Landfill and Dairy Methane Gas

WVPA’s first foray into renewable resources began in 2002 with the launch of its first landfill gas plant in Danville, Indiana. This partnership with Waste Management, Inc. enabled WVPA to produce electricity by capturing the landfill’s methane gas that was being flared into the atmosphere, then clean the gas and use it to power engines

at the facility. This partnership continued to grow over time, as the program has expanded to 15 plants producing 53 MW of electricity—all while helping to keep methane gas out of the environment. In 2021, WVPA began a partnership with Indiana-based Kinetrex Energy, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc., providing a portion of the landfill gas resources to Kinetrex for the creation of a liquid natural gas product that will be used to power vehicles—yet another renewable application.

Also in 2002, WVPA began working with several large dairy farms to purchase the renewable energy created by their methane biodigesters. While the dairy farms have now chosen to retain the energy their biodigesters produce, this energy source speaks to the innovation that will be required to meet today’s climate directives.

Wind Energy

Wind power has been part of WVPA’s portfolio for many years. Since signing their first contract for wind power in 2006, they’ve continued to add wind to their portfolio through purchased power agreements with five wind development firms, including harnessing wind from several sites in Illinois; today, wind energy meets 218 MW of Alliance’s energy needs and WVPA continues to explore opportunities as they arise.

Solar Energy

In 2017, WVPA entered the solar energy arena with the launch of the Co-op Solar program. Co-op Solar enables members to invest in solar energy as part of their monthly electric usage without having to add solar panels to their homes. In total, WVPA has constructed eight solar arrays in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, including a solar location just north of the EnerStar office in Paris. Each locally based array’s energy output is then aggregated into a single source. This aggregation of energy means that participating members aren’t dependent on the sun shining brightly only where they live: They get access to the energy produced across WVPA’s three-state footprint. Additionally, WVPA has purchased power agreements for the energy output from Dressor Plains and Prairie State solar facilities located in Illinois.

Decarbonization Strategy

Wabash Valley Power Alliance has a decarbonization strategy that balances members’ needs for reliable and affordable electricity with environmental responsibility. Through a combination of the addition of zero-emission resources, elimination of carbon in our power supply portfolio, and edge-of-grid technologies, they will be reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2031, 70% by 2040, and will target net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It should be noted that Wabash Valley Power sells the majority of the renewable attributes from renewable energy resources as renewable energy credits (RECs), thus enabling other organizations to meet their renewable energy directives. Selling the credits into the REC market prohibits WVPA from claiming these resources within their own power portfolio; however, revenue generated from these REC sales is used to reduce wholesale power costs to their 23 member cooperatives, reducing the cost of energy across the system.