AEP subsidiary Indiana Michigan Power has issued a request for proposals (RfP) for renewable energy totalling 1300MW.
The RfP seeks about 800MW of wind power and 500MW of solar.
The solar projects must be within Indiana and/or Michigan, while the wind projects – which require availability of large amounts of land – can be in those states as well as Illinois or Ohio.
Indiana Michigan Power said it expects some of the new renewable resources to be online by as early as the end of 2024 and the full 1.3GW to be operational as early as the end of 2025.
The RfP is open and non-discriminatory, which provides bidders the opportunity to submit proposals that incorporate battery storage, emerging technologies and other resources to supplement the portfolio and provide for optimum performance and affordability.
The company said it prefers projects that will provide economic benefit to the states of Indiana and/or Michigan and encourages the use of local resources where feasible.
The RfP also calls for successful bidders to use reasonable efforts to utilise small and diverse suppliers as subcontractors for work.
Bids are due by 21 April and Indiana Michigan Power plans to have contracts with the successful developers by the end of 2022.
The selected resources will be submitted to state regulatory commissions in Indiana and Michigan for their review and approval.
Indiana Michigan Power has engaged Charles River Associates to serve as an independent monitor for the RfP and incorporate input from groups representing customers and other stakeholders into the competitive procurement process.
The company currently operates five solar farms and purchases power from four Indiana wind farms.
The resources being sought align with Indiana Michigan Power’s Powering the Next Tomorrow plan.