State officials have extended the option purchase land near Lawrenceburg, which could be the site of the state’s fourth port.
A statement from Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office said the Ports of Indiana entered into an agreement in September 2017 to purchase up to 725 acres of land that was formerly the American Electric Power plant. That option was set to expire June 30.
The option was extended by six months to give the seller, Tanners Creek Development LLC, time to complete its environmental remediation plan for the site and submit it to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the state said. If the Ports of Indiana decides to move forward, the total cost for the land and equipment is estimated at $8 million.
Indiana has three state ports operating on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, with locations in Jeffersonville, Mount Vernon and Burns Harbor/Portage.
In recent years, the Ports of Indiana has expanded each of its ports and now operates approximately 2,800 acres along Indiana’s navigable waterways. Indiana’s ports contribute over $7.8 billion per year to the state economy and support nearly 60,000 jobs.
