NIPSCO delays coal unit retirement due to federal solar tariff investigation

May 5, 2022

The Northern Indiana Public Service Co. announced it is delaying the retirement of two coal-fired electric generating units at the Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield due to a federal solar tariff investigation.

NIPSCO said the two units that were scheduled to retire in 2023 would now retire in 2025 due to expected delays in the solar projects that would replace their generating capacity.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is looking into claims that solar cell manufacturers are avoiding U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods by producing solar cells with Chinese parts in Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The investigation, which began in March, is expected to take up to a year and could result in massive disruptions to the solar energy industry.

NIPSCO said most solar projects scheduled for completion in 2022 and 2023 would experience a delay between six and 18 months.

The company said its Michigan City Generating Station, scheduled to retire between 2026 and 2028, will still retire on schedule.

NIPSCO delays coal unit retirement due to federal solar tariff investigation

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