WESTLAKE, La., March 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Entergy
Louisiana's state-of-the-art Lake Charles Power Station began
commercial operation March 28,
providing another source of reliable and clean energy to a region
that has seen substantial growth in recent years.
"We are excited to announce Lake Charles Power Station achieved
commercial operations well ahead of schedule. It's a huge win for
our customers," said Phillip May,
president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. "Not only does the addition
of this plant make our generation portfolio, which was already one
of the cleanest in the nation, even cleaner, but it also supports
system reliability and produces substantial customer savings."
Combined-cycle gas turbine units like the Lake Charles Power
Station emit on average about 40% less carbon dioxide than
Entergy's older natural gas-powered units. Because of the plant's
high efficiency, it has been projected customers will save between
$1.3 billion and $2 billion over the anticipated 30-year life of
the plant.
The $872 million project helps
improve the region's overall reliability by locating the station in
a rapidly growing area and avoids costly transmission projects that
would otherwise have been needed to maintain reliability for the
greater Lake Charles area.
Construction began on the Westlake facility in August 2017, and the plant officially reached
commercial operation well ahead of its originally scheduled June
completion date. At its peak, construction of the plant employed
approximately 1,100 people. Ongoing operations of the plant will
employ approximately 30 people.
Entergy Corporation Portfolio Transformation
The Lake Charles Power Station is another important milestone in
Entergy Corporation's broader plan to modernize and transform the
existing generation fleet of its utility operating companies while
maintaining some of the lowest rates in the nation. Over the past
15 years, Entergy has added approximately 8,500 megawatts of clean,
highly efficient combined-cycle gas turbine generation, allowing
for the deactivation of over 6,500 megawatts of older, less
efficient gas or oil units.
In addition to providing reliable, cost-effective power,
Entergy's investments in its generation portfolio transformation
and nuclear improvements since 2000 have resulted in substantial
reductions in the company's greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting
Entergy's commitment to environmental stewardship.
In 2001, Entergy Corporation became the first U.S. electric
utility to voluntarily commit to capping greenhouse gas emissions.
Most recently, the company announced a goal of reducing its carbon
emission rate by 50% below year 2000 levels by
2030.
About Entergy Louisiana
Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1
million customers and natural gas service to more than 93,000
customers in the greater Baton
Rouge area. It has operations in southern, central and
northern Louisiana.
About Entergy Corporation
Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) is an integrated energy
company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail
distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants
with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating
capacity, including 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy
delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of
$11 billion and approximately 13,600
employees.
entergylouisiana.com
facebook.com/EntergyLA
Twitter: @EntergyLA
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SOURCE Entergy Corporation