Entergy Louisiana’s grid resilience program aims to reduce the number and duration of power outages – American Press

Brandon Scardigli | Especially for the American press

Representatives from Entergy Louisiana and local officials gathered in Lake Charles today to celebrate the start of the first phase of the company’s comprehensive grid resiliency plan. The groundbreaking ceremony, held against a backdrop of cherry pickers and utility workers, ushers in a new era of strengthened infrastructure and accelerated, less costly recovery for communities vulnerable to severe storms. Customers will experience shorter and fewer outages during severe weather events. This initiative also contributes to a stronger, more resilient economy that is better suited to life on the Gulf Coast, especially given the significant economic opportunities that exist in the future.

“We strengthen the grid every year, but the launch of our new resilience program marks the beginning of the most comprehensive grid strengthening program in Louisiana history. It is a transformative moment for Louisiana’s energy and economic prosperity,” said Phillip May, president and CEO of Entergy Louisiana. “We have always been proud to serve the Lake Charles region, and we look forward to a future where our communities are stronger, more resilient, and able to grow and thrive.”

According to the LSU Center for Energy Studies’ 2024 Gulf Coast Energy Outlook, over $262 billion in energy production investments have been announced on the Gulf Coast since 2013, with Louisiana accounting for more than 50% of that share. Additionally, Louisiana Economic Development reports that business investment in the state reached historic levels last year, with companies announcing over $25 billion in new projects.

The energy sector, particularly chemical manufacturing and LNG export, is experiencing unprecedented growth, along with investments to reduce carbon emissions. Southwest Louisiana is a national leader in industrial construction and LNG export, supported by extensive maritime infrastructure such as the Calcasieu Ship Channel and the Port of Lake Charles – the nation’s 10th largest port by tonnage.

These businesses and industries are critical not only to the local economy, but also to the national and global economy. Businesses and their workforces – from the energy sector to hospitals and schools – rely on a reliable power supply to produce goods and provide much-needed services. Residents and families also depend on a reliable power supply to reach their destinations and enjoy life in their communities.

Over the next five years, Entergy Louisiana’s comprehensive resilience plan will strengthen electrical infrastructure across the state, improving the power grid and community resilience while safeguarding Louisiana’s economic well-being. The first phase includes 2,100 projects targeting 69,000 distribution and transmission structures. Strengthening measures could include replacing electrical equipment such as poles, guy wires, anchors and power lines to meet the latest wind load design standards.

In the Lake Charles area, the company will invest approximately $107 million over three years to strengthen the power grid. This includes upgrading approximately 4,275 power poles to withstand wind speeds of up to 200 km/h and 115 transmission structures to withstand wind speeds of up to 240 km/h. In total, this will cover 238 km of transmission and distribution lines. The first project, already underway in the Oak Park area, involves strengthening approximately 315 power poles covering more than eight kilometers of power lines.

“We are pleased to join Entergy, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and other community members today in celebrating a more prosperous and stable future for Lake Charles and the surrounding communities,” said Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter. “Utilities and health services are among the most important in our city, and by strengthening the electric grid, we are ensuring these essential services are available to our citizens year-round.”

To develop its comprehensive grid stability plan and identify priority projects, Entergy Louisiana used a data-driven approach that carefully evaluated thousands of potential storm scenarios. Expected benefits of the plan include approximately $1.2 billion in avoided storm restoration costs, improvements in everyday power reliability, and savings for customers from fewer outages after storms.

By mitigating recovery costs and outages resulting from future extreme weather events, the resilience plan will help shorten evacuations and reduce time away from home and work, ultimately helping Louisiana communities recover more quickly.

Mike Francis, chairman of the Louisiana Public Service Commission and representative of District 4, was among those who supported Entergy Louisiana’s resiliency plan. Francis and his family have strong ties to communities across Louisiana, including Lake Charles, which his wife Sheila, a LaGrange High School graduate, affectionately calls her hometown.

“Having grown up in northern Louisiana, run a successful business in southern Louisiana and served many constituents in the southwest and central part of the state on the Public Service Commission, I understand the critical importance of industry to our economy and prosperity, as well as the need for a reliable and efficient power grid,” Francis said.

He added, “I share the enthusiasm and excitement of Entergy Louisiana and its local partners as they embark on a grid resilience program that will improve electrical infrastructure and ultimately strengthen our communities.”