Partnering to provide reliable energy

Hoosier Energy and Wabash Valley Power Alliance finalize joint purchase of St. Joseph Energy Center

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Posted on Jun 08 2025 in A Co-op Perspective, Bartholomew County REMC, Clark County REMC, Daviess-Martin County REMC, Decatur County REMC, Dubois REC, Harrison REMC, Jackson County REMC, Orange County REMC, Southeastern Indiana REMC, Southern Indiana Power
St. Joseph Energy Center

As the demand for electricity continues to rise, Indiana’s two not-for-profit electric generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives remain focused on providing reliable, affordable energy to their members and the rural and suburban communities they serve. In March, Wabash Valley Power Alliance (WVPA) and Hoosier Energy finalized a joint purchase of St. Joseph Energy Center. The combined cycle natural gas plant in New Carlisle, Indiana, is approximately 15 miles west of South Bend.

“Our job is to keep the lights on for the families and businesses that rely on us,” said Jeff Conrad, president and CEO of Wabash Valley Power Alliance. “As co-ops, our business model allows us to move quickly when the opportunity is right. At a time when new generation is needed and takes years to build, we could not pass up the opportunity to purchase an existing asset.”

As part of the purchase agreement, WVPA and Hoosier Energy will each take a 50% stake in the facility and share operation and maintenance responsibilities.

“St. Joseph Energy Center is an ideal fit for Hoosier Energy’s Long Range Resource Plan, which prioritizes reliability and resource adequacy, affordability, sustainability, and resource diversity,” said Donna Walker, president and CEO of Hoosier Energy. “The plant has a history of high-level operational performance and will be a dependable asset for
our members.”

The 720-megawatt (MW) plant, which began generating power in 2018, sits on a 165-acre campus. The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with two Siemens gas turbines, a steam turbine, and three air-cooled generators. The exhaust heat from the gas turbines is used to power the steam turbine, greatly improving the plant’s overall thermal efficiency. 

Economic development activity in Indiana has been robust recently, with several of the world’s largest companies announcing major investments requiring significant amounts of energy. With the addition of St. Joseph Energy Center, WVPA and Hoosier remain well-positioned to serve existing member-consumers while supporting future economic growth.