DESRI inks 240-MW solar PPA with Louisiana utility

US utility Cleco Power LLC will be the power off-taker of a 240-MW solar park that US solar and wind assets developer and owner DE Shaw Renewable Investments LLC (DESRI) plans to build in Louisiana.

The long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) is tied to the Dolet Hills solar photovoltaic (PV) project, the companies announced on Wednesday.

Calling for an investment of over USD 250 million (EUR 245.2m), the project is set to create one of Louisiana’s largest solar farms. DESRI will build the plant at the site of a recently shuttered lignite-fired power plant in Louisiana’s DeSoto Parish. Once in operation, the PV park will produce electricity to supply around 45,000 homes.

Cleco Power, which owns roughly 3 GW of power generation assets and serves 291,000 customers, said the deal will support its renewable energy fleet and back its goal of becoming Louisiana’s leading clean energy company.

“This project continues our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint while affordably and reliably serving our customers,” said Bill Fontenot, president and CEO of Cleco Corporate Holdings.

At present, DESRI has more than 6 GW of contracted, operating and in-construction renewable energy projects. The company’s assets in Louisiana stand at close to 700 MW.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.981)

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