News Release > Entergy Louisiana's historic expansion of renewable power approved

Entergy Louisiana's historic expansion of renewable power approved

05/22/2024

New solar projects will help drive economic development in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. – Entergy Louisiana's proposal to add up to three gigawatts of economic solar power to its generation portfolio has been approved by the Louisiana Public Service Commission, marking the largest renewable power expansion in state history.

“This approval underscores our commitment to meeting operational and sustainability needs, driving economic development, and protecting the environment,” said Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana President and CEO. “It's a significant win for the future of our state. I want to thank everyone who helped see this proposal come to fruition, including our local officials and regulators.”

The approval authorizes a streamlined procurement and approval process that will enable the construction of several solar resources within Louisiana, benefiting local communities through job creation and additional tax revenues. Importantly, the addition of clean energy allows the state to attract new industries and jobs that seek clean energy as part of their expansion plans. This initiative aligns with Entergy Corporation’s plans for growing its renewable energy resources by 2031 and its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

This approval signifies a major milestone in Entergy Louisiana’s continuing effort to modernize its power generation portfolio, providing cleaner, more efficient, and diverse energy solutions to meet the needs of its customers.

There are both economic and environmental considerations for adopting renewable power. Solar energy, for example, offers numerous benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality and job creation within the local community.

Today, nearly 25% of the Entergy Louisiana’s generation portfolio comes from carbon-free resources, including nuclear and renewable technologies. Entergy Louisiana’s long-term vision includes further investments in clean energy infrastructure, especially utility-scale solar because it is becoming more economic. The company’s vision also includes further investments in energy efficiency programs and partnerships with local stakeholders to promote sustainability and resilience.

Currently, Entergy Louisiana has approximately 230 megawatts of renewable resources, including the Capital Region Solar facility, which was the first utility-scale solar project approved by the Louisiana Public Service Commission and began delivering power to the grid in October 2020. In January of this year, the Louisiana Public Service Commission approved a solar filing consisting of approximately 225 MW of renewable projects, bringing the operating company’s total solar portfolio to over 3,800 MW in various stages of development and approval.

In addition, the projects will enhance the state’s energy infrastructure, ensuring a reliable power supply to support the burgeoning needs of industry and businesses who do or will call Louisiana home.

To learn more about our renewable energy generation growth, visit entergy.com/renewable-energy.

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.