Entergy Louisiana seeks approval to add nearly 225 megawatts of solar power to its generation mix

Rhea-AI Summary

Entergy Louisiana has submitted a request to the Louisiana Public Service Commission to approve two solar projects totaling nearly 225 megawatts. The projects, located in Iberville and Ouachita Parishes, aim to enhance the company's renewable energy portfolio in response to customer demand. If approved, construction is set to begin in Spring 2024, with the Iberville facility operational by late 2025 and Sterlington Solar Facility by early 2026. This initiative aligns with Entergy's sustainability goals and builds on its existing 280 megawatts of renewable resources.

Positive

• Proposed addition of nearly 225 megawatts of solar power enhances renewable portfolio.
• Construction expected to begin in Spring 2024, potentially boosting local economic development.
• Aligns with Entergy's commitment to sustainability and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Negative

• None.

Two facilities selected to provide power pending regulatory approval

BATON ROUGE, La., March 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To meet customers' growing demands for renewable energy and support economic development in the state, Entergy Louisiana this week filed a request with the Louisiana Public Service Commission to approve the purchase, construction and operation of nearly 225 megawatts of new solar power resources.

Entergy Louisiana has selected two projects to source additional solar energy, including one in Iberville Parish that would account for approximately 175 megawatts and another in Ouachita Parish that would account for approximately 49 megawatts. If approved by the Commission, Entergy Louisiana will be able to increase its renewable portfolio and help meet the growing demand for clean generation.

"This is another step toward not only reaching our own sustainability goals, but also toward helping our customers reach their sustainability goals," said Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO. "The desire for clean power is increasing and, at Entergy, we intend to meet that desire in a way that balances our ability to continue providing reliable and affordable power. We're excited about the potential addition of nearly 225 megawatts and look forward to further expanding our portfolio of renewables as demanded by our stakeholders."

Under Entergy Louisiana's proposal before the Commission, the company would enter a 20-year purchase power agreement with Coastal Prairie Solar, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, for energy produced by its solar facility to be built in Iberville Parish. Also, under the proposal before the Commission, Entergy Louisiana would build and operate what would become the Sterlington Solar Facility in Ouachita Parish.

If approved, construction would tentatively begin in the spring of 2024 with the Iberville facility fully operational in late 2025. The Iberville facility would be followed by the Sterlington Solar Facility, which is expected to deliver clean power to the grid in early 2026. 

The proposal also includes a request for authorization to include the new solar resources within the recently approved green tariff Geaux Green Option, or Rider GGO. This is a voluntary program that allows customers the opportunity to subscribe to, and get benefits from, renewable energy resources. Adding these resources to the Rider GGO resource portfolio will further assist Entergy Louisiana customers with meeting their environmental and sustainability goals.

Entergy Louisiana currently has approximately 280 megawatts of renewable resources, including the Capital Region Solar facility, which began delivering power to the grid in October 2020. Along with nuclear generation, nearly 25% of the company's portfolio comes from renewable resources. In addition, the Commission recently approved 475 megawatts of solar power. To meet the growing demands of our stakeholders, Entergy Louisiana has several thousand megawatts of renewable capacity in various stages of planning and procurement that will be brought to the Commission for approval in the near future. 

"We continue to work hand-in-hand with our local communities and elected officials across the state," added May. "I want to thank those who have assisted us in bringing these sites to fruition, especially at the parish level, and look forward to what's on the horizon for our state."

In June 2022, Entergy Corporation discussed plans for up to seven gigawatts of renewable resources by the end of 2025, and as much as 14 to 17 gigawatts of renewable resources by the end of 2031. The company previously announced a commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

These projects are another milestone in the modernization of Entergy's power generation portfolio, helping meet customers' needs for cleaner, more efficient and diverse energy solutions. Learn more about our renewable energy generation growth at entergy.com/renewable-energy.

About Entergy Louisiana

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Entergy Louisiana is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR), an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 24,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 5,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and approximately 12,000 employees.

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SOURCE Entergy Corporation

FAQ

What is Entergy Louisiana's recent solar power proposal?

Entergy Louisiana has proposed two solar projects totaling nearly 225 megawatts to be approved by the Louisiana Public Service Commission.

When will construction of the new solar facilities begin?

Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in Spring 2024.

How much renewable energy does Entergy Louisiana currently have?

Entergy Louisiana currently has approximately 280 megawatts of renewable resources.

What are the expected operational dates for the new solar facilities?

The Iberville facility is expected to be operational by late 2025, followed by the Sterlington facility in early 2026.

How does this proposal align with Entergy's sustainability goals?

The proposal supports Entergy's commitment to sustainability and aims to assist customers in meeting their environmental goals.