Indiana AG asks federal court to block Rockport coal plant unit closure
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is asking a federal court to set aside part of a 2019 consent decree that requires Rockport Generating Station's Unit 1 to retire by the end of 2028. Rokita argues that growing electricity demand, including from data centers, and grid reliability concerns necessitate keeping the coal unit operational. This legal challenge aims to prevent the early retirement of the power source.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a request with a federal court to partially set aside a 2019 consent decree. This decree currently mandates that Unit 1 of the Rockport Generating Station cease operations by December 31, 2028. Rokita contends that evolving energy demands and critical grid reliability issues warrant a reevaluation of the agreement, emphasizing that the plant provides essential jobs, tax revenue, and reliable power for the state.
The Attorney General highlighted projections showing electricity demand, driven in part by data centers, could more than double in the coming years. He argued that losing 2,600 megawatts of capacity from Unit 1, in addition to the already planned closure of Unit 2, would be detrimental. The original consent decree stemmed from 2007 pollution lawsuits over Clean Air Act violations, giving plant owner Indiana Michigan Power the choice to install costly pollution controls or retire Unit 1. The company chose retirement, citing $1 billion in avoided upgrade costs.
Rokita's filing follows a directive from Governor Mike Braun to review environmental agreements that contributed to coal-plant retirements. He also referenced warnings from regional grid operator PJM about potential generating capacity retirements by 2030, stressing that coal remains vital for grid stability alongside natural gas and potential nuclear generation. Indiana Michigan Power acknowledged the Attorney General's focus on reliability and stated its commitment to working with policymakers while advancing its plans for new natural gas generation and exploring future nuclear development.