Indiana Michigan Power has received permission from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to buy an Ohio natural gas plant that produces electricity, officials announced Wednesday.

The commission approved an agreement struck between I&M, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and consumer groups regarding acquisition of the Oregon Clean Energy Center, an 870 megawatt per year plant in Oregon, Ohio. Oregon is about 100 miles northeast of Fort Wayne.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted its approval of the deal in October. The state commission was the last governmental hurdle.

I&M officials describe the purchase as "taking another step to deliver reliable and affordable energy to meet the needs of its customers today and in the future." The Fort Wayne-based utili

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