City of Allen to get solar power
Posted on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 7:06 am
Allen Parish is among four communities to receive carbon-free energy from solar installations in the state under contracts approved Wednesday for Entergy Louisiana.
Under the plans, Opdenergy will build Elizabeth Solar, a 125-megawatt resource to supply Entergy with solar energy.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission has given Entergy Louisiana the green light to expand its renewable energy portfolio by adding 475 megawatts of new solar generating capacity, which will nearly triple the company’s total renewable generation capacity in the state.
The commission also approved the Geaux Green option, a new green tariff that will allow customers to subscribe to and benefit from renewable energy sources. Geaux Green will offer an additional option for Entergy Louisiana customers interested in renewables and, for some, help meet sustainability goals.
More information on registration opportunities for Geaux Green will be available in the coming weeks.
“Our customers are increasingly interested in renewable energy, and the LPSC’s approval of these resources allows Entergy to bring more solar power to Louisiana and offer interested customers a green rate,” said Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May. “We continue to make great strides in expanding our green portfolio, and these solutions will help us continue to provide more affordable, cleaner and more reliable energy today and into the future.”
Under the approved contracts, the company will purchase carbon-free energy from four solar facilities across the state, including the Vacherie Solar Energy Center – St. 150 megawatt resource in James Parish; St. Jacques Louisiana Solar – 150 megawatt resource in St. James Parish; Elizabeth Solar – 125 megawatt resource in Allen Parish and
Sunlight Road Solar – 50 megawatt resource in Washington Parish.
Most sites are expected to start delivering electricity to customers in 2024. St. The Jacques facility will come online in 2025, subject to local permits and approvals.
Once built and ready to connect to the grid, Entergy Louisiana will receive power from the Vacherie, Sunlight Road and Elizabeth solar facilities under 20-year contracts. The St. Jacques solar facility will be under a build-own-handover agreement, meaning Entergy will own and maintain the facility after construction is complete.
The 350 megawatt solar resources in St. James and Washington Parish will be built by DE Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), while the Allen Parish facility will be built by Opdenergy.
“DESRI is pleased to deliver another 350 megawatts of clean energy projects to Entergy and its customers with this important milestone,” said Hy Martin, DESRI’s Chief Development Officer. “Delivering reliable, affordable energy to Entergy Louisiana while driving economic growth in local communities is critical to DESRI’s partnership with Entergy and more broadly across the state.”
Entergy Louisiana currently has approximately 280 megawatts of renewable resources, including the Capital Region Solar facility, which began providing power to the grid in October 2020.