Gov. Eric J. Holcomb today announced the state will not move forward with plans to purchase land near Lawrenceburg that was under consideration as a potential site for a fourth port.
The Ports of Indiana entered into an agreement in September 2017 to reserve the option to purchase up to 725 acres of land that were formerly the American Electric Power plant. The Ports of Indiana engaged in an extensive evaluation of the site to determine its suitability as a port, including its environmental condition and plans for remediation.
The Ports of Indiana concluded that the remediation work would take years to complete on a significant portion of the land, rendering the site economically unviable as a port facility at this time.
“I have been eager to pursue the opportunity for a fourth port in Indiana well before holding this office and remain so today. While I’m disappointed this particular site is not feasible for this purpose, I am committed to working with the Ports of Indiana and all the dedicated business and local elected leaders in southeastern Indiana to explore other possible locations in the region,†Gov. Holcomb said.
Since taking office in 2017, Gov. Holcomb has included the acquisition of a fourth port in his Next Level Agenda and included it as a key infrastructure priority during each of his four State of the State addresses. At the Governor’s direction, his office partnered closely with the Ports of Indiana and other interested parties to explore all options to make the fourth port a reality at the site.
Indiana has three state ports operating on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, with locations in Jeffersonville, Mount Vernon and Burns Harbor/Portage. Over the 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.
