New power plant is officially operational in New Carlisle

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - Phase one of the St. Joseph Energy Center Is complete. After years of planning and 2 and a half years of construction, the high tech, clean energy power facility is operational and creating energy.

"This is really a catalyst not just to be able to provide energy and infrastructure to the area, which it's going to. but we see it providing economic energy and infrastructure as well," said Commissioner Andy Kostielney.

Both phases of the St. Joseph Energy Center will power more than one million houses and contribute tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue to the county over the next 30 years.

The construction period alone, with over 700 workers, boosted the traffic of a thriving, up-and-coming New Carlisle business.

Jason and Jenny Kazen, Owners Digzy Dogz & Grill have already seen the benefits of the project. "Quite a few more construction workers.

You can tell with the yellow or orange vests that they're wearing, they're not local. We pretty know much know everyone local."

Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger is excited for the future. “We have to start looking out to not only 10 but to 20 years and 30 years, and this is exactly the kind of resources we need to keep us on the cutting edge,” he said.