Entergy Officially Requests the Cancelation of the Little Gypsy Project!
Louisiana offers a unique lens through which to promote growth of the clean energy economy in America. The devastation of the 2005 hurricane season provided Louisiana with the opportunity to develop a national model for rebuilding and repowering with green, renewable energy. The mounting effects of climate change that have been reflected in increased frequency and force of tropical storms, coupled with sea-level rise, have devastated Louisiana's coastal communities, especially in recent years. The challenges to rebuild the state's communities and economy in light of climate change and a rapidly vanishing coast, has catalyzed efforts around clean energy, community resiliency, energy efficiency, wetlands restoration, and green jobs creation. In May 2009, the Louisiana Move Beyond Coal Campaign successfully stopped the Little Gypsy Coal-Conversion proposal in Saint Charles Parish. Currently, we are working with the state regulatory commission to develop an Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for the Louisiana by the close of 2009, as well as developing an Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRP) with the City of New Orleans.
Recent Happenings
Entergy Requests the Little Gypsy
Natural Gas to Coal Conversion Project be Cancelled
On Tuesday, October 27th, Entergy submitted a request to the Louisiana Public Service Commission to authorize Entergy to officially cancel the Little Gypsy coal conversion project. Earlier this year, Entergy officially placed the project on a three year hold due to high construction costs and lower natural gas prices. The existing Little Gypsy natural gas plant near LaPlace, Louisiana would have been converted to burn coal and petroleum coke.
The Sierra Club applauds the full cancelation of the Little Gypsy conversion. Currently, many companies around the country are cancelling plans for coal plants because of both safety concerns and the potential economic impact of carbon regulations under the Obama administration.
This is exciting news for Louisiana! After two years of fighting the construction of this dirty proposal, the Little Gypsy plant will continue to burn natural gas. We hope that Entergy will move beyond coal and begin seriously investing in renewable and alterative technologies that will only benefit Louisiana and our nation.
Christmas in September:
Move Beyond Coal Rally
On September 29th, Sierra Club members and concerned citizens rallied at Entergy Headquarters in New Orleans to let Entergy and other coal-powered utilities know that it is time to seriously invest in clean, renewable technology and move beyond dirty fossil fuels. The rally was one of dozens of events held nationwide to fight special clean up exemptions for coal. During the same week the EPA announced that they will begin regulating CO2 across the board, which will affect all proposed coal plants and existing coal plants that are being updated to current standards. We believe this is another nail in the coffin for Entergy's proposed Little Gypsy plant, which was put on hold earlier this year. With stronger regulations and higher penalties for industries that produce CO2, projects like Little Gypsy will not be able to be revived and will force utilities with existing coal plants to clean up their own mess, which will help secure a stronger, healthier coast for Louisiana.
Greening Louisiana Public Forum
On September 15th, Sierra Club hosted a public forum to discuss Louisiana's economic and energy challenges through the creation of green jobs and training programs in areas like energy efficiency, solar and wind. The panel featured Senator Nick Gautreaux, Representative Walter Leger, Troy Von Otnott of South Coast Solar and Dawn Falgout-Loebig of the Old City Building Center. The conversation between the panelists ranged from green jobs, energy efficiency, renewable resources and how these initiatives fit into the 2009 state legislation just passed, regulatory programs that the state and the city of New Orleans is considering and the challenges and benefits we will face with the adoption of these programs. This event highlighted that doing more of the same is not only dangerous to the health of our coasts, but it won't solve our problems. Embracing clean energy options and efficiency measures can accelerate the transition to new energy while creating new jobs, spurring investment in new industries and curb the effects of global climate change.
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