SMALL WIND in
INDIANA

 

This page provides information specific to buying and installing a small wind turbine in  Indiana.

AWEA’s Web site also contains general information that is helpful regardless of which state you live in, including a Communications Toolbox for Wind Energy Advocates. You will find the information below more useful if you first read the general information available in the small turbine section.
Net Metering

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) issued mandatory net-metering rules on September 8, 2004, requiring the state's investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to offer net metering to residential customers and K-12 schools. The following rules apply to solar, wind and hydro projects with a maximum capacity of 10 kilowatts:

  • A utility may limit the aggregate amount of net-metering facility nameplate capacity to 0.1% of the utility's most recent summer peak load.  
  • An interconnection agreement between the utility and the customer must be executed before the facility may be interconnected. Interconnection must comply with UL standard 1741.  
  • Utilities may not require customers to install additional controls, perform or pay for additional tests or pay for inspections performed by the utility.  
  • Either a single meter or a dual-meter arrangement is allowed. 
  • Utilities may not charge customers any costs or fees for additional metering for single-phase configurations installed by the utility.  
  • Net excess generation (NEG) is credited to the customer in the next billing cycle. The rules do not address the expiration of NEG.  
  • Customers must have at least $100,000 in liability insurance and must sign a mutual indemnification clause with the IOU. 

Optional

Indiana also allows IOUs to offer net metering to other customers with renewable-energy systems. As of April 2004, three Indiana IOUs offered net-metering: Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL), Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (SIGECO) and PSI Energy. Each of these utilities limits system capacity to 10 kW; terms and eligibility vary by utility. In all cases, for generators producing less than 1,000 kWh per month, net excess generation (NEG) is granted to the utility. For systems producing more than 1,000 kWh per month, generators may request that the utility purchase NEG, in which case two meters would be installed. It is unclear how Indiana's mandatory net-metering policies will affect the optional policies implemented by IOUs for other customers.

Contact:

Laura Cvengros
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
302 West Washington Street, Suite E306
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 233-5315
E-Mail: lcvengros@urc.state.in.us

FYI:
For general information about net metering, please read Net Metering - Frequently Asked Questions.
FYI:
For general information about technical interconnection issues, please read Technical Interconnection - Frequently Asked Questions.

Interconnection Issues

An interconnection agreement between the utility and the customer must be executed before the facility may be interconnected. Interconnection must comply with UL standard 1741.  

Interconnection Standards

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission's (IURC) Distributed Resources Workgroup is in the process of developing interconnection rules for small-scale renewables. The IURC developed net-metering rules that took effect October 2004, and it will proceed in 2005 with the development of interconnection standards. More information regarding Indiana's net metering and interconnection rulemaking process is available at the
IURC Distrubuted Resources Workgroup web site.

Contact:
David Johnston
Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
Electricity Division
302 West Washington Street, Suite E-306
Indiana Government Center South
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 232-4234
Fax: (317) 232-6758
E-Mail: djohnston@urc.state.in.us

Local or State Incentive Programs for Wind Energy Investments

Property Tax Exemption

Wind Energy systems have been exempt from property tax in Indiana since 1979. The statute exempts from property taxes the entire renewable energy device and affiliated equipment, including equipment for storage and distribution. The exemption is allowed every year that a qualifying system functions on the relevant property. The code explicitly includes renewable energy systems attached to mobile homes. Click here to view Indiana tax code.

Contact:
Heather Rippey
Office of Lieutenant Governor
Office of Energy Policy
One North Capitol, Suite 700
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2248
Phone: (317) 232-8965
Fax: (317) 232-8995
E-Mail: Hrippey@commerce.state.in.us
Web site: http://www.in.gov/doc/businesses/

State Grant Programs

The Energy and Recycling Office (ERO) of the Indiana Department of Commerce administers various grants to support renewable energy development. Browse through their current programs here. Current programs specifically relevant to small wind applications are described below.

Alternative Power and Energy Grant Program

The Energy & Recycling Office (ERO) of the Indiana Department of Commerce administers the Alternative Power and Energy Grant Program. The program is designed to enable businesses and institutions to install and study alternative and renewable energy system applications.

Eligibility for the grants is limited to businesses, non-profit institutions and units of local government (including public schools). Eligible projects include electricity-producing wind energy systems for either on-site use or delivery of power into a utility grid.

Grant amounts are available up to a maximum of $30,000, but no less than $5,000. Up to 30% of project costs (or $30,000, whichever is less) may be awarded; however grant funds may only be used for the purchase and installation of power generation, heating, and cooling equipment, and for other equipment necessary for the operation of the renewable energy system. Other associated costs (such as engineering studies, system design, site preparation, storage facilities, building improvements, etc.) may, however, be included in the total project cost used to determine the amount of the AP&E award. Project budgets may include funding from third party sources, but the applicant itself must directly contribute at least 20% of the project’s total budget.

To view Alternative Power and Energy Grant Program guidelines, click here.

contact:
Heather Rippey
Office of Energy Policy
One North Capitol, Suite 700
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2248
Phone: (317) 232-8965
Fax: (317) 232-8995
E-Mail: Hrippey@commerce.state.in.us
Web site: http://www.in.gov/doc/businesses/

The Distributed Generation Grant Program

The Energy & Recycling Office (ERO) of the Indiana Department of Commerce also administers the Distributed Generation Grant Program (DGGP), which offers awards of up to $30,000 to enable businesses and institutions to install and study alternatives to central generation.

Projects should be technically feasible for full-scale operation. Commercially proven projects are preferred. Eligible technologies include wind. Eligible projects are those that demonstrate measurable energy savings. Projects must provide baseload power of at least 20 kW for the facility at which they are located.

Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $30,000. If the distributed generation facility uses renewable energy, the eligible amount is equal to 30% of the equipment cost or $30,000, whichever is less.  

Interested parties should review the DGGP program guidelines and contact the industrial program manager to request an application.

Contact:
Ryan Brown
Indiana Department of Commerce
Program Manager, Industrial Programs
One North Capitol Ave, Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2248
Phone: (317) 232-8961
Email: rbrown@commerce.in.gov
Website: http://www.energy.in.gov/
  Utility Incentives

We are unaware of any utility-specific incentives for wind energy development.
FYI:
Be sure to review AWEA's Frequently Asked Questions on Wind Resources.

Wind Resources

The US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network has published wind resource data for Indiana, and The Department of Energy's Wind Program and NREL recently published a new wind resource map for the state of Indiana.

Wind maps are also available through Indiana’s Energy and Recycling Office.

The US Department of Energy has produced wind resource maps for each state. The standard map for Indiana can be found here. You may also find the definitions of Wind Power Classes for the maps helpful. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) web site also provides extensive information about wind resources in the United States.

There is additional information in the Wind Energy Atlas of the United States, where you can review maps for other locations in the US or get more information about how the maps were created.
Additional Resources

An electronic copy of the U.S. Department of Energy's 23-page Consumer’s Guide to Small Wind Electric Systems is available at the Wind Powering America web site.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.

Another item of interest is the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s web site on wind energy projects and wind energy events/news occurring through out the country.

Utility Contacts

Contact your local utility to request additional information on their interconnection policies. Contact information for Indiana’s 122 electric utility companies (public and investor-owned) can be downloaded here or through the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.

Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL)
P.O. Box 1595
1 Monument Circle
Indianapolis, IN 46206
1 (888) 261-8222

Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (SIGECO)
Attn: Jennifer Skaggs
P.O. Box 569
20 Northwest Fourth Street
Evansville, IN 47741
(812) 464-4547

PSI Energy
Attn: Suzanne Sieferman
1000 East Main Street
Plainfield, IN 46168
(317) 838-1678

Government Contacts

Office Of energy Policy
Heather Rippey
One North Capitol, Suite 700
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2248
Phone: (317) 232-8965
Fax: (317) 232-8995
E-Mail: Hrippey@commerce.state.in.us
Web site: http://www.in.gov/doc/businesses/

Indiana Department of Commerce
Ryan Brown
Program Manager, Industrial Programs
One North Capitol Ave, Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2248
Phone: (317) 232-8961
Email: rbrown@commerce.in.gov

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
Laura Cvengros
302 West Washington Street, Suite E306
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 233-5315
E-Mail: lcvengros@urc.state.in.us

Local Organizations Interested in Renewable Energy Issues

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is a nonprofit network for sharing ideas, resources, and information with individuals, businesses, and communities to promote a sustainable future through renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Repowering the Midwest is the Environmental Law and Policy Center’s clean energy development plan for the Midwest. Their website is a great source of clean energy information for the region.

Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, founded in 1974, is a not-for-profit coalition of organizations and over 300,000 individual members throughout the State of Indiana. CAC works to empower citizens and promote economic and environmental justice.
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Keeping an information database such as this one useful and up-to-date requires feedback from people using the site. If you have comments or ideas about how to improve this site, please contact: kathy_belyeu@awea.org  Be sure to mention not only your ideas, comments or criticisms, but also the specific URL (Web address) for the page.

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