The state’s Public Service Commission has approved Entergy Louisiana’s request to expediate the approval process on the power company’s plan to build seven new gas power plants and other investments to power Meta’s data center in Richland Parish. The 4-1 vote means the PSC will vote in December on Entergy’s power plan proposal. Commissioner Jean-Paul Coussan says that’s plenty of time to review Entergy’s plan.
“That seems to be enough time to make good policy in the state of Louisiana,” Coussan said.
An executive order signed by Governor Landry last December opened the door for large projects like data centers to go through a fast-tracked approval process. Commissioner Eric Skrmetta says the “Lightning Initiative” is doable.
“With the consultants we have, and the staff we have, and the prior experience we have on the process that we’ve done on the regulatory aspects of this, we can easily move this matter through within eight months. And I think that the public will be easily protected on this,” Skrmetta explained.
Since Entergy Louisiana’s application is fast-tracked, a formal recommendation from an administrative judge will be skipped. Alaina DiLaura from the Alliance for Affordable Energy argued that due diligence is needed.
“What will be the impact of this transformation on Entergy’s current generation fleet and, actually, on all of Louisiana’s? And on the transmission grid, in such a short period of time?” DiLaura asked.
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