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A multi-million dollar solar project at the Lake County government center is ready for construction and to save energy costs, but a county official said a connectivity issue is holding it up.
“There is still an unknown on the interconnection between the renewable energy and the substation,” said Lake County Board of Commissioners President Mike Repay, D-3rd. “That’s still a matter to be decided, and that’s primarily up to NIPSCO to determine for us.”
According to Post-Tribune archives, in June 2025, the commissioners approved a $2.6 million contract with Continental Electric to build a solar farm on the county government complex in Crown Point. Repay said the power will only be utilized by the complex, and the 1,000-watt solar farm would be located on the north side of 93rd Avenue between the juvenile center and community corrections buildings.
Before construction can begin, NIPSCO needs to help with the interconnection, Repay said.
“It’s unclear to me why NIPSCO has an issue with it,” he added. “From my understanding, and from the consultants that we have hired, that interconnection is one that is the national standard that’s occurred in these types of situations throughout the country and throughout the state of Indiana.
“Why they’re having an issue with ours in particular is unclear to me, and it’s been unclear since well before the storms.”
In an email to Lake County Council members, which was forwarded to the Post-Tribune, Repay said he expects the project to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
Repay expects a simple payback of the project in just under seven years, based on projected energy production and avoided energy costs. He also expects that it will reduce the county building’s exposure to future NIPSCO rates and have a $5.8 million benefit throughout the project’s lifespan, according to the email.
Repay told the Post-Tribune that they’re ready to break ground any day now. Commissioners approved a contract with Continental Electric in June 2025, and they’ve received permits from the city of Crown Point, Repay added.
In a Friday afternoon statement, a NIPSCO spokesperson said the utility continues to work with county on the project.
“Throughout the process, NIPSCO has evaluated multiple options intended to support the county’s elective project while minimizing impacts to county operations,” the statement read. “As with all electric system work, safety remains our top priority. Any solution must ensure safe operations while allowing the necessary work to be completed in accordance with established operating standards.
“We remain engaged with county representatives and have proposed several potential paths forward. NIPSCO is committed to continuing those discussions to identify a s”afe and practical solution that supports the county’s project objectives.”
According to Post-Tribune archives, in the project, NIPSCO is required “to provide interconnection to the electric system for the customer at the appropriate point in time.”
Since the Aug. 11 derecho when hundreds of thousands of NIPSCO customers were without power, Repay said he’s “let up” on the project, and they’ve missed a couple meetings. However, the issues need to be resolved before construction begins.
Repay said he’s met with NIPSCO, consultants and the contractor about once a month.
The government center maintained power during the Aug. 11 derecho and the following power outage, Repay still believes installing solar power is beneficial for the county.
The Indiana legislature has reduced incentives for solar power, Repay said, and he believes that homeowners should be allowed to sell their produced solar for the same amount of money that they ask NIPSCO to pay for it.
“The state of Indiana, with the help of NIPSCO’s lobbying efforts, have continually made it more difficult for residential solar throughout the state and the NIPSCO service area,” Repay said. “For what reason, it’s unclear other than going to protect their bottom line.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
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