Dufresne said he isn't against green energy and recognizes the short-term revenue benefits, but said he is looking at another bottom line. Shaw's Louisiana projects are among a much larger nationwideportfolio controlled by the hedge fund producing more than 2,900 megawatts of power generated from the sun and more than 500 megawatts from wind, records show.. State Parish officials are worried the expanded solar farms could displace future homes, commercial businesses or industrial plants on the prime land near the Mississippi River. Separately, Pineville-based electric utility Cleco, which has a regulated unit serving 24 parishes primarily in central and south Louisiana and an unregulated unit serving nine Louisiana electric cooperatives, announced it's looking to add 400 megawatts of solar electricity. SWEPCO and sister company Public Service Company of Oklahoma also own and operate the 1,484 MW North Central Energy Facilities in north central Oklahoma. The publicly traded utility that serves 1.3 million customers in the state has pledged to becarbon neutralby 2050. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. SWEPCO expects to issue another request for proposal (RFP) in the near term for additional renewable energy consistent with the companys integrated resource plan for its energy and capacity needs. Join our newsletter. Entergy noted that new requests for proposals are expected in the coming years as part of a recurring series of RFPs for renewable resources to support ongoing Entergy Louisiana energy needs to capitalize on the improving economics of solar and potentially offer other technologies relative to conventional resources.. Please be mindful of our community standards. There was a problem saving your notification. Businesses which rely on oil and gas activity off Louisiana's coast fear that fossil fuels could track a similar demise as the coal industry a, The climate task force created by Gov. D.E. Another big chunk comes from already carbon-free nuclear power, but the utility says it has been seeking solar developers since 2020 and hopes to have them to build 2,575 megawatts of solar power by 2025. That solar movement in Louisiana, for now, is being driven by Entergy Louisiana as the purchaser of electricity through long-term contracts with companies that are building and operating solar farms. Yes, but it's not cheap. Vacherie Solar Energy Center is proposed at the intersection of La. The solar farm has over 100,000 individual solar panels and is off of Rosedale Rd. The Morehouse facility would open in 2023, while the St. Landry site is planned to be online by 2024.. Lighthouse already has more than 400 megawatts of solar connected to the grid with another 616 megawatts of power under construction. Complete our National Solar Database Survey! The startup "identified the sites best suited to host a solar project" for the unidentified customer and is "actively working with this partner to develop a utility-scale solar project," according to its website. :Climate change denial on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok is as bad as ever. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. Wind projects create an average of 0.9 jobs/MW (50 projects/7,125 megawatts), and Louisiana (49 projects/6,714 megawatts). You have permission to edit this article. Roy participated in fashioning the ordinance in Washington, which created buffers, screening requirements, long-term financial assurances for cleanup after panels live out their usefulness, among other issues. Published: Nov. 9, 2021 at 3:01 PM PST. Bayou Galion Solar Project LLC will build the Morehouse Parish solar plant. Will state leaders follow through. The West Baton Rouge Solar Farm being tied to Entergy has over 100,000 individual solar panels and is off Rosedale Road. I would hate for that to be what Washington Parish is known for.". The solar and wind projects were identified through a competitive bidding process. Privately held Savion LLC is under Green Investment Group and an indirect subsidiary of publicly traded Macquarie Group in Australia. The farm, owned by the hedge fund D.E. How Do You Charge An Electric Car At Home? The Iris Solar project in Washington Parish and St. James Solar project in St. James Parish represent the largest solar facility currently under construction in Louisiana "That's the most valuable real estate we have. The farm is located just north of La. Walmart has been at the table for discussions through the Louisiana Public Service Commission about the potential for what is called a green tariff option that allows customers to tie their electricity purchases to renewable energy sources. Canadian Solar's subsidiary told the state board that approves economic incentives that it already has an agreement with Entergy, which has said that the project is not contingent on a contract with the utility. But that's what Entergy Mississippi is doing with their green pricing programs and I think there's a push to do that in Louisiana as well, a premium on top of your existing bill for a percentage of renewable resources. Legal Notice Terms and Conditions Privacy Policy pv magazine 2023, Welcome to pv magazine USA. 3127 and west of La. Solar developers take on module manufacturing risk. Amazon is planning solar farms in St. Landry and Morehouse parishes as part of the online giants efforts to be entirely dependent on renewable energy by 2025. 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. 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. Cleco and Lafayette Utilities System are also in the market for renewable energy. Both projects are expected to reach commercial operation in mid 3127 in Vacherie. . Amid public opposition, the parish Planning Commission denied them in May. LIGHTSOURCE: The single largest solar project proposed is for 300 megawatts in Pointe Coupee Parish. These projects would also outpace SEIAs expectations for solar capacity additions in the state over the next five years, which currently sits at 507 MW. The Rocking R Solar Project will be a 72.5-MWAC facility in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, which is anticipated to come online in late 2024. There is a seventh solar project on the books not yet seeking incentives. ; the 200.6 Louisiana farmers already have complained that they cannot compete with the per-acre lease price solar companies are willing to pay for land. The farm, owned by the hedge fund D.E. WebTo date, we operate solar projects in 27 states, and Tangipahoa will be one of the first solar projects in Louisiana. John Bel Edwards. The first batch of panels would create just three permanent jobs and ultimately six in all for the entire 3,900 acres planned for development, locking that land up for 30 years or more. New York City-based D.E. The retail giant has sought more access to renewable energy in the state, which has been a factor pushing the Cleco and Entergy moves forward. NEW ORLEANS (AP) Solar power companies are looking to build at least seven big projects in rural Louisiana, including three in one unincorporated community. Shaw's projects are Iris Solar, 50 megawatts for $75 million, and Sunlight Road Solar, 50 megawatts for $56 million, both near Franklinton. Looking for a local installer? 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. D.E. Complete our National Solar Database Survey! Tim Sylvia was an editor at pv magazine USA. These tax benefits would normally be touted by local officials. ", The statement said the states Board of Commerce and Industry, which oversees incentives, "will respectfully and fairly consider the expansion of solar power as part of its objective to help grow and retain jobs in Louisiana. Bayou Galion by itself will generate enough power to supply more than 20,000 homes. New Orleans plummets, Baton Rouge hits bottom of national clean energy rankings. Tripp Roy, director of development for D.E. But King, whose Franklinton area district has the two D.E. Bogalusa West PV I LLC seeks to spend $200 million on a 200-megawatt solar project in Bogalusa, near La. An economic impact assessment from D.E. Next Era Energy, which has a significant renewable energy portfolio, particularly solar, dubbed the project as Beauregard Solar. Photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays capable of generating up to 100 Hold Ctrl or Cmd to select multiple editions. The Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) has approved a power purchase agreement for the 132 MW DC /98 MW AC Bayou Galion solar project developed by Recurrent Energy and located in Morehouse Parish in Northeast Louisiana. "Solar is no longer experimental," the utility told the state Public Service Commission last month. Shaw Renewable Investments) is enthusiastic about the opportunity to invest in a welcoming state economic environment while working in close partnership with local communities," said Hy Martin, commercial development officer for the company. Copyright 2023 WTWH Media, LLC. Many are also seeking eligibility for the state's Quality Jobs program, which is acash rebate to companies up to 6% for no more than 10 years in addition to state sales and use tax rebate on capital expenditures., As a geologist, Kirk Barrell has studied what lies below ground for decades on the hunt for oil and gas pockets across Louisiana. Solar energy is sustainable and renewable and contributes to progress toward lower greenhouse gas emissions. 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.. In the St. James community of Vacherie, two proposed solar projects, SJ Louisiana Solar and Vacherie Solar Energy Center, would cover 3,900 acres of west-bank sugar cane fields and add to an existing 210-acre complex known as St. James Solar. "I think one of the big challenges that we're seeing here is that solar power, wind power or renewable energy shouldn't just mean a higher cost (for ratepayers)," said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a New Orleans-based nonprofit organization. The farm, owned by the hedge fund D.E. If you can lock in that long-term pricing then the customers have a better chance of receiving those benefits as opposed to shouldering those costs.". That's the most valuable real estate, accessible to rail and river, and it's just taking away so many opportunities that could be other clean projects, as well, you know, that could actually bring jobs, and that's what our concern is," Dufresne told a few solar, utility and media representatives after a recent Parish Council meeting. pv magazine USA offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. Reached for comment, Clifford said he's no longer involved in the project. An empty field sits Thursday, July 7, 2022, just south of the St. James Solar farm located off La. After a California company applied to build a second, larger solar farm in West Baton Rouge Parish, local leaders tapped the brakes on the pro, Solar energy farm builders will now need to submit their plans before building in West Baton Rouge Parish after the parish council approved a , Federal subsidies for fossil fuels are expected to be pulled back while more investment goes toward clean energy and water, with a hefty porti, A state board unanimously approved economic incentives Friday for ExxonMobils proposed $410 million Baton Rouge refinery modernization and fo. "You know, solar panels don't go fight with each other, or get in trouble. The farm is located just north of La. Overall, D.E. So would a $145 million project proposed in Singer. Created by, the average costs for installing solar in Louisiana. While some have welcomed the farms, several other parishes have tried to slow things down at least until better controls are in place. They could be looking to add renewable power generation on their own often expansive landholdings, potentially adding a future wrinkle to the land use questions raised by solar sites. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. "Solar projects represent an excellent community development opportunity for our rural parishes. How to build a hurricane proof solar unit. The solar arrays are massive, with hundreds of thousands of individual panels collecting sunlight to generate electricity sent to the power grid. In response to the latest round of projects seeking property tax and Quality Jobs program incentives, the Louisiana Economic Development department said in a statement that LED works to increase and retain jobs across all of Louisiana, including rural communities. 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 document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Bookmark, share and interact with the leading solar construction magazine today. The Vacherie Solar Energy Center will be a 150 MW AC facility in St. James Parish in Louisiana. By Davon Cole. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Each project would support a range of 160 to 300 construction jobs, developers said. Nearly 1 In 3 Homes In Australia Covered In Solar Panels, In Ultrathin Layers, NREL Researchers Find A Path To Better Materials, Solar Installation Growth Expected to Reach 700 GW by 2025, Green Hydrogen Project Is New Worlds Biggest, Utility-Scale Wind, Solar PV, & Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) Increased From 467 MW In 2013 To 6,230 MW In 2022 In South Africa, Energy Security Amid Heightened Global Tensions. LSU baseball analytics: What technology, data do the Tigers use? The Sierra Club environmental group recently conducted a report that asserts it would be cheaper in the long-run to replace coal-fired power plants with utility-scale solar and wind projects in Louisiana. New solar farm in West Baton Rouge with Entergy electricity contract sold; more under construction, Lafayette Utilities System trying to go green with solar energy push; seeking proposals, West Baton Rouge leaders pump brakes on solar farm construction to address resident complaints, With more solar farms in the works, West Baton Rouge leaders move to require permits, A reeling Louisiana oil and gas industry anticipates another setback: Loss of federal subsidies, Economic incentives unanimously approved for $410M ExxonMobil project, new $308M solar farm, New $98M solar farm pitched in Louisiana as utilities look to buy more renewable power, Louisiana businesses face reality of no new federal offshore leases anytime soon. John Bel Edwards, the Deep Souths only Democratic governor, brought together people from across a broa. If so, couldnt this be raised to allow harvesting them? A $98 million solar farm in Morehouse Parish is looking for tax breaks for manufacturing renewable power, The Advocate reports. Bayou Galion is hoping for an up to 80% property tax abatement for 10 years through Louisianas Industrial Tax Exemption Program. Shaw Renewable estimates the first 2,100 acres of the new solar complexes in St. James would spur around 300 temporary construction jobs and around $14.4 million combined in initial sales tax collections and property tax collections over the next 10 years. Two solar farms are near completion in St. "As we retire our low-sulfur coal-powered generation, Entergy will evaluate the appropriate mix of replacement resources as part of our continued effort to reliably provide power at the lowest reasonable costs, while mitigating customers exposure to cost and reliability risks," Entergy has said. All Rights Reserved. Solar development is largely in its infancy in Louisiana, with only a handful of projects having been constructed to date. The solar farm has over 100,000 individual solar panels and is off of Rosedale Road. D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI) announced the signing of a long-term renewable energy off-take agreement with Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). Some votes head to rural residents. With utilities such as Entergy, Cleco and LUS looking to buy renewable energy, another solar farm is being proposed in Louisiana. We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. Your email address will not be published. "'Cause if it's so good, why not wait a year and let us tell our residents just how good it is.". Washington Parish officials are looking at infrastructure and recreation with the new money, Parish Council member Carley King said. A smaller 50-megawatt project in Washington Parish, located on Sunlight Road in Franklinton would cost $56 million, support 200 construction jobs and one job once done in 2023. I mean these thousands of acres of solar farms is not bringing any jobs, and who's getting the benefit? Solar developments on farm land are likely to be far less than 1% of Louisianas 7 million acres of land available for agriculture today. Power from those farms would go to Entergy Louisiana, which supplies power to St. James, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and many other parts of the state. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 3127 and west of La. Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website. The developer of the solar farms in St. James, D.E. You have permission to edit this article. Shaw Investments, which has emerged as the developer of seven of Louisiana's 16 proposed large-scale solar farms. "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. But now he's. The exception was issued for the Chalkley Solar Project, named for a historic local family who founded the company that is leasing the land to Aurora. The subsidiary serves the Mississippi River corridor, including St. James, metro Baton Rouge and much of Louisiana outside New Orleans. Select one or more editions for targeted, up to date information delivered straight to your inbox. Shaw solar farms, said he and many of his constituents accustomed to the parish's pastures and forests don't want to see too many more solar panels popping up even with the new ordinance in place. Mostly through subsidiary Entergy Louisiana, Entergy has reached power agreements for the more than 4,200 acres of solar projects built or proposed in St. James. But Dufresne has taken a more cautious approach with the solar farms now seeking to set up on agricultural land, worried about eating up swaths of irreplaceable riverside land for solar complexes that produce few permanent jobs. "With over 400 megawatts of new solar power projects planned in Louisiana, (D.E. Why these Louisiana fossil fuel land scouts are jumping into the solar power business, Who owns all these solar 'farms' across Louisiana? KONTIKI HOLDINGS: A solar project in the town of Singer in Beauregard Parish owned by Kontiki Holdings LLC would span 1,970 acres and could produce 200 megawatts of electricity, at a construction cost of $145 million. Required fields are marked *. Of solar farms while some have welcomed the farms, several other parishes have tried to slow down! 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