Entergy received approval from the Louisiana Public Service Commission to add 475 MW of solar, nearly tripling the company’s total renewable generating capacity in the state.
Under newly approved contracts, the utility will receive power from four solar farms across the state, including:
- Vacherie Solar Energy Center – a 150 MW facility in St. James Parish.
- Jacques Louisiana Solar – a 150 MW facility in St. James Parish.
- Elizabeth Solar – a 125 MW facility in Allen Parish.
- Sunlight Road Solar – a 50 MW facility in Washington Parish.
Most sites are expected to begin delivering power to customers in 2024, with the St. Jacques facility coming online in 2025, subject to receipt of local permits and approvals.
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Once constructed and ready to connect to the grid, Entergy will purchase power from the Vacherie, Sunlight Road and Elizabeth solar facilities under 20-year agreements.
The St. Jacques solar facility will be under a build-own-transfer agreement, meaning Entergy will own and maintain the facility after construction is complete. The 350 MW of solar energy resources at the St. James and Washington Parish sites will be built by D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) while the Allen Parish facility will be built by Opdenergy.
In Louisiana, Entergy currently has about 280 MW of renewable resources, including the Capital Region Solar facility, which began delivering power to the grid in October 2020.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission also approved the company’s Geaux Green option, a new green tariff which will provide customers the opportunity to subscribe to, and get benefits from, renewable energy resources.
Entergy said more information will be available in the coming weeks on enrollment for Geaux Green.
