News Release > Entergy Louisiana and DESRI announce start of commercial operations at Sunlight Road Solar

Entergy Louisiana and DESRI announce start of commercial operations at Sunlight Road Solar

11/26/2024

Entergy Louisiana and D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) today announced the start of commercial operations at Sunlight Road Solar, located in Washington Parish. The 50-megawatt solar facility in Franklinton, developed and built by DESRI, will supply power to Entergy Louisiana’s grid through a 20-year power-purchase agreement.

With more than 100,000 photovoltaic panels, Sunlight Road Solar will generate enough electricity to power approximately 11,500 homes, helping meet Louisiana’s growing demand for renewable energy. It will also contribute to economic development across the state as businesses and industries increasingly rely on utilities like Entergy to help them achieve their sustainability goals.

“With the addition of Sunlight Road Solar, we’re taking another step toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for our state,” said Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO. “This milestone represents more than just adding solar power to our portfolio; it’s about providing affordable, reliable and clean energy to our customers. We’re excited about what this means for the future of power in Louisiana as we continue to meet the growing demand for renewables and work toward a net-zero future.”

Entergy Louisiana customers are expected to save approximately $22 million over the term of the Sunlight Road Solar power purchase agreement. The facility utilizes single-axis tracking technology, allowing the solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day to maximize energy production.

”DESRI is thrilled to have developed and constructed another renewable energy project in partnership with Entergy to support its customers”, said Hy Martin, DESRI chief development officer. “We are grateful to Sunlight Road Solar’s many stakeholders including Washington Parish, Entergy, our landowners, project lenders, Nevados, and Primoris Renewable Energy, and look forward to continuing investments in clean, cost-competitive energy that create opportunities across Louisiana and the broader Gulf Region.”

Sunlight Road Solar is the fourth solar resource Entergy Louisiana has added to its grid.

The company plans to bring the nearly 50-megawatt Sterlington Solar facility online sometime in 2026. The solar facility will be owned and operated by Entergy Louisiana and located next to the Sterlington Power Station, one of the company’s oldest power plants in north Louisiana.

These milestones align with Entergy’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To learn more about how the company is incorporating renewable energy into its power generation portfolio to benefit customers, communities, and the environment, visit entergy.com/renewable-energy.

About D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments
D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) and its affiliates develop, acquire, own, and operate long-term contracted renewable energy assets in the U.S. DESRI’s portfolio of contracted, operating, and in-construction renewable energy projects currently includes 70 solar and wind projects representing more than nine gigawatts of aggregate capacity. DESRI is a member of the D. E. Shaw group, a global investment and technology development firm with more than $60 billion in investment and committed capital as of September 1, 2024, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia.

About Entergy Louisiana
Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers in 58 parishes and natural gas service to more than 94,000 customers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Entergy Louisiana is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR), a Fortune 500 company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees.

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