Braun team wants to fast-track energy projects as power demand surges
Indiana’s Strategic Energy Growth Task Force has recommended speeding up energy generation and regulatory processes to attract high-demand industries, including data centers. State officials support faster infrastructure deployment, while utility representatives and environmental advocates questioned the recommendations and warned that rapid load growth could strain the grid.
A report from Indiana’s Office of Energy Development recommends accelerating power-generation projects, regulatory reviews and other infrastructure investments as the state seeks to attract energy-intensive industries such as data centers. The recommendations were developed by the Strategic Energy Growth Task Force, created by an executive order from Gov. Mike Braun, and could inform future legislation or actions by state agencies.
Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Suzanne Jaworowski said Indiana needs to bring electricity online faster and expand opportunities for independent power producers while protecting utility customers from financial risks. The report also suggests energy-development zones, public financing and expanded battery storage, while noting an existing expedited process for data-center service agreements when developers cover at least 80% of infrastructure costs.
Indiana Energy Association President Danielle McGrath said utilities support many of the recommendations but remain concerned about potential changes to the state’s regulatory structure. Ben Inskeep of Citizens Action Coalition criticized the push for faster development, arguing that Indiana already faces excessive load growth, supply-chain constraints and insufficient environmental representation in the task force.