(A) The Town owns and operates its own electric utility (“utility”) under the supervision and control of the Board under I.C. 8-1.5-3 et seq.
(B) The Town desires to encourage the development of renewable energy resources, such as solar or wind, and promote the wise use of Indiana’s natural energy resources to meet growing electricity demand. It would, therefore, be beneficial to allow customers of the utility to own or lease renewable electric generation systems to help offset their electric load.
(C) The safety of utility workers and the general public requires inspection and testing of equipment arranged for the production of electricity from solar, wind, biomass, geothermal or hydroelectric facilities (“renewable generation facilities”) that are owned and operated by residential, commercial or industrial customers of the utility (“customer(s)”) and connected to the utility's electrical grid.
(D) As a result of these findings, the Council has determined that:
(1) It is necessary to establish standards for the interconnection of such renewable generation facilities to the utility’s grid; and
(2) Energy produced by customers owning or leasing renewable generation facilities in excess of the customer’s electric load at that meter (“excess energy”) shall be purchased by the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (“IMPA”) subject to a power purchase agreement between IMPA and the customer.
(Ord. 2022-1, passed 1-24-2022)