Louisiana approves 4 solar projects for Entergy, a small If utilities modernize the way they select the resources they run each day, they can save carbon and reduce energy prices. WebFor more detailed information on certain projects, click the links below. The company said "as existing resources are retired, replacement capacity is expected to come primarily from new renewable technologies.". Though St. James Solar sailed through the approval process in 2019, the new, larger additions have run into headwinds. Two solar farms controlled by New York-based D.E. Note: This story has been updated to accurately reflect the spelling ofAndersen Windows and Doors., Solar power companies are proposing another seven large-scale solar-power projects valued at about $1 billion in rural areas of southeast Loui. The company doesn't typically invest in projects unless "power purchase agreements" at least 15 years or longer are available to justify financing used for solar power development. Some of the groups involved in the fight over industrial operations, like the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, say the parish should apply the same level scrutiny over petrochemical plants as it's applying to solar farms. Complete our National Solar Database Survey! You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately. Thibaut said he believes his parish has struck a balance between protecting agriculture and allowing some economic diversification in strategic locations with an industry that has a low impact on water, roads and local services, like fire and police. The 1,970-acre project, which could produce 200 megawatts of electricity, is expected to be along Bucket Road in Singer. The electricity produced for the Beauregard Solar project is being marketed to a variety of customers from industrial sites to utilities inside and outside Louisiana. Thibodaux Solar is not yet registered in Louisiana but is in Delaware, incorporated in mid-June this year as a shell business. It is planning a This summer, Cleco sought help from an independent consultant to structure its new venture into building a solar farm portfolio, according to Louisiana Public Service Commission records. Bayou Galion Solar Project LLC will build the Morehouse Parish solar plant. I am confident that it will provide reliable and inexpensive power to these Louisiana co-ops for years to come.. The governor's office announced that it has asked the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which oversees offshore oil leasing in the Gulf of Mexico, to create a federal, state and local task force to develop wind farms off the state's coastline. One, released in June 2020, is for 300 megawatts. Of the 16 solar power farms proposed in Louisiana, nearly half are controlled by an East Coast hedge fund with an appetite for solar and wind projects contained in a growing $15 billion renewable power portfolio. The project has drawn significant opposition from locals, however with more than 1,000 names being presented in opposition at the zoning meeting. Like any other industrial project, it's possible that not all the projects will be constructed. All Rights Reserved. A second solar project of previously unforeseen capacity could be coming to Louisiana, as local officials in Calcasieu Parish on Lake Charles, midway between New Dufresne said he isn't against green energy and recognizes the short-term revenue benefits, but said he is looking at another bottom line. Official SEIA State Affiliate - Gulf States Renewable Energy Industries Association (GSREIA), DSIRE Incentives Database - Louisiana - Search a public clearinghouse for specific solar energy incentives in Louisiana and across the United States, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources- Find a wide variety of information on state government energy programs, policy, projects, energy-saving strategies and energy-related statistics, Louisiana Public Service Commission - Learnabout the governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of Louisiana public utilities, Louisiana State Legislature - Track pending legislation affecting solar energy, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in Louisiana, Louisiana Solar Panels Overview- Learn about thehistory of solar policy in Louisiana, along with up-to-date pricing information onEnergySage, National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Louisiana, Solar Panel Cost in Louisiana- Learn about the history of solar policy in Louisiana, along withup-to-date pricing informationonEnergySage, Solar Rebates & Incentives in Louisiana- Check out EnergySage's list of keysolar incentives in Louisianato see what programs you can benefitfrom, U.S. Energy Information Administration Louisiana State Profile - Explore official energy statistics, including data on electricity supply and demand, from the U.S. government, 1All data from SEIA/GTM Research U.S. St. James Solar III LLC is looking at the same intersection in Vacherie for a $100 million project to produce 90 megawatts of electricity. Likewise, major corporations that are big users of electricity are looking to be more environmentally friendly by sourcing more of the power they use from the sun, wind or water. Solar developments on farm land are likely to be far less than 1% of Louisianas 7 million acres of land available for agriculture today. Shaw Renewable Investments, supplies power to Entergy New Orleans. AEP remains focused on adding approximately 16 gigawatts of regulated renewables to our generation portfolio by 2030 and reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.. Solar Market Insight unless otherwise noted:http://www.seia.org/research-resources/us-solar-market-insight, 2Percentage of State's Electricity from Solar: Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly:http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/#generation, 3Solar Jobs: The Solar Foundation, State Solar Jobs Census:http://www.thesolarfoundation.org/solar-jobs-census/states/, 4SEIA, National Solar Database:http://www.seia.org/research-resources/national-solar-database, 5SEIA, Major Solar Projects List:http://www.seia.org/research-resources/major-solar-projects-list, 7SEIA, Solar Means Business:https://www.seia.org/solar-means-business-report. That requires big tracts of land, often former family farms, which has created pushback from farmers in Louisiana, who say they can't compete with the solar industry's lease payments for land. 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Ecoplexus has deals with customers such as Fortune 500 companies Medtronic and Ecolab, in addition to privately held businesses like Andersen Windows and Doors. A 50 megawatt, $67 million solar power farm in West Baton Rouge Parish operated by Helios Infrastructure is operational. Some votes head to rural residents. The owner of the farm, D.E. The farm, owned by the hedge fund D.E. Next Era Energy, which has a significant renewable energy portfolio, particularly solar, dubbed the project as Beauregard Solar. "Studying land use and the impact industry may have on the surrounding area is reasonable, but in states across the country and in regions around the world, solar enterprises have developed cooperative relationships with neighboring communities that have made both parties profitable," retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honor said in a statement. Louisianas first utility-scale solar farm, which is 50 megawatts, is in West Baton Rouge Parish and is being connected to the power grid under a 20-year power Silicon Valley has been the main high tech and venture capital hub in the US for decades. At least two of D.E. Lightsource bp is developing the project, which will be located 30 miles northwest of Baton Rouge in Pointe Coupee Parish. The projects will create more than 5000 jobs and avoid more than 900,000 tons of CO2 Madrid, 1 March 2023 Lightsource bp, a world leader in the development and All the projects have sought or are seeking public approval of 80% property tax breaks for up to 10 years through the state's Industrial Property Tax Exemption Program for projects on primarily agricultural land being transformed into industrial sites that typically last at least two decades. This site uses cookies. In New Orleans East, the smaller 20-megawatt solar farm tied to Entergy cost $42 million, while a solar farm similar in size to the one in West Baton Rouge cost $78 million. DESRI has executed a 20-year Renewable Energy Purchase Agreement (REPA) with SWEPCO to support the utilitys growing renewable energy portfolio and help power local customers electricity needs. So far, D.E. Ecoplexus executives did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The developer of the solar farms in St. James, D.E. The aesthetics of acres of reflecting panels, their hum as they track the sun, long-term cleanup, displacement of the agricultural economy and low long-term job potential have all emerged as worries, despite the short-term boost in construction jobs and sales tax collections and the long-term property tax rise over land under agricultural tax exemptions. D.E. San Francisco-based Ecoplexus, which owns 400 megawatts, looks to build Bueche PV1 LLC and Willis Pond PV I LLC. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. Ventress Solar is proposed near New Roads and would span 2,732 acres. Here's a glance at the other proposed projects in the state and their developers: HELIOS INFRASTRUCTURE:Its 50 megawatt project cost $67 million to construct in West Baton Rouge Parish and is operational. The disruption of Russian gas to Europe has raised prices, encouraging developers and fueling the buildout along the Gulf. "The cost to install has come down; the components and the financing costs have come down as it becomes more mature," he said, "and there's more interest from institutional investors." New Orleans plummets, Baton Rouge hits bottom of national clean energy rankings. This investment is another key step in SWEPCOs efforts to secure renewable, affordable energy and achieve a more balanced fuel mix, says Nicholas K. Akins, AEPs chairman, president and CEO. 3127 in Vacherie. Louisiana solar farms could see millions in incentives. Rocking R is part of DESRIs growing portfolio of solar facilities in Louisiana, bringing the total contracted portfolio size to over 500 MW in the state. The Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved a large-scale solar energy project in Morehouse Parish as part of a new power agreement involving rural electric cooperatives. 21 and Parish Road 88. Bayou Galion Solar Projfect LLC, which is a subsidiary of Recurrent Energy Development Holdings, proposed building a 98.1-megawatt solar farm on 1,000 acres leased from landowners outside of Bastrop. By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. News item from D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments. Louisiana is a rare Deep South state with a climate plan. 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