Braun creates task force to address Indiana’s growing energy needs

INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Braun is creating a task force aimed at meeting the state’s energy needs.

The Strategic Energy Growth Task Force will create an energy growth plan to fulfill the demand for reliable, affordable energy as Indiana’s economy continues to grow.

“My new Strategic Energy Growth Task Force will take an all-of-the-above approach to meet the electricity demands of our growing economy in the short-run, and plan for Indiana to become an energy export state and national leader in nuclear energy for the long-run – all with a focus on reliability and affordability for Hoosiers,” Braun said in a statement.

The governor’s office said electricity demand is “accelerating rapidly” because of manufacturing, data centers for artificial intelligence and increasing consumer demand.

The task force will ensure a lack of energy availability and infrastructure won’t negatively affect Indiana’s economic growth. The new group will focus on four priorities for its growth plan:

• Energy reliability and affordability to meet power needs and economic development opportunities now and into the future
• Making the State of Indiana an energy export state
• Maintaining existing energy generation and developing new generation
• Deploying nuclear energy

The plan will include a short-term 5-year vision and an overarching 20-year plan with four objectives:

• Development: Developing Indiana’s energy sector to meet current and future demand
• Affordability: Ensuring energy is affordable for Hoosiers
• Diversification: Taking an “All-of-the-Above” approach to energy policy
• Collaboration: Fostering collaboration and innovation between the state and the private sector to deploy technology to meet the unique opportunities that lie ahead with unprecedented demand and development.

Part of the Strategic Energy Growth Task Force’s mission will involve engaging utilities and stakeholders to help their plans align with the state’s electricity growth goals.

The task force will also analyze the various factors that drive electricity prices and look for solutions to keep costs affordable statewide.