D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments (DESRI), a renewable energy producer, has signed three renewable energy off-take agreements with Entergy Louisiana (ELL). The solar facilities will be built under power purchase agreements (PPAs) or build transfer agreements (BTAs) with ELL to support its growing renewable energy portfolio in the region and help power local customers’ electricity needs.
The Vacherie Solar Energy Center will be a 150 MW AC facility in St. James Parish in Louisiana. The SJ Louisiana Solar Project (SJ Solar) will be a 150 MW AC facility in St. James Parish, adjacent to Vacherie. The Sunlight Road Solar Project will be a 50 MW AC solar facility in Washington Parish.
Vacherie and SJ Solar will be DESRI’s second and third solar facilities in St. James Parish, following the 20 MW AC St. James Solar Project. Sunlight Road will be DESRI’s second solar facility in Washington Parish, following the 50 MW AC Iris Solar Project. Vacherie, SJ Solar and Sunlight Road are scheduled to supply new clean solar energy to ELL and its Louisiana customers beginning in 2024.
“DESRI is pleased to partner with Entergy Louisiana on these three solar facilities, which bring the collective total of our renewable energy projects with Entergy above 400 MW AC,” says Hy Martin, chief development officer of DESRI. “Continuing our long-standing work with Entergy, these projects will provide affordable energy to Louisiana residents and create local economic development benefits as the state becomes a national leader in the new energy economy.”
When the Vacherie, SJ Solar and Sunlight Road projects are operational, DESRI will be the long-term owner and operator of Vacherie and Sunlight Road, while ELL will take ownership of SJ Solar.
“DESRI has been a great partner of Entergy and our goal to deliver clean, affordable and reliable services to our customers,” states Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana’s president and CEO. “We look forward to extending that partnership on three more projects across our state and to help our communities prosper for generations to come.”
Affiliates of SunChase Power and Eolian led the initial development of 150 MW AC SJ Solar, as well as for the earlier 20 MW AC St. James and the 50 MW AC Iris solar projects for which construction is currently underway.
“SunChase and Eolian began development of these southern Louisiana sites in 2015, anticipating the eventual cost-effectiveness of solar energy supplies adjacent to key load pockets to meet the reliability and environmental requirements that ELL and its customers have put at the forefront of their energy supply strategy,” comments Aaron Zubaty, CEO of Eolian.
“These projects would not be possible without the support of landowners and local communities. We greatly appreciate their partnership through the years of development that it has taken to make these projects a reality,” adds Heather Otten, co-founder of SunChase Power.
Image: Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash
