Entergy Corp. subsidiary Entergy Louisiana LLC plans to expand its renewable energy portfolio through power purchase agreements for 475 MW from four solar facilities across Louisiana, nearly double the utility's current renewable generation.
If the purchase agreements are approved by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the solar projects are expected to be in operation in 2024, the company said in a Nov. 9 news release. Entergy Louisiana currently has about 240 MW of renewables in its portfolio, which totals more than 13,600 MW, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.
Under the new contracts, the company will receive power from the 150-MW Vacherie Solar Energy Center in St. James Parish, the 50-MW Sunlight Road Solar in Washington Parish, the 150-MW Jacques Louisiana Solar in St. James and the 125-MW Elizabeth plant in Allen Parish, according to the utility's news release.
D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, a member of the investment firm D.E. Shaw & Co. LP, will build the Vacherie and Sunlight Road plants, and Spain-headquartered independent power producer Opdenergy SA is set to build the Elizabeth facility, the utility said. Entergy will receive the output under 20-year agreements.
Entergy will acquire the Jacques under a build-own-transfer agreement once its construction has been completed.
Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May called the agreements a "major step forward" for the state toward its sustainability goals.
The contacts will go before the Louisiana PSC for approval in conjunction with a voluntary green tariff that the company said is designed to allow customers to participate "at various levels."
The newly announced solar resources will be in addition to 50 MW of solar the company already purchases through the LA3 West Baton Rouge Solar Facility (Capital Region), which began operating in October 2020.
Other Entergy affiliates are also looking to add renewable resources. Entergy Arkansas LLC, in a recently filed integrated resource plan, said it expects to add between 8.8 GW and 13 GW of new capacity from 2023 to 2042, and most are planned to be renewable resources.
Louisiana ranks significantly lower than other Southeastern states in total solar capacity, with Florida and North Carolina leading.