The Louisiana Public Service Commission will consider a bid by Entergy Louisiana approval to construct the $411 million Bayou Power Station.
The project would be a 112 MW floating natural gas power station, equipped with black-start capability and the ability to rapidly start- up and ramp-down, according to a release from Entergy. The station would be situated atop a barge across from a substation in Leeville, and would help power Port Fourchon, Golden Meadow, Leeville and Grand Isle through a microgrid system.
Key components of Entergy Louisiana’s overall project would include the construction of Bayou Power Station, expansion of the Leeville substation and transmission connections to ensure seamless power delivery.
The microgrid system would provide essential backup power during outages, serving a diverse mix of residential, commercial and industrial customers, including vital industries located at Port Fourchon.
The Bayou Power Station aligns with Entergy Louisiana's strategy to integrate various energy resources — including natural gas, nuclear and renewables — to balance supply and demand effectively.
Further, the project would support a more reliable and resilient energy ecosystem, capable of meeting the unique needs of customers in an area with challenging geography and aiding in recovery efforts following major storms.
The addition of Bayou Power Station would complement projects that have been completed over the past couple years to build resilience into the electric system near the coast. Some examples of these projects include the Caminada substation, which was elevated 20 feet off the ground on a concrete platform; upgrading around seven miles of transmission lines with about 80 steel structures between Cut Off and Golden Meadow; and undergrounding around eight miles of distribution lines along Louisiana Highway 1 from Leeville to Grand Isle and taking strategic steps to fortify the overhead electric system in the area.
