Entergy Louisiana’s grid resilience program to reduce the number, shorten duration of power outages underway

Brandon Scardigli | Special to the American Press

Entergy Louisiana representatives and local officials gathered in Lake Charles today to mark the start of phase one of the company’s comprehensive grid resilience plan. The groundbreaking ceremony, set against a backdrop of bucket trucks and utility workers, heralds a new era of hardened infrastructure and accelerated, less costly recovery for communities vulnerable to major storms. Customers will experience shorter and less outages when severe weather strikes. This initiative also lends to a stronger, more robust economy, better suited for life along the Gulf Coast, particularly in light of the substantial economic opportunities ahead.

“We harden the grid throughout each year, however, the launch of our new resilience program marks the start of the most comprehensive grid strengthening program in Louisiana history. It’s a transformative moment for energy and economic prosperity in Louisiana,” said Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO “We’ve always been proud to serve the Lake Charles area, and we eagerly anticipate a future where our communities are stronger, more resilient and positioned to grow and thrive.”

According to the LSU Center for Energy Studies’ 2024 Gulf Coast Energy Outlook, the Gulf Coast has seen over $262 billion in announced energy manufacturing investments since 2013, with Louisiana capturing more than 50% of that share. Further, 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, notably in chemical manufacturing and LNG exports, alongside investments aimed at reducing carbon emissions, is seeing unprecedented growth. Southwest Louisiana stands out as a national leader in industrial construction and LNG exports, supported by extensive maritime infrastructure, such as the Calcasieu Ship Channel and the Port of Lake Charles—the 10th busiest port in the nation by tonnage.

These operations and industries are critical to not only the local economy, but also the national and global economy. Companies and their workforces, from the energy industry to hospitals and schools, depend on reliable power to produce commodities and provide much-needed services. Residents and families also depend on reliable power to reach their goals and enjoy life within their communities.

Over the next five years, Entergy Louisiana’s comprehensive resilience plan will fortify electric infrastructure statewide, enhancing the power grid and community resilience while safeguarding Louisiana’s economic well-being. The initial phase includes 2,100 projects targeting 69,000 distribution and transmission structures. Hardening measures could include replacing electric equipment such as poles, guy wires, anchors and power lines to meet the latest wind loading design standards.

In the Lake Charles area, the company will invest around $107 million over three years to harden the grid, including upgrading approximately 4,275 distribution poles to withstand winds up to 125 mph and 115 transmission structures to endure winds up to 150 mph, covering a total of 148 miles of transmission and distribution power lines. The first project, already underway in the Oak Park area, involves hardening about 315 distribution poles, encompassing over five miles of power lines.

“We’re excited to join Entergy, Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and other community members today to celebrate a more prosperous and resilient future for Lake Charles and its surrounding communities,” said Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter. “Utility and healthcare services are among the most critical in our city, and by strengthening the electric system, we ensure these essential services are available to our citizens year-round.”

To develop its comprehensive grid resilience plan and identify priority projects, Entergy Louisiana used a data-driven approach that meticulously evaluated thousands of potential storm scenarios. The plan’s anticipated benefits include approximately $1.2 billion in avoided future storm restoration costs, improvements in everyday electric service reliability and customer savings related to reduced post-storm outages.

By mitigating restoration costs and outages from future extreme weather events, the resilience plan will help shorten evacuations and reduce time away from home and work, ultimately aiding Louisiana communities in faster recovery.

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

“Having grown up in North Louisiana, run a successful business in South Louisiana and served many constituents across the southwestern and central parts of the state on the public service commission, I understand the critical importance of industry to our economy and well-being, as well as the need for a reliable and strong power grid,” Francis said.

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