Patty Riddlebarger, Entergy vice president of corporate social responsibility, attended a press conference alongside Gov. John Bel Edwards and Dr. Libbie Sonnier, executive director of the LPIC.

“At Entergy, we firmly believe that an investment in our children is an investment in our economy,” said Riddlebarger. “Over the past two decades, Entergy has worked with countless advocates, legislative champions, policy makers and community leaders to expand access to high quality early childhood education for Louisiana families. This report documents that progress, while also highlighting how much further we have to go.”

The report provides a comprehensive modern history of the early care and education, or ECE, reform movement in the state, including lessons learned. In the late 20th century, scientists concluded the vast majority of brain development takes place during the first three years of a child’s life. At the same time, increasingly, child care was becoming one of the most common contexts in which child development unfolds.��

In the early 2000s, Louisiana served only 27% of 4-year-olds in pre-kindergarten (pre-K), and the state ranked last in the country for access to child care for 3-year-olds. The state’s ECE regulatory structures met only four out of 10 national benchmarks, with no required teacher professional development or minimum staff-child ratios. Yet Louisiana’s ECE advocates understood that affordable, high-quality ECE opportunities could be a game-changer for both children and their families, as well as for the state as a whole, and they began to organize themselves to support families with young children.

At the press conference, Edwards offered his remarks about the report.

“When I first took office, the state had spent years disinvesting in education. Now, we have the best budget for education in the history of the state,” said Edwards. “This year’s budget includes the largest investment of state general fund in early childhood education in state history. We all know how important increasing both access and quality of early childhood education in Louisiana is, and I’m incredibly proud of the strides we’ve made to put our children first.”

To inspire young people to help find new solutions to��the flooding issues presented by climate change, Entergy recently sponsored a week-long educational symposium, Loyola Academy Science + Design, hosted by Loyola University. This was Entergy’s second year sponsoring the workshop.��

“Climate change poses a significant risk for our communities,” said Patty Riddlebarger, vice president of corporate social responsibility for ���ϳԹ���. “Through our support for the Loyola Science Academy, we hope to increase the resiliency of our communities and equip students and residents with the knowledge and tools to advocate for effective storm water management practices and policies to combat climate change.”��

Loyola professors Dr. Aimée Thomas and Dr. Bob Thomas led the group of 20 high school and university students, and recent university graduates to teach them how green and gray infrastructure can help mitigate against the impact of climate change.��

The group visited several locations around New Orleans:

• The group took to canoes at Bayou St. John to learn about the bayou’s ecosystem and what the lessons of the past can teach about living with water today and in the future.
• They visited businesses, including Parkway Bakery and Tavern, and the New Basin Canal Lighthouse, to learn about innovative storm water management solutions they’ve adopted.
• Clarie Commagere, program manager for Urban Conservancy, showed the group a bioswale at Stronger Hope Baptist Church. In a bioswale, a small garden that collects rainwater so plants can absorb the water, thus taking strain off the city’s pumping systems.
• The group met with Thrive NOLA Executive Director Chuck Morse. Thrive NOLA educates citizens about drainage issues and provides them with green infrastructure jobs.
• At Paul Habans Charter School, they met with Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Senior Planner Grace Vogel for a tour of the school’s new green infrastructure project. The site is near the school’s playground and features rain gardens, a rainwater detention pond, a French drain and various native plants to help reduce flooding in the area.�� �� �� �� �� �� ����

Vairleene Einstein, Loyola University student, was drawn to the workshop because of her background. Einstein was born in Haiti and lived in Los Angeles before moving to New Orleans. Each region has a problematic relationship with water, which prompted her to participate in the workshop. She’s found the workshop informative and learned about a more comprehensive array of subjects than expected.��

“It took a different route because, initially, I was studying the science side, and now I’m studying the social sciences,” Einstein said. “With my findings, I’m going to see what motivates people to implement green infrastructure and ways we could get people involved at a younger age.”��

Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Senior Planner Grace Vogel teaches students about the benefits of green infrastructure.

Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship at Entergy
Entergy is a national leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship, with more than two decades of voluntary action on climate change and reducing carbon emissions. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale power generation fleets in the nation, as noted in the by independent energy and environmental advisory firm M. J. Bradley & Associates. In September 2020, Entergy accelerated its climate action goals with a by 2050.��

Corporate Social Responsibility at Entergy
For more than 100 years, Entergy has powered life in our communities through strategic philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy’s corporate social responsibility initiatives help create and sustain thriving communities, position the company for sustainable growth and are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our top CSR priorities are education/workforce development, poverty solutions/social services and environmental programs. Entergy annually contributes $16-$18 million in shareholder-funded grants to approximately 2,000 nonprofit organizations in the communities where we operate.

The company was No. 1 on UWSELA’s 2021 Top 10 Most Generous Workplaces list. The annual ranking is determined by a company’s philanthropic contributions to and through UWSELA during the previous fiscal year.��

Entergy shareholders and employees raised or contributed $1.4 million to UWSELA in 2020. Collectively, UWSELA’s 2020-2021 contributions campaign, chaired by Entergy Executive Vice President and General Counsel Marcus Brown, brought in $3.7 million through contributions from New Orleans area companies and their employees as well as individual donors and other campaign fundraising efforts.��

UWSELA also recognized its 2021 LIVE UNITED award winners. Entergy’s own Brad Fleming, senior lead regulatory analyst, was awarded the Hidden Hero award for his service on the UWSELA finance committee and additional volunteerism. The LIVE UNITED awards recognize individuals and partners who help advance the organization’s mission to eradicate poverty in Southeast Louisiana.����

Through our partnership with United Way, we help create vibrant, stronger communities. Each year, Entergy employees participate in United Way campaigns to raise funds for their communities. Company shareholders match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar to maximize the impact of employee giving.��

Pictured left to right: UWSELA Board of Trustee Chair Cathy McRae, Marcus Brown, Brad Fleming, Entergy CSR Program Coordinator Kaleb Stargel and UWSELA President and CEO Michael Williamson.

Corporate Social Responsibility at Entergy
For more than 100 years, Entergy has powered life in our communities through strategic philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy’s corporate social responsibility initiatives help create and sustain thriving communities, position the company for sustainable growth and are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our top CSR priorities are education/workforce development, poverty solutions/social services and environmental programs. Entergy annually contributes $16-$18 million in shareholder-funded grants to approximately 2,000 nonprofit organizations in the communities where we operate.

Save One Life’s mission is to empower individuals and families affected by bleeding disorders in developing countries through direct financial assistance and access to medical treatment. Peterkin and his wife have sponsored a child through Save One Life for years, but this will be his first Kilimanjaro summit.

The organization believes that all people with bleeding disorders in developing countries should have the medical and economic resources necessary to live independent and productive lives.

Peterkin has been actively engaged in the hemophilia community for 15 years, including serving as a member of the board of directors for the Hemophilia Foundation of Illinois and as a founding member of Dads in Action chapter in central Illinois.

The 2019 tax season represented a milestone in Entergy’s efforts to help low-income customers break the cycle of poverty. Ten years ago, Entergy began sponsoring free Super Tax Day events to help qualifying customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. Since 2009, Entergy’s signature poverty-elimination program has helped nearly 150,000 working families receive $258 million in EITC refunds.

“At Entergy, our vision ‘We Power Life’ means working together to improve lives, create opportunities, strengthen communities and proactively find solutions for customers facing economic challenges,” said Entergy Chairman and CEO Leo Denault. “By supporting Super Tax Day, Entergy and our partners are not only extending a helping hand to working families but also investing in a brighter future for our communities.”

The federal EITC program is one of the nation’s most effective tools for lifting low-income workers and their families above the poverty line. The Internal Revenue Service reported that the EITC and Child Tax Credit together lift more than 9 million people out of poverty each year, including 5 million children — more than any other federal program besides Social Security.

Entergy and its Super Tax Day partners have tracked a number of success stories that demonstrate the program’s impact. With free tax assistance and EITC refunds, many customers have been able to become first-time homeowners, establish savings accounts, repair credit, pursue education and accomplish other goals that help build generational wealth and financial stability.

“The work Entergy has done with our Super Tax Day partners has been life-changing for customers and communities,” said Patty Riddlebarger, Entergy’s vice president of corporate social responsibility. “Through the years, we’ve expanded our partnership networks to serve more customers at more Voluntary Income Tax Assistance sites, and we continue seeing the positive difference it makes for families who qualify for the EITC program.”

Entergy began supporting Super Tax Day events in 2005 and started tracking results in select locations a few years later. Entergy launched the first Super Tax Day campaign throughout its service area in 2011, when around 9,600 customers received close to $13 million in EITC refunds. Within two years, the number of returns and refund amounts nearly doubled as Entergy grew its Super Tax Day efforts and partnership networks.

Growth has been steady ever since, with total annual refunds exceeding approximately $30 million and total returns topping 18,000. The company sponsors some 300 VITA sites where customers across its four-state service area can receive free tax prep services. In 2019, Super Tax Day events helped generate almost $34 million in total refunds for 18,583 qualifying customers.

Entergy also worked with partners to expand the services available on Super Tax Day, such as financial coaching, budget workshops, free legal services, drop-off tax prep services and more. Participating banks have helped customers open savings accounts onsite at some of the VITA locations. Additionally, incentives such as scratch-off cards with cash prizes have been effective in encouraging customers to save a portion of their refunds.

Employee support has been a driving force in the growth of Super Tax Day. Entergy offers IRS-certified training for volunteers who staff VITA sites throughout tax season and during annual Super Tax Day events. This year, 124 Entergy employees logged close to 3,500 volunteer hours helping customers file taxes and claim the EITC.

“Our efforts wouldn’t be possible without the participation and enthusiasm of employees,” said Liz Brister, Entergy’s manager of low-income programs. “Nearly 80 were certified tax preparers this year, and many others served in a variety of support roles. The amount of preparation and teamwork that goes into our Super Tax Day events is truly amazing and a testament to Entergy’s leadership in the communities we serve.”

To find out more about Super Tax Day, locate nearby VITA sites and learn about qualifications and documents needed, customers can visit .

The article focuses on young, dedicated leaders who have achieved success and exhibited a commitment to community, a description that easily fits Norris.

The McNeese State University graduate joined Entergy in 2007 as an engineer at the Nelson Plant. She held several engineering, process and production superintendent positions and managed the Calcasieu Plant before moving to LCPS.

In the article, she attributes her accomplishment in part to shifting her measure of success from “task-driven” to a team concept of success. She also highlights her unique opportunity to hire and develop a sustainable staff through a diverse and inclusive culture at the plant.

In the community, she was a founder of SWLA pride to help increase acceptance of LGBTQ people in the area and educate the public on LGBTQ issues. The company recognized her significance by featuring Norris as a “strong leader for a brighter future.”

Watch her, though. When asked, “If you could sit in someone else’s seat for a day, whose seat would that be and why?” she responded, “T​he president of the United States.” She wants to “understand the true stresses of the job” and how much power the president has to “make meaningful change.”

“I saw a person lying on a bench in front of a house,” Arnold said. “I got out of my truck to find out what was going on and saw that they were panicking. A man was on his back, unconscious, and no one knew CPR.”

That’s when his first-responder training kicked in. After making sure 911 had been contacted, he checked the man’s vital signs and felt a very faint pulse. He began administering CPR until an ambulance arrived and chose to stay at the scene in case his assistance was needed.

“If I see something wrong, my natural instinct is to help,” said Arnold, who joined Entergy in August 2017. “With my training and knowledge, I felt it was a good time to get involved.”

After several minutes, a second ambulance arrived as EMTs continued their attempts to revive the 40-year-old man. Arnold found out later that he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“People who were with him said one minute he was talking and joking, and the next he was gasping for air. Then he slumped over,” Arnold said. “I stopped by the house Wednesday to see how his family was doing and to ask if they needed anything. There’s comfort in that.”

After the incident, Arnold asked Amy Martinez, distribution line supervisor in the Lockport network and interim manager of customer service support, if automated external defibrillators could be added to first-aid equipment on all meter services trucks. She immediately acted on his request and authorized the purchase of AEDs for the meter services fleet.

“Ben is a very conscientious employee and ardently embraces our safety culture.” Martinez said. “I’m humbly gratified to witness how Entergy’s training has taken root in our employees, as demonstrated by Ben’s heroic effort.”

“My Entergy training has been the most thorough I’ve ever received for learning how to use life-saving techniques in emergency situations,” Arnold said. “Having AEDs on our trucks will give us another tool to improve our first-aid capabilities.”

Investments by the state of Louisiana, nonprofit organizations, businesses and industries in educational programs help our communities grow and thrive. These investments are paying off. In 2018, a record number of Louisiana students graduated from high school, according to��.

For more than two decades, we’ve partnered with organizations such as the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, Stand for Children, the Early Childhood Coalition, and the United Way of Southeast Louisiana to support research and advocacy initiatives that have focused attention on early childhood education. Because of partnerships like these, more than 90% of at-risk 4-year-old children in Louisiana now have access to early childhood education.

While our efforts are making an impact, we can’t overlook the influence a lack of availability to early childhood education has on our most vulnerable citizens and society. When it comes to children from birth to age 3, we have a significant gap to fill with fewer than 15 percent of at-risk children being served.

We’re going to continue to look for ways to work with our nonprofit leaders and our elected representatives to help prioritize funding and support for early child care and education in Louisiana.

A bright economic future for Louisiana depends on our ability to create a solid foundation for even our youngest customers.

By investing in education, infrastructure or working to attract new jobs, Entergy is focused on creating a brighter future for all our communities.

To learn more about Entergy’s commitment to education, click here.��

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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.

���ϳԹ��� Portfolio Transformation

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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“Along the Gulf Coast, it is not a matter of if, but when, a hurricane will strike, which is why we have a plan of continuous preparation, training and action in place that we call��,” said Melonie Stewart, Louisiana vice president of distribution operations. “While we may not know exactly when and where, we know that we must always be prepared. We encourage all of our customers to be prepared, too.”

Staying Prepared is Key

Staying Storm Ready is a year-round effort, and it begins with monitoring weather systems around the clock, every day of the year. When there’s a severe weather threat, Entergy uses forecasts and computer models based on experience with past storms to predict an estimated number and duration of outages that could occur. Based on those estimates, Entergy will call on restoration workers from around the country as needed to safely get the power back on as quickly as possible.

Assessing damage, deploying personnel to the right place with the right materials and restoring power are all processes Entergy continually plans for and improves. In fact, employees across the Entergy system completed annual storm-response exercises earlier this month to make sure company procedures are reviewed and updated prior to the beginning of hurricane season.

“We plan for the worst, and hope for the best. And while we hope that no tropical weather events threaten our area, these measures help our employees understand their roles and responsibilities in the event of a major restoration,” said Stewart. “Safety is a core value at Entergy and we encourage you to make it your top priority, too. We urge you and your families to get your personal storm plans in place now.”

Important safety tips such as staying away from downed power lines and debris, not walking in standing water and following the instructions of local authorities can be found on the Entergy Storm Center.

Staying Informed is Essential

Just as important as making personal storm plans is the ability to stay informed before, during and after a storm. Entergy keeps customers up-to-date in a number of ways:

• An app is available��for iPhone or Android at��. Customers can use the app to report outages or check on the status of power at their home or business.
• Entergy’s��View Outages website��includes maps that show where outages are located and give information about restoration progress.
• Entergy sends and can receive����about storm and restoration efforts. Customers can sign up by texting REG to 368374.
• The����website��has storm safety, preparation and restoration information that is updated throughout the day.
• Operation: Storm Ready��is��a free downloadable guide��that helps customers plan and prepare for weather emergencies.

Social media��plays an important role in keeping customers informed, and Entergy places a high priority on keeping its social media sites updated throughout an event. Follow Entergy New Orleans on Twitter at�� and on Facebook at��. Follow Entergy Louisiana on Twitter at�� and on Facebook at��. And you always can access the main Entergy accounts at����or��.

Entergy New Orleans, LLC is an electric and gas utility that serves Louisiana’s Orleans Parish. The company provides electricity to more than 200,000 customers and natural gas to more than 106,000 customers.

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. Both companies are subsidiaries 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 more than 13,000 employees.