Entergy Corp. subsidiary Entergy Louisiana has completed construction and put into service its 980 MW combined cycle natural gas-fired St. Charles Power Station located in Montz, LA. The $870 million plant is the first of six that Entergy Corp. plans to bring online over the next three years.

Entergy has been focusing its attention on combined-cycle gas-fired electric generation for the last 13 years, bringing online 5,900 MW of newer and more efficient gas-fired generation, which has allowed for the total deactivation of 6,300 MW of older and less efficient gas and oil units over the same period.

The company said plants similar to the St. Charles Power Station emit roughly 40% less carbon dioxide than Entergy’s older natural gas-fired units.

“The St. Charles Power Station will supply reliable, clean energy to customers to help support the tremendous growth Louisiana is experiencing,” said Entergy Louisiana CEO Philip May. “This combined-cycle plant is one part of our transformation to cleaner, more efficient generation.”

In October 2018, FERC granted permission to Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP to commence its St. Charles Parish Expansion Project, which is designed to deliver 133,333 Dth/d to the St. Charles Power Station.

Entergy’s three year, $3.5 billion plan includes the construction of five additional natural gas-fired plants, which include:

● The 993 MW Montgomery County Power Station in Willis, TX, (completion 2021).

Entergy Louisiana said the St. Charles plant is projected to save its customers $1.3 billion over the course of the expected 30-year lifetime of the facility.