To meet the rapidly growing demand for electricity, Pennsylvania-based Chesco Energy LLC is exploring the development of a new natural gas-fired power plant in Marshall County.
Chesco Energy CEO Reed Wills appeared before the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday morning to outline the proposed project. Wills, who founded the company in 2024 and brings over 35 years of experience in the independent power industry, identified a 67-acre tract of land on U.S. 6 between LaPaz and Bremen as the ideal location. The site was chosen because it already features an intersecting natural gas pipeline and high-tension power lines.
Wills explained to the commissioners that for the first time in 40 years, electricity usage is seeing significant year-over-year growth. While energy-efficient lighting and equipment previously kept demand relatively flat, the rise of electric vehicles, industrial loads, and data centers—coupled with aging facilities—has driven up the need for reliable power.
While renewable energy projects have been built over the last decade to help meet this need, Wills noted their limitations: "They don’t run when you need them; they just run when they run."
In contrast, the proposed natural gas-fired facility would utilize advanced combustion turbine technology—described by Wills as essentially jet engines with a 40-year lifespan—that can start on short notice and produce energy within 10 minutes.
The facility would operate as a "peaker plant," running between 1,000 and 2,000 hours annually. Commissioner Stan Klotz, who met with the company several weeks ago, noted that these plants supply energy when there is maximum pressure on the electric grid. Peak operation periods typically occur when families return home from school and work and turn on their air conditioning or heating systems.
Economically, the project is expected to create 200 construction jobs during its development phase and provide more than 10 permanent jobs once operational. Wills also assured the board that Chesco Energy plans to engage directly with neighboring property owners before development begins.
During the meeting, Commissioner Adam Faulstich sought guarantees that the company's ownership would remain domestic.
“We’ve seen a lot of shystie green energy companies moving around our area back and forth, and there is no accountability for that,” Faulstich said.
Wills acknowledged that the project is highly capital-intensive and will require the company to raise money and bring in partners. However, he assured the commissioners, "We will stay involved with it, and we remain the owner."
Following the public presentation, the County Commissioners met with Chesco Energy representatives in a closed executive session. Under Indiana Code, governing bodies are permitted to hold executive sessions to receive information and conduct negotiations with industrial prospects.
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