NEW CARLISLE, Ind. (AP) _ The developer that’s building a $500 million natural gas-fired electricity plant in northern Indiana is working on plans to double its size.

The plant near the town of New Carlisle in St. Joseph County is slated to become operational in June 2018. The proposal would spend an additional $500 million to build two more turbines to double its electrical production capacity.

Development Partners principal Willard Ladd tells the South Bend Tribune that the White Plains, New York-based company is seeking approval from electrical grid regulators and would then request additional property tax breaks from county officials.

Ladd says he hopes construction for the second phase will start by late next year.