(The Center Square) – Entergy will spend $498 million on infrastructure upgrades to serve two new industrial loads at the RiverPlex MegaPark in Ascension parish.
Entergy said they are unable to divulge the customers.
“Projects like Hyundai Steel would not be possible without the LPSC’s oversight and approval of infrastructure projects like the Westbank 230kv Project,” Commissioner Eric Skrmetta said after Entergy secured the green light from the Louisiana Public Service Commission. “Not only does Louisiana need transmission investment to attract projects like these, but we also need an adequate supply of reliable and affordable generation.”
Testimony from Entergy executives before the commission said a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month could see their bill go up by around $1.50 per month, though Entergy’s regulatory affairs manager Ryan Jones said this estimate was incomplete.
The project was unanimously deemed in the public interest by the commission in March to accommodate the “roughly 5,000 MW of forecasted load additions for Entergy Louisiana along the West Bank of the Mississippi River.”
Entergy plans to build a new substation in Iberville Parish, called Commodore, that will connect two major voltage systems and help manage large amounts of electricity, according to Entergy’s application.
The project includes acquiring about 46 acres of land for the substation and cutting it into several existing power lines. Six nearby substations will also get equipment and settings upgrades to ensure the system works together smoothly.
A new 60-mile high-voltage line will be built between the Waterford and Commodore substations, requiring over 2,000 acres of new right-of-way. An additional 28 miles of right-of-way will be needed for a separate line connecting Waterford and Churchill.
The project also involves rebuilding 3.6 miles of an existing line to handle more power. Distribution lines in the area are under review to make sure they meet safety requirements, and temporary and permanent power will be routed to the new substation for construction and operations.
