Hoosier Energy To Close Merom Generating Station

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Bloomington, Ind.  – As part of its new long-range plan, Hoosier Energy today announced the planed closing of its generating station in Sullivan County.

In a press release the company said that following a year-long process, Hoosier Energy today announced that its Board of Directors approved a new long-range resource plan that is designed to provide its 18 member cooperatives with reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy while saving members an estimated $700 million over the next two decades.

Hoosier Energy expects to retire its coal-fired 1,070 megawatt Merom Generating Station in 2023 and transition to a more diverse generation mix that includes a combination of low-cost wind, solar, natural gas and storage. This plan they said, provides a foundation for supply cost stability and predictability while reducing the company’s carbon footprint by nearly 80%.  The Merom plant went on line in 1982.

Approximately 185 employees that currently work at the plant will lose their jobs.

Hoosier Energy President & CEO Donna Walker said, “We sincerely value our dedicated employees and will help those impacted during this transition by working with the IBEW to offer assistance such as retraining, reassignment and professional outplacement, along with retirement options.”

There are several possibilities regarding the future of the site. Hoosier Energy will work with state and local economic development officials to market portions of the Merom property for industrial development. The company will also consider renewable energy generation at the location or pursue a sale of the plant.