Entergy Louisiana has submitted a request to the Louisiana Public Service Commission to approve the acquisition, construction and operation of nearly 225 MW of new solar energy resources.
Entergy Louisiana has selected two projects to acquire additional solar power, including one in Iberville Parish that would generate about 175 MW and another in Ouachita Parish (~49 MW). If approved by the commission, Entergy Louisiana will be able to expand its renewable energy product portfolio and help meet the growing demand for clean generation.
“This is another step toward achieving our own sustainability goals, but also helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals,” said Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana CEO. “The desire for clean electricity is growing, and at Entergy we intend to respond to this desire in a way that balances our ability to continue producing reliable and affordable electricity. We are excited about the potential addition of nearly 225 MW and look forward to expanding our portfolio of renewable energy sources in line with the demands of our stakeholders.
Entergy Louisiana’s proposal to the commission would see the company enter into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Coastal Prairie Solar LLC, an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC, for the energy produced by its solar plant under construction in Iberville Parish. In addition, Entergy Louisiana would build and operate the Sterlington Solar Facility in Ouachita Parish.
If approved, construction would tentatively begin in the spring of 2024, and the Iberville facility would be fully operational by late 2025. The Iberville facility will be followed by the Sterlington Solar Facility, which is expected to deliver electricity to the grid in early 2026.
The proposal also includes a request for permission to include the new solar power resources in the recently approved green tariff Geaux Green Option, or Rider GGO. This is a voluntary program that allows customers to order and benefit from renewable energy sources. The addition of these resources to the Rider GGO portfolio of resources will further help Entergy Louisiana customers achieve their environmental and sustainability goals.
Entergy Louisiana currently has approximately 280 MW of renewable resources, including the Capital Region Solar facility, which began delivering electricity to the grid in October 2020. The company has several thousand megawatts of renewable capacity in various stages of planning and procurement that will be brought up for commission approval in the near future.
