Cayuga Energy Complex

The Cayuga Energy Complex project involves building two new combined cycle generating facilities. Due to the size and scale of this project, we expect for the construction of the new units to take several years. The first unit is targeted to be placed in service in late 2029 and the second is planned to be placed into service the following year in 2030. These timelines are pending the timely completion of permitting, engineering and material procurement, construction, final testing, and commissioning.

We will not retire existing units until we can fully replace them, ensuring the state has access to the power it needs. We plan to operate the Cayuga coal-fired units throughout the construction periods of the new natural gas units. Following in line with the targeted in-service dates for the new units, Cayuga coal unit 1 will retire in late 2029 and Cayuga coal unit 2 will retire in 2030 to ensure a fluid transition between the old units and the new units.

Indiana needs new electric infrastructure to meet growing energy demand. The Cayuga coal-fired units (Cayuga 1 and 2) are nearing the end of their long service lives and are approaching retirement after nearly six decades of service. By replacing the existing coal units, the new units will match the current output of the coal units and add 470 megawatts (MW) of dispatchable electricity.

The new units will also reduce carbon emission* rates by 40%, lower the emission rate of sulfur dioxide by 99%, and the nitrogen oxide emission rate by 80%. Additionally, the combined-cycle natural gas units will resolve the coal plant's environmental temperature impact on the Wabash River, which sometimes prevents Duke Energy from operating Cayuga at its full capacity during the summer when its needed most. Continued operation as a coal plant would necessitate hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain an aging facility, as well as comply with environmental requirements, including federal rules regulating temperatures on the Wabash River.

Additionally, major electric transmission lines already exist on-site to transport electricity onto the grid, expediting our ability to add the new units’ additional megawatts to the Indiana electric grid.

*lbs. per million BTU

The new units will generate 1,476 megawatts, adding an additional 470 MW of dispatchable electricity to the station’s current capacity. When complete, the Cayuga Energy Complex will have enough capacity to power an estimated 1.1 million Indiana homes and will continue to be a critical source of power for the state and a major asset for Vermillion County for years to come.

The new natural gas units would be constructed within the existing Cayuga Generating Station property, with a construction laydown area planned for Duke Energy’s recently acquired property adjacent to the plant’s main entrance.

Combined-cycle technology uses two processes.

The first process includes a combustion turbine that operates like a jet engine, drawing in and compressing outside air to a high pressure. The pressurized air mixes with natural gas and then burns, creating hot exhaust gases. These gases power a combustion turbine, which rotates a generator and ultimately produces electrical energy.

The second process sends the hot exhaust gases from the combustion turbine generator to a heat recovery system (or boiler). This system captures heat from the hot exhaust gases to produce steam to rotate a steam turbine generator and produce more electrical energy.

Combined-cycle technology is highly efficient because of this heat recovery system. Without this system, all of the heat from the hot exhaust gases would be wasted and released to the atmosphere instead of captured and reused to make more energy.

The Cayuga location has the advantage of existing, strong natural gas infrastructure and the ability to bring in additional gas supply to power the new plant. The Cayuga plant already has natural gas being delivered onsite daily to an existing natural gas turbine that has been in operation since 1994 as well as a gas-fired combustion turbine peaking station adjacent to the property that has been in operation since 2000. Our diverse gas supplies from the East and the West will support the additional gas needs at the new plant. 

Once the project receives regulatory approval, construction will begin with site foundation work and then will move into full construction.  There are phases of construction that may create temporary disturbances that we will seek to minimize.  These may include noise from increased vehicle traffic, fencing and interior gravel road installation, brush clearing, and the installation of heavy equipment. Our team will work to ensure community members are informed of major project milestones before they occur, including directly communicating with project site neighbors, as well as provide a way for the community to reach out to us with any questions. Work is typically performed from sunup to sundown, with some night and weekend activity needed to stay on schedule. Once construction completes, there will be no new noise or traffic impact on neighbors.

Our team will ensure community members are informed of major project milestones as they occur, including directly informing project site neighbors. As the project nears construction start, Duke Energy will update this project website with a project-specific phone and email address for those with any questions to reach out to.

The new natural gas units will provide significant impacts to both Vermillion County and the state of Indiana.

At the local level, the new units will provide a significant increase in property tax revenue for Vermillion County as well as employ an estimated 550 in construction jobs at peak construction, while continuing to provide well-paid jobs to operate the plant. The team constructing the project will spend many months staying in Vermillion County and the surrounding communities investing in local hotels, restaurants, shops and recreation.

The new units will also reduce carbon emission* rates by 40%, lower the emission rate of sulfur dioxide by 99%, and the nitrogen oxide emission rate by 80%. Additionally, the combined-cycle natural gas units will resolve the coal plant's environmental temperature impact on the Wabash River, which sometimes prevents Duke Energy from operating Cayuga at its full capacity during the summer when its needed most. Continued operation as a coal plant would necessitate hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain an aging facility, as well as comply with environmental requirements, including federal rules regulating temperatures on the Wabash River.

*lbs. per million BTU