a year, but power plants take up to six years to build. This means that in order to stay ahead of the game, Indiana must turn it’s focus to expanding it’s energy reserves.

“The future of computing, the future of business, its really within AI and quantum computing. And it’s going to take a lot of energy. We want this business, but we have to also look into how we power these opportunities” says Jon Ford, who is the President of Reliable Energy Inc., the largest energy advocacy group in the state.

Advocacy groups have called on state officials to pursue alternative forms of energy, such as wind, solar, and nuclear. Devin Anderson is a successful Indiana Businessman who says that in order to stay ahead of the curve, the state must be proactive in it’s search for new energy sources.

“We need to be very thoughtful and proactive, and operate with a sense of urgency. We need to make sure that we have the power to not only supply our economic development pipeline, but to power our organic growth that’s already here in the state” says Anderson.

As Indiana looks to continue it’s robust economic development, Ford says that finding extra ways to increase reserves will help keep Indiana in the running for exciting growth opportunities.

“Every state is dealing with this, and businesses are dealing with this all over the country. So I think, really, in the next three-four-five years, whatever states can really improve their reserve margins of energy will attract new businesses.