CAYUGA, Ind. (WISH) — Following an executive order from Indiana’s Republican governor, a feasibility study will be done on the potential sale of Duke Energy’s existing coal-powered generating units at the Cayuga Generating Station, alongside the electricity utility’s plans to build new natural gas-powered units there.

In announcing the decision Tuesday afternoon, Duke Energy said in a news release that an agreement reached with Reliable Energy Inc. to do the study aligns with Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s executive orders regarding coal unit evaluations and aims to enhance the state’s power supplies.

Reliable Energy touts itself as an Indiana-based organization focused on promoting a dependable energy supply through advocacy and education. Coal supporters Alliance Coal and Hallador Energy formed Reliable Energy. In Duke’s release, Reliable Energy President Savannah Kerstiens said the decision “represents a meaningful step toward preserving reliable, in-state power generation for Hoosiers.”

Duke Energy Indiana’s settlement with Reliable Energy involves a request pending before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission for the proposed new natural gas plant.

Duke Energy in February revealed its plans to build natural-gas units at the site of its coal-fired Cayuga Generating Station. Duke Energy estimates the project at its Vermillion County station will cost about $3.33 billion. The electricity utility serves about 900,000 customers in 69 Indiana counties.

The proposed new plant would include two natural gas-fired combined cycle generating units with a total capacity winter rating of 1,476 megawatts. The new units would be placed in service by September 2029 and May 2030. They would replace two coal-fired units that have been in use since the 1970s, with a total capacity winter rating of 1,005 megawatts.