Indiana regulators OK energy project tied to Google’s Morgan County data center
Indiana's Utility Regulatory Commission has approved Invenergy's request to not exercise jurisdiction over its Crosstrack Energy Storage project. This project is linked to Google's data center in Morgan County, Indiana, and will provide backup power through 130 megawatts of battery storage.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) has approved a request from Chicago-based Invenergy to exempt its Crosstrack Energy Storage project from the commission's jurisdiction over construction, ownership, and operation. This decision facilitates a crucial energy project designed to support Google's data center located in Morgan County, Indiana.
The Crosstrack project involves the deployment of 130 megawatts of battery storage, intended to provide backup power for Google's facility. According to IURC documents, the project will consist of 90 battery storage units and two 345-kilovolt transmission lines, connecting to American Electric Power's Rockport-Jefferson transmission line. The IURC determined that Invenergy's project is not considered a public utility, and therefore, does not fall under its regulatory oversight. This aligns with Indiana law, which allows power producers to bypass IURC jurisdiction if they do not directly sell power to the public or if their primary function is to serve a specific, non-utility customer.
Invenergy's representatives explained that the storage facility is specifically designed to meet the energy needs of Google's data center, which will be the sole off-taker of its energy output. The IURC's approval, issued by Commissioner David Veleta, underscores the state's approach to energy infrastructure development for large industrial consumers like data centers, emphasizing direct agreements between power producers and end-users.