Entergy Louisiana to begin $60 million power reliability project

Entergy Louisiana announced recently that it will begin construction on a $60 million project aimed at improving electric reliability for customers in Louisiana’s Plaquemines Parish on March 1.

The project will involve constructing a 10.5-mile 230kV transmission line between the Oakville substation in Belle Chasse and the Alliance substation, which is located west of Louisiana Highway 23. The line will be built to withstand winds of up to 150 miles an hour.

“Not only will this project enhance the reliability of service for our Plaquemines Parish customers, but it will increase the ability to import power to meet the needs of the parish’s expanding economy,” Melonie Stewart, regional director of customer service, said.

Work on the project will start along Walker Road and with the construction of foundations for poles along some sections of the west side of Highway 23. The project will also involve replacing three miles of parish water line along the highway to make room for the transmission line. Entergy Louisiana is paying for this work, which should be completed by July.

The construction of the transmission line is the third project that’s part of a larger program to enhance service reliability and meet the growing energy needs of the business sector in Plaquemines Parish.

Entergy Louisiana provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the company is a unit of Entergy Corp.