Entergy Chairman and CEO Leo Denault presented the Leonard family with a plaque commemorating the official dedication of the facility. An in-person dedication ceremony was canceled based on guidance from health officials and out of an abundance of caution. The 980-megawatt plant began commercial operation in May 2019.

“For customers, communities, employees and owners alike, this power station is a significant milestone along the clean energy journey we began more than 20 years ago when Wayne Leonard became CEO. The J. Wayne Leonard Power Station is one of the cleanest and lowest cost natural gas-powered plants in our Louisiana fleet and is part of an integrated solution that allows us to bring a whole portfolio of cleaner generation to our customers. It will complement our generation operations by providing an efficient and reliable backup source to our growing renewable power portfolio. And the construction and operation have been and will continue to be a source of well-paying jobs in the community for many years,” said Denault.

“The J. Wayne Leonard Power Station is a testament to the environmental commitment Leonard adopted nearly 20 years ago. Combined-cycle gas turbine units like the J. Wayne Leonard facility emit on average about 40% less carbon dioxide than Entergy’s older natural gas-powered units. This unit will supply reliable, clean energy to our growing customer base in Louisiana,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana.

“Entergy Louisiana has always been a valuable partner in helping build healthy, vibrant communities of the future. Not only do they provide the clean and affordable energy that helps drive economic development, but they also support our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “We’re proud to support them as they provide yet another source of clean energy that gives our state a competitive advantage and helps our communities grow.”

Replacing older, less efficient plants with new, cleaner natural gas units will improve system reliability, reduce environmental impacts and produce substantial customer savings over the long term. Because of the plant’s high efficiency, it has been projected that customers will save up to $1.3 billion over the anticipated 30-year life of the unit. Customer savings are expected to exceed the plant’s construction cost in less than 10 years.

During his tenure as chairman and CEO, Leonard changed the company’s strategic direction while setting ambitious goals for the company that extended beyond the balance sheet – protecting the environment, working to eradicate poverty and investing in education to help the communities Entergy serves prosper.

Entergy is proud to operate one of the cleanest large-scale power generating fleets in the nation. In 2001, the company became the first U.S. electric utility to voluntarily cap its carbon emissions at year 2000 levels. Entergy’s latest commitment is to cut its carbon emission rate by 50% below year 2000 levels by 2030. Leonard’s legacy includes Entergy being named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for 18 consecutive years, the only U.S. utility to achieve that record.

Leonard also began the company’s low-income customer assistance initiative to provide resources to customers and community partners to help lift low-income families out of poverty. The initiative has served as a model for other utilities.

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. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the company is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

���ϳԹ��� 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.

MONTZ, La. – Entergy Louisiana is pleased to announce that the St. Charles Power Station commenced commercial operation on May 23.

The 980-megawatt power station is one of the cleanest natural gas-powered plants in Entergy Louisiana’s fleet. Combined-cycle gas turbine units like the St. Charles facility emit on average about 40% less carbon dioxide than Entergy’s older natural gas-powered units.

“The St. Charles Power Station will supply reliable, clean energy to customers to help support the tremendous growth Louisiana is experiencing,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “This combined-cycle plant is one part of our transformation to cleaner, more efficient generation. Replacing older, less efficient plants with new, cleaner natural gas units will improve system reliability, reduce environmental impacts and produce substantial customer savings over the long term.”

Because of the plant’s high efficiency, it is projected that customers will save more than $1.3 billion over the anticipated 30-year life of the unit. Customer savings are expected to exceed the plant’s construction cost in less than 10 years.

The company plans to officially dedicate the unit, which was completed ahead of schedule and on budget, in a ceremony slated for July 15.

At its peak, 955 workers were engaged in the construction of the unit. Entergy Louisiana employs 31 people to operate the plant.

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The St. Charles Power Station is another important milestone in ���ϳԹ���’s broader plan to modernize and transform the Entergy Utility’s existing generation fleet. Over the past 13 years, Entergy has added approximately 5,900 megawatts of clean, highly efficient combined-cycle gas turbine generation, allowing for the deactivation of over 6,300 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 NOx, SO₂, mercury and CO₂ emissions, highlighting Entergy’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

The approximately $870 million St. Charles Power Station project is one of six major generation projects totaling approximately $3.5 billion to be undertaken across Entergy’s service area over the next three years. 

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. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the company is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

���ϳԹ��� 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 nearly 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 approximately $11 billion and nearly 13,700 employees.

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MONTZ, La. – Entergy Louisiana customers moved a step closer to saving millions in fuel costs and helping the environment with today’s ceremony formally kicking off construction of the St. Charles Power Station.

More than 100 people, including Gov. John Bel Edwards and other state and local officials, joined Entergy executives and employees at the groundbreaking for the combined-cycle, natural gas-fired plant. The plant’s estimated cost is $869 million, including transmission and other project-related costs. It is expected to enter commercial operation by June 2019.

The plant will be one of the cleanest and most efficient fossil units in the Entergy Louisiana generation fleet. Customers are projected to save more than $1.3 billion over the anticipated 30-year life of the plant. Compared to Entergy’s older gas-fired plants, combined-cycle units like the St. Charles Power Station will on average cut carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 40 percent. 

“Our economy and our way of life in Louisiana rely upon dependable, affordable electricity,” Edwards said. “Not only is Entergy one of our most important corporate employers, with headquarters in New Orleans, Entergy supplies more power to customers in the state of Louisiana than anyone. After a long, constructive process with our Public Service Commission, Entergy Louisiana is moving forward with this highly efficient power plant project that will benefit customers across the state. We’re excited to support them in providing more power to our people, in a more efficient way than ever before.”

Leo Denault, chairman and CEO of ���ϳԹ���, said, “This project is an excellent example of how Entergy’s commitment to modernize our infrastructure will benefit customers. Not only is the plant expected to produce significant customer savings over the long term, but it will add another highly efficient resource to our generation portfolio, which ranks as one of the cleanest in the country.”

Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana, said, “This state-of-the-art plant is an investment in the future of Louisiana. The St. Charles Power Station will supply the clean, reliable energy required to satisfy customer demand and continue growing the state’s economy, and it will create much-needed jobs for Louisiana residents during its construction.”

May added, “This project would not be possible without the foresight of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the civic and community leaders of St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes, and the support of many other groups and individuals. The construction phase of this plant will be an economic shot in the arm to this region and the rest of Louisiana.”

St. Charles Parish President Larry Cochran said, “This project represents a long, positive relationship between the residents of St. Charles Parish and Entergy, and we look forward to growing that relationship with this endeavor. We also look forward to the opportunities that this will provide for our local workforce.”

St. John the Baptist Parish President Natalie Robottom said, “Entergy continues to demonstrate their commitment to the region through investments and job creation. This state-of-the-art facility is environmentally friendly and will serve as an economic driver for our area. “

The economic impact from the construction of the plant will be felt across the state, but the effect will be largest in St. Charles and St. John parishes, according to an analysis by Louisiana economist Dr. Loren Scott.

The two parishes will see $973 million in new business sales and $198 million in new household earnings during the construction phase, according to Scott’s analysis.

At the peak of construction, there will be more than 700 people employed directly on site. Once complete, the plant is expected to employ 31 people full-time.

Entergy Louisiana has selected CB&I as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the St. Charles plant. CB&I, which employs more than 7,000 Louisiana residents, will work in conjunction with an Entergy management team on the project.

For more information about the plant, visit entergy.com/scps.

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than one million Louisiana customers. Additionally, the company provides natural gas service to nearly 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the company is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

���ϳԹ��� 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 nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11.5 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

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BATON ROUGE, La. – Entergy Louisiana, LLC today received approval from the Louisiana Public Service Commission to build a new natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant in St. Charles Parish.

The LPSC vote clears the way for Entergy Louisiana to move forward with construction on the 980-megawatt unit in Montz, approximately 30 miles from New Orleans. Scheduled to be in service by June 2019, the plant will cost approximately $869 million to build including transmission and other project-related costs.

“Entergy Louisiana’s investment in the St. Charles Power Station will power the lives of Louisiana residents for generations to come,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “We appreciate the Louisiana Public Service Commission’s comprehensive review and decision on our proposal to build this much-needed plant.

“It will provide southeast Louisiana with a reliable source of clean, affordable energy to meet customer demand and help drive economic growth. Building the plant in the southeast Louisiana region will help maintain reliability of the electric grid and facilitate restoration of the grid following major storm events affecting the transmission system.”

The highly efficient, state-of-the-art plant will be one of the cleanest fossil fuel-fired units in Entergy Louisiana’s generation fleet. Because of the plant’s high efficiency, it is projected that customers will save more than $1.3 billion over the anticipated 30-year life of the unit. Customer savings are projected to exceed the project’s construction cost in less than 10 years.

The plant’s construction phase will generate on average an estimated 2,000 direct and indirect jobs a year across the state, increase Louisiana business sales by $1.4 billion and grow household earnings by $476.8 million, according to an analysis by Louisiana economist Dr. Loren Scott.

Entergy Louisiana will employ approximately 27 people to operate the plant.

Entergy Louisiana decided to build the unit after evaluating it against other options submitted through a 2014 request for proposals for power resources to supply southeast Louisiana. An independent monitor oversaw the procurement and selection process, which was conducted in consultation with LPSC staff.

“We are committed to meeting our customers’ power needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A modern, efficient unit like the St. Charles Power Station is needed in the southeast Louisiana region to maintain reliability as our existing generation fleet ages,” May said.

Apart from Ninemile Point Unit 6, which was completed in December 2014, the average age of Entergy Louisiana’s existing fossil generation units in southeast Louisiana is more than 40 years.

Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than one million Louisiana customers. Additionally, the company provides natural gas service to nearly 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the company is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

���ϳԹ��� 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 nearly 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11.5 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

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