Building electrical infrastructure strong enough to withstand the increased intensity and frequency of storms is an important decision that must include input from customers, regulators and government policymakers. 

Decisions must balance reliability, affordability and sustainability.

While discussing potential improvements, it makes sense to look at previous investments that worked well.

With Hurricane Ida mostly behind us, a sober analysis shows the newer structures that meet higher standards held up extremely well to one of the most intense hurricanes ever to strike Louisiana.

• The New Orleans Power Station, along with two newer plants – Ninemile 6 and J. Wayne Leonard – played critical roles in quickly restoring power to the Greater New Orleans region.
• The New Orleans Power Station did exactly what it was designed to do. While NOPS was built with blackstart capability, meaning it’s available to come online with no grid power to support it, that was not required following this storm. A nearby transmission line was quickly restored and used along with NOPS to restore first lights to New Orleans customers less than 48 hours after Ida passed.
• A careful analysis shows the restoration times for the transmission system were far better than with hurricanes in the early 2000s. Newer assets, which are designed to withstand winds of 150 mph, performed well and has been proven in both hurricanes Laura and Ida. For example, following a transmission path where Ida made landfall along the coast, fewer than 1% of the more than 380 newer, more resilient structures were destroyed. And while there was a high-profile failure of a transmission tower near the Mississippi River, structures on seven other regional transmission lines fared well. Those lines total 1,500 structures, and about 99% of them were undamaged.
• The durability of the new lines is a direct result of Entergy investing billions of dollars in improvements over the last several years to harden the electrical system and make it more resilient to storms. Entergy’s transmission spending has been at or significantly above the national average since 2010.

Constructing stronger poles, towers and power plants are not small investments, and there must be balance between affordability, reliability and environmental sustainability. Entergy is proud to operate one of the cleanest large-scale power generating fleets in the nation, while having some of the lowest residential rates among investor-owned utilities.

In Louisiana, how these infrastructure investments are funded takes on added significance considering that a large portion of the country’s energy supply comes through Louisiana’s ports, pipelines and roads. More importantly, nearly one out of every five Louisianans live in poverty.

Well-intentioned advocates, as well as groups with their own agendas, have argued that more investment is needed. We agree. However, these conversations cannot be condensed to catchy sound bites. This must be a serious dialogue focused on real projects and who pays for them.

Entergy has already engaged federal agencies seeking funding to support the energy infrastructure and the associated national security needs of the entire country. We hope those interested in joining the conversation will come with meaningful input that balances the need to build a more resilient grid while not overwhelming the household budgets of our customers.

Rod West is group president for utility operations at ���ϳԹ���.

Guest column originally published in the Oct. 27, 2021, edition of , The Acadiana Advocate and The New Orleans Advocate.

Working as designed, NOPS is helping to restore customers in small increments because of its very flexible operating profile. That ability is critical when post storm restoration conditions change by the hour.

On Sept. 1, Entergy crews turned power on for some customers in Eastern New Orleans with generation supplied by both NOPS and a restored transmission line coming into the area over Lake Pontchartrain. This was the first step in bringing power back to the metro region, after Hurricane Ida left devastating destruction in its path.

The plant was approved by the New Orleans City Council and went into service in May 2020. It replaced the nearly 50-year-old Michoud units and was constructed below its $210 million budget. It has the ability to start itself even when surrounding areas are completely dark. It can generate power locally up to its 128-megawatt capacity when transmission lines are impacted by major storms. Today, it is doing what it was designed to do. It is working.

Reciprocating engine units, like those used at the New Orleans Power Station facility, are highly efficient and provide an essential source of local generation. Additionally, the unit can ramp up to full capacity in just a few minutes, which will provide needed flexibility and grid support as the amount of renewable generation in Entergy New Orleans’ portfolio increases.

The combination of NOPS and the restoration of the transmission line over Lake Pontchartrain created redundancy and stability and allowed Entergy New Orleans to reach a significant milestone in the restoration process – delivering the first power to approximately 8000 customers in neighborhoods around New Orleans.

NOPS could have been used to power part of New Orleans in an “island” mode; it possesses the blackstart capability to operate in this way, and we were fully prepared to deploy NOPS in this manner. However, having the tie to the rest of the power grid provides a more stable and resilient supply to customers and allows us to bring in power from other sources.

NOPS alone is not large enough to power the entire City of New Orleans. Full restoration will still take time given the significant transmission line damage across the region. Crews must methodically bring back additional transmission lines over time and provide other pathways for power to enter the region while keeping the power on in areas already restored. This will help maintain stability of the system throughout the complete restoration process.

The New Orleans Power Station has significantly lower emissions and uses minimal groundwater when compared to the former Michoud plant. The 1960s-era Michoud units 2 and 3 were deactivated on June 1, 2016.

The New Orleans Power Station is one part of Entergy New Orleans’ commitment to adding low-carbon, diverse generation to help combat climate change. Today, about 50% of the energy Entergy New Orleans customers use is clean, coming from sources that don’t emit carbon dioxide, such as nuclear, solar, and hydropower. Entergy New Orleans’ carbon dioxide emission rate is about 50% below the national average.

While initial service can be provided to some customers, the full restoration will still take time given the significant damage across the region. Crews will have to methodically bring back additional transmission lines over time to provide other pathways for power to enter the region, helping to maintain stability of the system throughout the complete restoration process.

Additionally, crews will continue work to repair damage across the distribution lines that serve homes and neighborhoods across the region.

With extensive damage to the system across the region, much of the redundancy built into the electric system is limited. This makes it difficult to move power around the region to customers, and limits options to power customers in the event of equipment failure or additional damage to the system.

Customers are urged to adhere to the guidance of their local officials on when to return to the area. 

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 108,000 customers. Entergy New Orleans, LLC is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

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.

���ϳԹ��� (NYSE: ETR) is an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and more than 13,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media.

-30-

NEW ORLEANS – Just two days after Hurricane Ida delivered a catastrophic blow to Louisiana, Entergy has determined two options to bring first lights into the Greater New Orleans area by late evening Wednesday, Sept. 1.

The Company is working on the following solutions to restore power:

1. Restoration of certain critical transmission lines that tie the Greater New Orleans region to the larger electric grid – this is the preferred solution; or
2. Creating an “island” that would temporarily isolate the Greater New Orleans region from the larger electric grid. This stand-alone grid will operate on a limited basis supplied by local generation from the New Orleans Power Station in Eastern New Orleans and Ninemile 6 in Bridge City.

Under either scenario, New Orleans Power Station and Ninemile Power Station will be extremely valuable and important local sources of generation providing power to customers.

Any power to the region will allow the company to begin powering critical infrastructure in the area such as hospitals, nursing homes and first responders in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes, as well as parts of St. Charles and Terrebonne parishes. Restoration will vary by parish and neighborhood based on local transmission and distribution damage.   

Customers are urged to adhere to the guidance of their local officials on when to return to the area.  

Visit entergy.com/hurricaneida for the latest information.

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 108,000 customers. Entergy New Orleans, LLC is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

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.

���ϳԹ��� (NYSE: ETR) is an integrated energy company engaged in electric power production, transmission and retail distribution operations. Entergy delivers electricity to 3 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale U.S. power generating fleets with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 7,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $10 billion and more than 13,000 employees. Learn more at entergy.com and follow @Entergy on social media.¬† ¬† ¬† ¬† ¬† ¬† ¬† ¬† ¬†

-30-

In March, our community partners at Giving Hope honored New Orleans Power Station employees with a Giving Hope plaque in recognition of their work with the Food Pantry of New Orleans. Volunteers recently spent time cooking, preparing and serving meals to the community for Hope Day at the Food Pantry of New Orleans. Volunteers also packaged meals for families who were in need. Hope Day is a quarterly event created by NOPS employees as a day dedicated to giving back to the local community.

William Powell, New Orleans Power Station plant manager, also was recognized by Giving Hope as a Hope Hero. The title was presented to him in November 2020 for outstanding service provided by the NOPS team.  

“Partnering with Giving Hope has helped us understand the heart and soul of New Orleans East. This experience enabled me and my team to fellowship on a different level with the community, truly highlighting the difference between customer service and community service,” said Powell. “One of the most precious tenets is charity and it brought great pleasure to work with the Giving Hope Foundation to make a difference in the lives of others.” 

William Powell accepted the Hope Hero Award in November 2020.
Pictured left to right: Giving Hope Founders Troy and Tracy Duhon, William Powell, New Orleans Power Station plant manager

Before the COVID-19 stay at home orders were put in place, Hope Day was one of the last events that NOPS employees volunteered for in person with Giving Hope.  The volunteers prepared lunch and food baskets, and fellowshipped with the residents of the Ville St. Maurice retirement home. To continue their commitment while social distancing, the team donated bags of personal care items to the residents that included soap, shampoo, toothpaste and more during the fall and winter of 2020.

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. In addition, our employees volunteer approximately 100,000 hours annually in our communities valued at more than $3 million.

Customers spending more time at home means air conditioners and fans have been running more than normal to keep homes cool. Fortunately, when we see such an increase in demand, there are energy resources available so that electric service is not disrupted. The New Orleans Power Station, which entered commercial operations on May 31, has been consistently called to run in the day ahead market. The site has been viewed by MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) as having both the economic and reliability advantages to deliver energy to New Orleanians.

Entergy New Orleans needs to be prepared to answer when called upon to supply safe, reliable and clean energy to our customers. Having a fleet that includes a diverse range of fuels is especially critical during the extreme heat that can hit Louisiana. Fortunately, the efficient New Orleans Power Station takes advantage of the low cost of natural gas and has enabled us to provide significant savings to our customers as it is running almost every day.

Reciprocating engine units, like those used at the New Orleans Power Station, can ramp up to full capacity in just a few minutes, which provides needed flexibility and grid support.  During hurricane season, the New Orleans Power Station will assist with storm restoration by providing an essential source of local generation. Reciprocating engines are highly efficient and include self-start capability, which enables the company to start the unit even when there is no power on the electric grid.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a common saying but is also a way to ensure we reduce risk for our stakeholders and a strong case for the importance of fuel diversity. The New Orleans Power Station is one part of Entergy New Orleans’ commitment to adding low-carbon, diverse generation to help combat climate change. Today, about 50% of the energy Entergy New Orleans customers use is clean, coming from sources that don’t emit carbon dioxide, such as nuclear, solar, and hydropower. 

Our growing portfolio of commercial and rooftop solar, as well as the New Orleans Solar Station, show that we can power the economy, provide good jobs for people and protect the environment.

The idea of fuel diversity is important for several reasons. We must ensure that we plan for more than one resource to deliver power to our customers instead of depending on a single fuel source to be reliable.  Plants like the New Orleans Power Station, which runs on natural gas, are critical to a strong, reliable portfolio and ensure that we can supply electricity to our customers at a moment’s notice.

While our customers’ needs and expectations evolve, we must continue to analyze what our fuel mix could look like, taking in to account keeping costs low for customers and taking advantage of technological breakthroughs.

Affordable and diverse energy provides a strong foundation for the clean energy future of New Orleans. Entergy New Orleans’ Clean ���ϳԹ��� Plan includes increasing the use of clean technologies, adding large-scale and rooftop solar, increasing energy efficiency, electrifying local infrastructure and continuing our use of emission free nuclear energy. This strategy will take advantage of all tools at our disposal to achieve a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Our investments today will lay the foundation for the future. If New Orleans is not thriving and growing, then our business cannot thrive and grow.

For many years, Old Gentilly Rd. and Paris Rd. were the dumping grounds for street trash and old unwanted furniture, causing unsafe and inefficient travel conditions for New Orleans Power Station employees and the local community. To beautify the area, NOPS employees volunteered to clean and remove debris from the street, making it a cleaner and safer environment.

After the team’s hard work, the entrance to the power station was clear and one driving lane became two. 

“We’re committed to being an environmentally responsible good neighbor in New Orleans East,” said Drew Thompson, New Orleans Power Station team leader of maintenance. “It is integral that we continue to be involved in our community by working hand-in-hand with our neighbors to provide a brighter today—and tomorrow— because we live and work here, too.”

The power station employees’ power to volunteer does not stop at street cleaning, they also contribute their time to education and the youth, customer appreciation and volunteering to serve those in-need.

Check out a few ways and surrounding communities.

“We are pleased that the Court’s ruling leaves intact the settlement Resolution of the Council, issued in February of this year, that allows the construction of the New Orleans Power Station to proceed. As the evidence considered by the Council overwhelmingly demonstrated, the New Orleans Power Station will provide a safe, reliable, and clean local source of power generation for New Orleans as well as a platform to integrate solar and other renewable resources into the portfolio of Entergy New Orleans. It is important to note that a separate ruling by the same Court upheld the Council’s well-reasoned decision, which came after the Council’s detailed review of the 3,000 pages of testimony, documentary evidence, and post-hearing briefs.

“We respectfully disagree with the Court’s decision that there was a violation of the Open Meetings Law at the Utility Committee meeting in February 2018 or that any such violation could have had any effect on the full Council vote in March 2018, a meeting for which the Court expressly determined that no Open Meetings Law violation had occurred. However, we are ready to put this matter behind us and look forward to completing construction of the New Orleans Power Station.”

About ���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 nearly 13,700 employees.

-30-

entergy.com

�շɾ��ٳٱ��:��

“Entergy New Orleans is very pleased with the Court’s ruling today upholding the New Orleans City Council’s well-reasoned decision approving the construction of the New Orleans Power Station, which came after the Council’s detailed review of the 3,000 pages of testimony, documentary evidence, and post hearing briefs. We will continue with the construction of the plant, which will provide a safe, reliable, secure and clean source of power to the citizens of New Orleans.

“While we do not agree that there was a violation of the Open Meetings Law, even if such a violation occurred, it had no impact on the decision of the full Council’s authorizing the construction of the plant, and it certainly had no effect on the settlement between Entergy New Orleans and the City Council, which again approved proceeding with building the New Orleans Power Station.”

The court’s ruling, which is set forth in a 26-page opinion, confirms the Council’s findings that the power plant is needed to provide reliable and safe power to the citizens of New Orleans.

About Entergy New Orleans

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. The company is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���.

���ϳԹ��� (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 nearly 13,700 employees.

-30-

Twitter:

January 30, 2019

Via Electronic Mail

Re: Entergy New Orleans, LLC’s Revised Offer of Settlement

Dear Councilmembers:

As the new President and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, LLC (“ENO” or the “Company”), I’ve spent my first two months assessing the historic challenges that have strained the relationship between ENO and its regulator, the New Orleans City Council. At the outset, I’d like to assure the Council that I take these matters very seriously and believe that reestablishing a constructive relationship between ENO, the Council, and the Community is paramount to delivering on our collective promises to the citizens of New Orleans.

While I cannot alter the past, I am now responsible for ensuring prospective results and I plan to use the lessons learned to shape ENO’s future engagement with the Council and the Community. To that end, I’ve selected a new leadership team that will be responsive to the Council’s and the Community’s concerns. Fortunately, my previous executive leadership experiences within the energy sector are well aligned with the many initiatives that the Council has stated it is interested in pursuing, including the implementation of renewables, increased reliability, and energy efficiency measures. I sincerely and respectfully ask that the Council provide us with the opportunity and time required to chart a new course as we strive to benefit all members of this community and renew a more productive and collaborative working relationship.

To that end, I write in earnest to resolve the most pressing issue before us, the pending Show Cause Resolution (Resolution R-18-474) and the potential repeal of the Council’s approval of the New Orleans Power Station (“NOPS”) (Resolution R-18-65). The Company offers this comprehensive settlement package with the goals of restoring the Council’s and the Community’s full faith in ENO and resolving these issues completely. Below please find a summary of the Company’s offer, followed by a more comprehensive discussion of the proposal. I respectfully ask that you consider accepting this proposal so that the Company and the Council can renew their relationship and begin to focus ahead on advancing shared goals for the benefit of New Orleans.

Read the entire letter from Entergy New Orleans, LLC here.