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Nov 14, 2024Richmond Power & Light is in line to receive assistance serving customers during peak demand times.
The Indiana Municipal Power Agency’s board of commissioners voted at its Oct. 25 meeting to allocate funds for a battery energy storage system at the Richmond 6 solar park. Tony Foster, the general manager of RP&L, informed his board, which is composed of Richmond Common Council members, about the 6-megawatt battery during its Nov. 4 meeting.
Foster said the Richmond 6 park at the corner of South 23rd Street and Wernle Road was constructed with future battery installation in mind. This would be IMPA’s first battery installation.
The lithium iron phosphate batteries charge during low demand periods and discharge up to four hours during peak demand times. The power will be distributed directly into RP&L’s electric grid for Richmond customers.
“This will actually play a role in our power needs in our community in the morning or evening when they decide to discharge it,” Foster said.
Energy costs more during peak demand times, so the battery system would save RP&L paying those elevated costs.
“This is also, I think, going to be a great tool for our community for economic development,” said Foster, who noted companies often express a desire to use green energy. “This is going to be another great story to tell and a selling point for our community.”
IMPA began ordering equipment after its board vote. Foster said the battery system is expected to be operational during the fourth quarter of 2025 or the first quarter of 2026.
With no issues requiring board action, Foster also shared highlights from 2024 with the board members.
RP&L had installed 3,150 new AMI meters through Sept. 30, with another 1,000 on hand to install this year. That brings RP&L to 15,000 of the new meters installed, needing 6,000 more to complete its transition to the meters that provide detailed usage information for customers and the utility.
Among other accomplishments, the new control house at the Whitewater Valley Generating Station is now operational, and the Johnson Street substation near Veterans Memorial Park has been upgraded, Foster shared.
A version of this article appeared in the November 13 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
Mike Emery is a reporter and layout editor for the Western Wayne News.