Duke Energy Indiana 2024 Integrated Resource Plan
Synapse provided technical assistance to the Energy Matters Community Coalition (EMCC) in Duke Energy Indiana’s (Duke) 2024 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) process. Synapse worked with EMCC to engage in Duke’s IRP process with a focus on a Deep Decarbonization and Rapid Electrification (DDRE) scenario. Synapse attended stakeholder meetings to represent EMCC’s views, submitted data requests, reviewed Duke’s modeling inputs, assumptions, and results, and filed comments on behalf of EMCC.
This work built on Synapse’s previous support for EMCC during Duke’s earlier IRP processes—particularly the modeling of a deep decarbonization scenario in Duke’s 2021 IRP. That scenario included the rapid electrification of the building, transportation, and industrial sectors in Duke’s Indiana service territory, along with the decarbonization of Duke’s system to approximately net-zero by 2050. For the current IRP, Duke agreed to include this deep decarbonization scenario in its own modeling and collaborated with Synapse and EMCC to develop it.
In our final comments, we evaluated the deep decarbonization scenario in Duke’s IRP and provided recommendations for its improvement in the next planning cycle. We also offered recommendations regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) risk and resource selection. Finally, we argued that, to treat all resources fairly in long-term planning, Duke must consider replacing retiring coal plants with non-emitting and renewable generation.