Proposal for Floating Methane Gas Power Plant Defeated in Louisiana

Last week, Entergy Louisiana’s quest to build a new methane gas power plant on a floating barge off the coast near Leeville, Louisiana ended. Earthjustice represented a local group, the Alliance for Affordable Energy, in opposing the proposed methane gas plant, which not only posed a threat to local communities, but would have been significantly more expensive than available alternatives.

The proposed 112 MW Bayou Power Station would have included six methane gas units loaded on a barge, moored in a highly vulnerable area already suffering significant wetland losses. In addition to the construction costs of $374 million, the annual operation and maintenance costs of the methane gas units and barge would have exceeded $5.8 million to serve less than 7,000 residents. Entergy failed to utilize a public procurement process or seek bids from more than one contractor. Cost overruns and construction delays seemed likely.

Earthjustice provided evidence that available transmission alternatives were both less expensive and would also provide more reliable and resilient delivery of electricity. On October 28, Entergy moved to withdraw its proposal and the Louisiana Public Service Commission formally dismissed the case on November 3. Entergy is now evaluating transmission alternatives instead, as Earthjustice and our clients suggested last year.

“The Alliance is relieved that residents in Louisiana will have one less gas-fired power plant on their bills. Utilities in the state are already pushing ratepayers into a risky corner with thousands of megawats of new gas planned. We will continue to encourage clean and affordable alternatives to help Louisianans keep the lights on,” said Logan Atkinson Burke, Executive Director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy.

“Residents of Louisiana’s coasts understand better than most the threats of health- and climate-harming pollution from fossil fuel plants, as well as how their utilities have failed them in the wake of major storms,” said Lisa Perfetto, Earthjustice Senior Attorney. “Entergy ignored cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable ways to serve residents in its pursuit of this obviously foolhardy plan.”