Entergy Louisiana secures contract to purchase power from Toledo Bend Hydropower facility

The Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) recently approved an agreement under which Entergy Louisiana announced would purchase up to 43 megawatts (MW) of the power generated by the 80-MW Toledo Bend Hydropower plant.

The new five-year power purchase agreement replaces a 50-year contract that expired earlier this year.

The Sabine River authorities of Louisiana and Texas own the facility. Two other Louisiana utilities will share the remainder of the plant’s output.

“The commission’s decision means Toledo Bend will remain a valuable part of our renewable energy portfolio,” Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana, said. “It is another step in meeting our commitment to provide clean, affordable and reliable power so our communities can prosper.”

Entergy Louisiana currently has 180 megawatts of renewable resources, including Toledo Bend, other run-of-river hydro, biomass and waste heat recovery.

“We are working to expand our renewable portfolio with a proposal currently pending with regulators to purchase the output of a planned 50-MW solar facility in West Baton Rouge Parish,” May said. “We hope to receive regulatory approval for that in the near future.”