Energy Company Proposes "Peaker" Natural Gas Power Plant in Marshall County
WSBT22
April 17, 2026
MARSHALL COUNTY, Ind. (WSBT) — The latest proposal from Chesco Energy is a natural gas “peaker” plant in Marshall County.
The company presented plans earlier this week.
The proposed plant would generate more than 200 construction jobs and provide backup power during times of peak demand.
The times of high demand would include hot summer days or emergency grid shortages in order to prevent grid failure or blackouts.
Chesco Energy identified the roughly 50 acre site just North of U.S. 6 and west of Jarrah Rd.
“Big key here is the location that at that particular location there is a 765 K transmission line and also access to a large natural gas pipeline they intersect there. So that's why they, they, they identified that site, and then came to a Marshall County and said you know, hey we're interested in doing this," said Greg Hildebrand, President/CEO of Marshall County Economic Development Corporation.
The proposed plant part is a part of a billion-dollar investment by Chesco energy and it is expected to operate less than 2,000 hours per year.
But it's still in the preliminary stages and still needs approvals by the planning commission and board of commissioners.
“Right now, we're trying to determine what the best thing would be to Marshall County and what the, you know, what kind of good would it do for Marshall County, what kind of good would it do for Northern Indiana,” said Stan Klotz.
Marshall County officials have been vocal about their hesitation toward solar farms or data centers in the past, but this could be something the county is more interested in.
“And the reason being is this will generate on 40 acres the same amount of electricity it would take 16 to 18 or eight years of solar panel,” said Klotz. “So, we're kind of threading the needle here where we're putting the power on the grid but we're not sacrificing all the prime farm ground to do it."
This would be a gas turbine-style power plant with a substation near the site.
But, before any decisions are made, public hearings are expected to be held for the public to ask Chesco Energy questions about the potential development.
The project is still in the preliminary stages but could break ground within the next 5 years if approved by the county.