Solar energy is growing fast in Indiana, which bodes well for clean energy as a whole in the state. Indiana ranks third among states in terms of solar power in development, with more than 6,000 megawatts set to come online, according to the American Clean Power Association.
But Jeff Danielson, vice president of advocacy with the Clean Grid Alliance, said solar is just one part of the story. He said the state also has been a leader in wind power, and has the potential attract investment in battery storage.
“You’ve got all the ingredients for Indiana to be a leader in the country in clean energy,” said Danielson, “and that’s why I think it’s apropos to describe Indiana as the ‘crossroads of clean energy’ in America right now.”
Indiana also ranks third in the nation for coal consumption, but Danielson said state leaders have made a purposeful turn toward clean energy and deserve credit for its leading status in solar development.
He also noted that the Midwest energy economy overall is poised to get a boost from a number of measures passed in Congress, including the Inflation Reduction Act and last year’s infrastructure bill.
Danielson said solar has advantages for farmers who host projects as well. He noted that runs counter to the way coal plants have operated, where they’re often sited on the edge of town.
“Our companies have a business-to-business, value-added agriculture relationship with the landowners for the length of the leases,” said Danielson, “20 to 30 years.”
Danielson said the biggest challenge is that the electric grid in the Midwest is fragmented. However, he said the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which is headquartered in Indiana, will play an important role in meeting this challenge going forward.
“We’re going to have to connect our Midwest clean energy economies through the grid transmission,” said Danielson, “just like we connected Midwest economies with the interstate highway system under Eisenhower’s leadership.”
He added that connecting the grid could create economic opportunities for the region in a similar fashion to highways.
2 comments
Boondoggle! All energy is dirty. Where does the materiel to make the solar panels come from? How much fossil fuel is consumed to make them, transport them, install them, and dispose of them when they are used up? Same goes for windmills. Same goes for electric vehicle batteries. If you are a true believer you are just fooling yourselves. You may as well believe in unicorn farts for power. The cleanest energy in terms of emissions is Nuclear. Yet there is a problem with mining uranium and then long term disposal of the fuel rods. There is no free lunch in this life. We have resources provided by the Almighty for our use. Yes, they should not be wasted nor should we use them in a manner that causes undue pollution. Unless of course, you all want to live a life as was lived in the 1500s. But since no one really studies history anymore I guess you missed all the plagues and other evil from back then.
Yeah, Indiana is going solar. Right. That’s why they just screwed all their net metering rules up on July 1st.
You’d think an industry lobbying group figurehead would be aware of this fact…