Regulators greenlight Entergy Louisiana construction of additional solar power facilities
Approximately 225 MW of additional solar power are headed for Entergy Louisiana’s generation portfolio, following construction approvals this week from the Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC).
“This is a monumental step towards not only reaching our own sustainability goals, but also helping our customers reach theirs as well,” Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO, said. “This approval shows how serious we are about helping the state grow through economic development and protecting the environment by reducing our carbon footprint. This is not only a win for us, but also for the betterment of Louisiana.”
Last year, Entergy requested approval for two projects in Iberville Parish and Ouachita Parish consisting of 175 MW and another 49 MW, respectively. The Ouachita Parish facility, known as the Sterlington Solar Facility, will be built next to one of the company’s oldest power plants – the Sterlington Power Station. That station was originally brought online in the 1920s and started out producing about 25 MW of power.
Currently, Entergy Louisiana has approximately 230 MW of renewables within its portfolio. It has committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, so the new approvals are a step in that direction, along with the 475 MW of solar power previously approved. Critical to that, however, will be the remaining 3,000 MW pending approval.
