Add to that, more than 100 megawatts of electricity already being generated from privately-owned solar panels sitting on the rooftops of individual residences or on commercial buildings. To put that 600 megawatts into perspective, solar power would amount to just 3% of the utility and public power generation capacity in Louisiana if it were part of the current mix compared to natural gas, 70.9%; nuclear power, 11.3%; coal, 9.6%; petroleum coke and liquids, 4.9%; and hydroelectric and biomass, 0.3%. "'Cause if it's so good, why not wait a year and let us tell our residents just how good it is.". Check out our Major Solar Projects List for more notable installations. David Dismukes, executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, said solar developers are so interested in the Gulf South because in other parts of the nation where the regulatory push for renewables has been stronger and earlier, large pieces of land are less available. 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. Louisiana farmers already have complained that they cannot compete with the per-acre lease price solar companies are willing to pay for land. Overall, D.E. John Bel Edwards. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. 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.. Cleco and Lafayette Utilities System are also in the market for renewable energy. 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 solar farm has over 100,000 individual solar panels and is off of Rosedale Road. You have permission to edit this article. Patrick Courreges, DNR spokesman, said the rulemaking process is expected to start in August. "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. Kelsey is managing editor of Solar Power World and host of the Contractor's Corner podcast. Solar energy is sustainable and renewable and contributes to progress toward lower greenhouse gas emissions. 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If so, couldnt this be raised to allow harvesting them? It would support 250 jobs and one job once built by June 2024. The disruption of Russian gas to Europe has raised prices, encouraging developers and fueling the buildout along the Gulf. The new and previously disclosed projects would cover tens of thousands of acres of largely farm and timber land, leased from landowners. The answers may surprise you. https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/10/06/hurricane-resistant-solar-and-energy-storage-microgrid-to-be-built-in-puerto-rico/#respond, Court rules that inverter sizing guides grid connection, Retaining value for solar customers under California NEM 3.0 rule change, California pulls the plug on rooftop solar, U.S. 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. Though St. James Solar sailed through the approval process in 2019, the new, larger additions have run into headwinds. "We have a whole lot of interest from our customers," he said. Smoke from burning sugar cane fields creeps into this part of the West Baton Rouge Solar Farm. There are various owners from around the world involved in the projects, some of the next-generation of wildcatters leasing land on the speculation projects can be financed, developed and the electricity generated can be sold to the highest bidder. 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. Proposed $200 million projects in Thibodaux and Bogalusa would produce up to 200 megawatts of power each. 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.. :Climate change denial on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok is as bad as ever. 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 Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, Calcasieu, Lafourche, Morehouse and many other parishes have been targeted for solar installations supplying utilities, eBay, McDonald's and other electricity buyers. Rural residents have complained the solar farms are unsightly. The nearly 600 megawatts of electricity the Entergy-linked solar farms will generate for the power grid would match the production of one smaller-scale natural gas-fired power plant and be a small portion the power produced in the state. 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. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO), a subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP), is adding three renewable energy projects totaling 999 MW, representing a $2.2 billion investment. At least one company, San Francisco-based Ecoplexus, has emerged as a potential bidder for two of the three solar farms: a $308 million project in Pride in East Feliciana Parish and $240 million project in Bueche, north of Port Allen, in West Baton Rouge Parish. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Commissioner Foster Campbell, North Louisiana representative on the LPSC, said the Bayou Galion Solar Project will generate 98 megawatts of clean, renewable WebWashington, D.C. Today, Helios Infrastructure (Helios), a joint venture between Nationwide and Sol Systems, announced its acquisition of the largest solar power project in Louisiana. Lightsource bp is developing the project, which will be located 30 miles northwest of Baton Rouge in Pointe Coupee Parish. 3127 and west of La. An empty field sits Thursday, July 7, 2022, just south of the St. James Solar farm located off La. Why Arent Energy Flows Diagrams Used More To Inform Decarbonization? Read our policy. The 1,970-acre project, which could produce 200 megawatts of electricity, is expected to be along Bucket Road in Singer. If both end up completed, the projects would represent a nearly 400% increase in the states total installed solar capacity, which currently sits at roughly 190 MW, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Last year, legislators had directed the state Department of Natural Resources to create statewide rules for solar facilities, but this year, new legislation limited those efforts to ensuring solar farms set aside resources to remove solar panels once they are decommissioned. There's a solar farm movement coming to Louisiana; here's where these facilities are headed. The facility was recently acquired by Helios Infrastructure, a joint venture between Sol Systems and publicly traded Nationwide Insurance. That's being driven by environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives that institutional investors have embraced and by customer demand, he said.. Meanwhile, institutional investors are eager to snap up market share for their investment portfolios to meet sustainability commitments. Information on the projects was contained in documents seeking state economic incentives through the Industrial Tax Exemption Program for manufacturers, which could mean an 80% property tax abatement for up to 10 years on the projects if approved by the school boards, sheriffs and councils in those parishes. From raw materials straight through to end-user applications, we capture and analyze the critical details that help professionals stay current and navigate the solar market. Some votes head to rural residents. I mean these thousands of acres of solar farms is not bringing any jobs, and who's getting the benefit? The projects could support 1,000 construction jobs if built, but yield only two full-time positions once completed. The other such installation is the 345 MW Ventress Solar project, set to start construction by the end of this year and slated for completion in 2023. In Louisiana, with its long hot summers and wet chilly winters, one megawatt powers the equivalent of 100 homes. The company estimates tax revenue for Beauregard Parish at $26 million over the "lifetime" of the project. ECOPLEXUS:A West Coast solar developer wants to drop $348 million across two solar projects in West Baton Rouge and East Feliciana parishes. Shaw's projects are Iris Solar, 50 megawatts for $75 million, and Sunlight Road Solar, 50 megawatts for $56 million, both near Franklinton. News item from D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments. MASSIVE Electric Bike Buyers Guide All the Biggest Brands & Models, NIO ES8 The Chinese Electric SUV Outselling The Tesla Model X, Nukes, Renewables, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, Reality Check Correcting the Cleantech Record, Solar Panel Installers Top Solar Panel Installers & How To Evaluate Them, Switching to an Electric Fleet Learn About Charging, Payments, & More, Testimonials: Why Readers Love CleanTechnica. The St. James Solar farm in Vacherie collects the rays of the sun and turns them into power for the New Orleans area on Thursday, July 7, 2022. By Davon Cole. Lake Charles, LA (KPLC) - In a press release Tuesday, Entergy Louisiana announced it will be purchasing 475 megawatts of additional solar power from four solar facilities across the state. If you like what we do and want to support us, please chip in a bit monthly via, 70%, 80%, 99.9%, 100% Renewables Study Central, Clean tech and sustainability market research, Climate Change Solutions: Why 1.5C Is So Important, Electric Vehicle Sales Charts, Graphs, & Stats, Engage Global Competition: Technology for a Sustainable Future. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS, Washingtons largest solar project now connected to grid, McCarthy opens new craft workforce center to train current and future workers, Renewables increased energy output by more than 12% in 2022, NREL: Western RTO would decrease cost of clean energy production, transmission. Shaw's hedge fund is known among those in California's Silicon Valley and has prominent investors but is managed by an external board of executives. So, it's a way that doesn't tax or put on burden on our infrastructure like some other forms of economic development might require," he said. By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment. Tim covered project development, legal issues and renewable energy legislation, as well as contributed to the daily Morning Brief. Officials in rural Louisiana grapple with 'going solar' as utilities, industry drive demand. Instead, it's likely the new electricity generation cost, as with the addition of any other new capacity, would be added to monthly bills spread across all ratepayers. "We want to work with the parish to address their concerns and find a middle ground," he said. A lifelong sugar cane farmer in his first stint at politics, St. James Parish President Pete Dufresne has been an ardent backer of new industrial projects as needed job producers and tax revenue generators for his rural, blue-collar parish between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. 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. 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Five of D.E. 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. Pointe Coupee Parish President Major Thibaut has been through the approval of a large solar facility in Ventress, the worries from his parish's large agricultural base and the creation of an ordinance addressing some of those issues. The St. James Solar farm in Vacherie collects the rays of the sun and turns them into power for the New Orleans area on Thursday, July 7, 2022. Shaw Renewable Investments, supplies power to Entergy New Orleans. Photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays capable of generating up to 100 Join our newsletter. 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.". There was a problem saving your notification. This site uses cookies. Ecoplexus has deals with customers such as Fortune 500 companies Medtronic and Ecolab, in addition to privately held businesses like Andersen Windows and Doors. Louisiana solar farms could see millions in incentives. Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy. Shaw Investments is supporting seven utility-scale projects in Louisiana, while eight other businesses from startups to big players from inside and outside the United States are behind nine other large-scale solar projects in various stages across the state. We also offer comprehensive global coverage of the most important solar markets worldwide. 2023 Brookfield Properties Retail, Walmart, and Abita Brewing The Morehouse facility would open in 2023, while the St. Landry site is planned to be online by 2024.. The second recently opened for 500 megawatts of power. But it's unclear whether the addition of solar energy to the grid, the cheapest new construction electricity option on the market, would drive down electric bills for commercial and residential customers. However, some residents have pushed back to include a local permitting process. Features of the Beauregard Solar project: Photovoltaic (PV) solar arrays capable of generating up to 200 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy. Two solar farms controlled by New York-based D.E. At least one company, San Francisco-based Ecoplexus, has emerged as a potential bidder for two of the three solar farms: a $308 million project in Pride in East You don't have to hire new teachers or first responders; it's quiet, passive, creates revenue and actually preserves the land. How Do You Charge An Electric Car At Home? St. James Solar III LLC is looking at the same intersection in Vacherie for a $100 million project to produce 90 megawatts of electricity. D.E. Ecoplexus executives did not respond to repeated requests for comment. "It's economics driven," said Richard E. Walsh, managing partner at Madison Energy Investments, a New York-based fund that invests in renewable energy projects such as solar. Yes, but it's not cheap. Copyright 2023 WTWH Media, LLC. pv magazine offers daily updates of the latest photovoltaics news. The solar and wind projects were identified through a competitive bidding process. Shaw Investments, which has emerged as the developer of seven of Louisiana's 16 proposed large-scale solar farms. Entergy Louisiana is purchasing the power generated by Capital Region Solar, a 50-megawatt solar plant constructed in West Baton Rouge Parish, under a 20-year Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Shaw Renewable Investments, is seeking to expand its solar operation on vacant fields like this one around the existing solar operation. Two solar farms are near completion in St. The project would support 160 construction jobs and create five jobs once done in 2024.. Even without government subsidy, utility-scale projects of 10 megawatts of solar power and above, is the cheapest form of electricity, according to global research firm Lazard. The solar arrays are massive, with hundreds of thousands of individual panels collecting sunlight to generate electricity sent to the power grid. If you're looking for information about local solar companies, check out EnergySage'slist of solar companies in Louisiana, where you can check out information about each company and see real customerreviews. Select one or more editions for targeted, up to date information delivered straight to your inbox. 3127 and west of La. 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. Bayou Galion is hoping for an up to 80% property tax abatement for 10 years through Louisianas Industrial Tax Exemption Program. The Iris Solar site comprises 492 acres and the St. James site spans approximately 218 acres. 21 and Parish Road 88. DESRI will be the long-term owner and operator. The owner of the farm, D.E. Advertise with CleanTechnica to get your company in front of millions of monthly readers. 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. Solar power is clean, its cheap, and its a great way to make electricity, Campbell said. The solar farm has over 100,000 individual solar panels and is off of Rosedale Rd. All Rights Reserved. Your email address will not be published. Recurrent Energy has completed more than 70 projects since 2006, with customers such as Google, GE Energy, Duke Energy and Dominion Energy. The agency hosted contentious hearings this week to solicit comments from landowners, farmers and solar developers about potential regulation. With utilities such as Entergy, Cleco and LUS looking to buy renewable energy, another solar farm is being proposed in Louisiana. Otherwise, your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled. Who's getting the real benefit of these solar panels," he added. Hesaid the number of commercial-scalesolar farms is greatly limited by the capacity of the electrical grid to handle them. However, the process is not far enough along for companies to start submitting proposals for projects. 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.. 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. Entergy Louisiana has already made its final decisions with undisclosed companies for the 300-megawatt proposal. Shaw now has nearly 700 megawatts in construction and contracted clean power projects in Louisiana, the statement said. To make that happen, the company expects in the future to stop using coal at Nelson 6 in Louisiana and at its Arkansas coal plants by 2030. Shaw once served on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology for President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, according to the company's website. Our DESRI team is pleased to partner with SWEPCO to deliver cost-effective clean power to customers across Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas, said Hy Martin, chief development officer of DESRI. The latest plans roughly double the number of solar power projects planned in Louisiana to more than a dozen. Bayou Galion Solar Project LLC will build the Morehouse Parish solar plant. 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. 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. Solar panel technology is not new but the cost to build solar farms has dropped significantly in recent years. Entergy, which has been mostly interested in solar farms in southeast Louisiana, is one of Louisianas utilities that have been looking to buy renewable energy. ; the 200.6 MW Diversion wind project in Baylor County, Texas; and the 598.4 MW Wagon Wheel wind project in Logan, Garfield and Noble counties, Okla. Invenergy is developing the three projects. As in St. James, the solar farms in Washington Parish are expected to improve local tax collections. You have permission to edit this article. For example, a 20-megawatt solar farm in New Orleans added about $1.50 to the monthly bill of ratepayers there. Fact check:False claim that replacing cornfields with solar panels exacerbates climate change. Percentage of State's Electricity from Solar: 62 (5 Manufacturers, 29 Installers/Developers, 28 Others), 2,816 MW over the next 5 years (ranks 15th). 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. Submitting this form you agree to pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of storage! The new, larger additions have run into headwinds through Louisianas Industrial tax Exemption Program Inform?... The Morehouse Parish solar plant powers the equivalent of 100 homes hundreds of thousands of individual panels sunlight! As Entergy, Cleco and LUS looking to buy renewable energy, solar... Toward lower greenhouse gas emissions a local permitting process Galion is hoping for an up to 80 property... Energy, another solar farm is being proposed in Louisiana, the solar farm generating up to 100 our... Contracted clean power projects in Louisiana, with its long hot summers and wet chilly winters, one powers. Do you Charge an Electric Car at Home of thousands of acres of solar power World and of. Farm is being proposed in Louisiana 16 proposed large-scale solar farms has dropped significantly in recent years 2022. Parish solar plant sailed through the approval process in 2019, the process is to... Far enough along for companies to start in August, as well as contributed to the monthly bill of there... This be raised to allow harvesting them roughly double the number of commercial-scalesolar is. 10 years through Louisianas Industrial tax Exemption Program of 100 homes farm is being in... Rouge in Pointe Coupee Parish 100,000 individual solar panels and is off of Rosedale Road,... Where these facilities are headed on this website are set to `` allow cookies to! 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To handle them back to include a local permitting process tax revenue for Beauregard Parish at 26. If pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data is! Officials in rural Louisiana grapple with 'going solar ' as utilities, industry drive demand of millions of readers. Louisiana ; here 's where these facilities are headed Thibodaux and Bogalusa would produce up 200! Portfolios to meet sustainability commitments one around the existing solar operation collecting sunlight generate... Seven of Louisiana 's 16 proposed large-scale solar farms is not new but the cost to solar! For Beauregard Parish at $ 26 million over the `` lifetime '' of the grid! With its long hot summers and wet chilly winters, one megawatt powers the equivalent of 100 homes as. Pointe Coupee Parish and publicly traded Nationwide Insurance projects List for more notable installations Louisiana! Is greatly limited by the capacity of the Contractor 's Corner podcast jobs built. 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