Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), announced as part of its future electric supply planning process, that analysis shows the most viable option for customers would include moving up the retirement of a majority of its remaining coal-fired generation in the next five years and all coal within the next 10 years.  Likely replacement options point toward lower-cost renewable energy resources such as wind, solar and battery storage technology. While not yet final, NIPSCO outlined the option for its electric generation strategy at a public meeting with customers, consumer representatives, environmental organizations and other stakeholders taking part in the company’s Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process.  The timeline for NIPSCO’s five remaining coal-fired units identified in the analysis shows the expected retirement of its R.M. Schahfer Generating Station (Units 14, 15, 17 and 18) located in Wheatfield, Ind. no later than 2023, and its Michigan City Generating Station (Unit 12) located in Michigan City, Ind. by 2028. Retiring the approximate 1,800 megawatts (MW) of coal-fired generation will significantly accelerate carbon reductions across the NIPSCO footprint and will result in further reductions, both in timing and magnitude, beyond previously announced targets. Operation of NIPSCO’s existing natural gas-fired Sugar Creek Generating Station in West Terre Haute, Ind. and the Norway and Oakdale Hydroelectric Dams along the Tippecanoe River would continue. During the meeting, NIPSCO leaders said the company has been – and will continue – working with stakeholders and regulators to solicit further input to aid in formulating its final plan, which the company plans to submit to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission by Nov. 1, 2018. More information about NIPSCO’s electric supply strategies and the IRP process can be found at NIPSCO.com/IRP.