Energy firm in Louisiana intends to defy climate destruction - metaphorically by flying above it
Entergy Louisiana Proposes Floating Natural Gas Power Plant to Boost Grid Resilience
Entergy Louisiana has announced plans to build a new power plant, the Bayou Power Station, in response to damage caused by Hurricane Zeta in 2020 to a major transmission line serving the area. The proposed plant, valued at $441 million, is intended to provide storm restoration options following significant weather events and directly address critical oil and gas customers in the Port Fourchon system.
The Bayou Power Station, a floating natural gas power plant, was first proposed by Entergy Corporation in the early 2000s. If built, the plant would have black-start capability, meaning it could start up independently without the support of the main power grid, making it a resilient power source for the Entergy Louisiana grid.
The proposed plant could provide electricity to approximately 7,000 residential, industrial, and commercial entities. However, the need for the Louisiana Public Service Commission's approval has been questioned by Logan Atkinson Burke, executive director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy. Burke cites the experience with the New Orleans gas plant as a concern, as Entergy New Orleans claimed the plant's quick-start capability wasn't the safest way to restore power to the city after Hurricane Ida.
The natural gas plant in eastern New Orleans, which came online in 2020, did not provide power quickly after Hurricane Ida struck in August 2021. It took almost three days for the plant to become operational.
Entergy Louisiana, on the other hand, claims it would not be "prudent or economic" to buy power on the open market. They argue that the Bayou Power Station is a more cost-effective solution than building a new transmission line through wetlands and marshes.
The interconnection of the Bayou Power Station would add a resilient power source to the Entergy Louisiana grid, aiming to make south Louisiana's oil and gas infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather. The plant's construction is expected to contribute to the region's recovery and energy security.
However, the final decision on the Bayou Power Station rests with the Louisiana Public Service Commission. As the commission considers the proposal, it will weigh the benefits of the plant's resilience and black-start capability against its cost and the experiences with similar plants in the past.
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