LouisianaRenewableEnergy

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LOUISIANA RENEWABLE ENERGY Prepared by: Shannon Vitrano Report Distributed April 28th, 2015 Prepared for: Eric Smith Energy 410021 Energy Markets, Economics and Policy Tulane University

Transcript of LouisianaRenewableEnergy

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LOUISIANA RENEWABLE ENERGY

Prepared by: Shannon Vitrano

Report Distributed April 28th, 2015

Prepared for: Eric Smith

Energy 4100­21 Energy Markets, Economics and Policy

Tulane University

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary……………………………………………..……………………....………. 2 Analyzing Non­Renewable Energy in Louisiana………………...……………………….……... 3 Understanding Renewable Energy Programs and Incentives.…………....…………….….….…. 5 Exploring the Potential of Biomass Energy………………..……....……………..…………….... 8 Investigating Other Forms of Renewable Energy……………………………….………….……12 Works Cited………………………………………………….…………………...………..…… 15

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report will analyze clean energy sources Louisiana can utilize for power generation and explain the renewable­energy incentives that residents can benefit from.

ANALYZING NON­RENEWABLE ENERGY IN LOUISIANA The main source of electricity generation in Louisiana comes from non­renewable energy. Natural gas is abundant in Louisiana and contributes to over 50 percent of power production for the state. In the past, petroleum also provided a great supply of energy to Louisiana, but natural disasters and rising prices forced the state to look for other sources. Louisiana uses imported coal for a significant portion of electricity production. Lastly, two nuclear plants in the state generate about 15 percent of overall energy demand. UNDERSTANDING RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES Residents of Louisiana can utilize a variety of sustainability policies and programs aimed at making renewable energy more affordable for home and commercial use. Net metering allows residents to produce their own electricity and sell their excess generation back to the grid. Louisiana legislation enforces an array of tax credits and tax exemptions on solar panels and sustainable capital infrastructure projects. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources offers two separate loans to subsidize purchases aimed at improving energy efficiency. Property­Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing aids residents by covering the initial finances for green projects in the state. The Renewable Energy Pilot Program challenged three Louisiana utility companies to create projects to test new renewable energy sources. EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF BIOMASS ENERGY Louisiana has the perfect climate and terrain to produce an abundance of biomass. The state is covered with both crop fields and forests, making agronomic and wood biomass easy to recover. The LSU Agricultural Center is currently experimenting with Energy Cane and sweet sorghum to test the viability of producing biomass and converting it into biofuel. The LSU AgCenter also hopes to harvest forms of biomass year­round by experimenting with varieties of plants that are frost­resistant. INVESTIGATING OTHER FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY Over two­thirds of electricity generated from renewable sources comes from biomass. The state has one hydroelectric power plant in Vidalia that produces the remaining one­third of the renewable power in Louisiana. However, through tax incentives and financing programs, Louisiana has the opportunity to harness other forms of energy, such as wind and solar energy. Wind energy has high offshore potential because of high wind speeds. Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular among household residents in the state.

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ANALYZING NON­RENEWABLE ENERGY IN LOUISIANA In order to understand renewable options for electricity production, Louisiana residents must first comprehend the current structure of power generation in the state. The majority of electricity generation in Louisiana is derived from non­renewable energy sources. Due to the location and climate of Louisiana, many of these sources are naturally found in abundance. Crude oil, natural gas, and lignite coal are examples of natural deposits that Louisiana uses to produce electricity.

Figure 1

http://www.acore.org/files/pdfs/states/Louisiana.pdf

EXTRACTING NATURAL GAS In 2012, almost 60 percent of electricity generation in Louisiana came from natural gas (“Louisiana State Profile”). Louisiana holds about 7 percent of the nation’s natural gas reservoirs, including Haynesville Shale, a large rock formation that contains an ample supply of recoverable shale gas. In addition, “Louisiana has three onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, more than any other state” (“Louisiana State Profile”). Since Louisiana produces such large quantities of natural gas, eighteen natural gas storage facilities were built in Louisiana salt caverns and depleted fields. These storage facilities allow Louisiana utilities to access a supply of natural gas in the winter when energy consumption is generally higher due to the increased demand for heating.

UTILIZING PETROLEUM Historically, oil production has been an integral part of Louisiana electricity production. The Spindletop oil field was detected in 1901. Louisiana capitalized on the extensive output of the oil field, with peak oil production occurring in 1970. “Output quickly declined thereafter and has fallen to a little more than one­tenth of the 1970 peak in recent years” (“Louisiana State Profile”). In addition, recent disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig blowout negatively impacted offshore oil production in Louisiana. Today, only about 3 percent of electricity generation in Louisiana comes from petroleum.

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IMPORTING COAL Coal is used to produce 21 percent of the electricity in Louisiana (“Louisiana State Profile”). The most productive lignite coal mine is located in the northwestern corner of the state and supplies coal to the Dolet Hills power plant. Even though Louisiana contains natural coal deposits, the state imports about 75 percent of the coal used for power generation. Most coal imports are transported down the Mississippi River from Wyoming, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. PRODUCING NUCLEAR ENERGY Louisiana contains two nuclear power plants that generate about 15 percent of the state’s power. Both nuclear plants are owned and operated by Entergy. In September of 1985, the Waterford Nuclear Generating Station, also known as Waterford 3, was constructed in Killona, Louisiana, in St. Charles Parish. Waterford 3 is a pressurized water reactor and produces about 1200 MW of electricity for the state (“Nuclear Sites”). Waterford 3 shut down temporarily after Hurricane Katrina but now functions normally. The other nuclear power plant in the state, River Bend Nuclear Generating Station, is located in St. Francisville, Louisiana and opened in June of 1986. River Bend is a boiling water reactor and produces about 1000 MW of electricity for Entergy. Unlike Waterford 3, River Bend remained open during Hurricane Katrina; however, the plant closed for Hurricane Gustav in 2008. The River Bend station also is back to functioning normally.

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UNDERSTANDING RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES

Louisiana residents have access to a variety of renewable energy sources to power their homes and businesses. However, renewable energy is generally more expensive to harness than conventional power­generating resources, such as natural gas and petroleum. To make clean energy more appealing, the Louisiana government enforces a variety of policies and laws. Private companies also offer additional incentives for Louisiana residents to invest in renewable energy. EXPLOITING NET METERING Net metering is an incentive for Louisiana residents to purchase and utilize renewable sources of energy to generate their own electricity. Net metering is a billing system used by utility companies that credits renewable energy producers for the power they add to the grid. “During the day, most solar customers produce more electricity than they consume; net metering allows them to export that power to the grid and reduce their future electric bills” (“Net Metering”). Examples of renewable sources of energy that electric utility companies accept include solar, hydropower, wind, and biomass. Under Louisiana net metering law, utility companies must offer net metering to residential, commercial, and agricultural systems. The capacity limit is 25 kW for residential systems and 300 kW for commercial and agricultural systems (“Renewable Energy in Louisiana”). Figure 2 shows the net metering rates throughout the country. Relative to the rest of the nation, Louisiana net metering rates are essentially average.

Figure 2

http://www.seia.org/policy/distributed­solar/net­metering

The Louisiana net metering law also requires electric cooperatives to pay the full cost of the customer’s meter. In addition, any power produced by a renewable system and not used by the

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consumer, known as net excess generation, is credited at retail rate to the consumer’s bill for the following month. EVALUATING TAX INCENTIVES Louisiana legislation offers a variety of tax credits and tax exemptions for residents using renewable energy sources. The Residential Solar Tax Credit is equal to 50 percent of the first $25,000 of the purchase and installation costs of a solar PV system (“Summary of Renewable Energy”). This significant tax credit incentivizes consumers to purchase solar PV panels since the system is more affordable. Another tax incentive for Louisiana residents is the Green Jobs Tax Credit. This tax credit can be applied to corporate tax and income tax and relates to “qualified capital green infrastructure projects” (“Summary of Renewable Energy”). The Green Jobs Tax Credit is equal to between 10 and 25 percent of the cost of the green project, calculated based on the investment costs, up to $1 million. The tax credit also covers an additional 10 percent for payroll costs associated with the construction of the project. Louisiana citizens can also benefit from the Residential Solar Energy Property Tax Exemption. A solar energy system that is used for heating, cooling, and hot water is considered personal property. Since personal property is exempt from ad valorem taxation, the value of the solar energy equipment is not included in the overall value of the real estate and therefore not taxed. A second tax exemption available under Louisiana policy is the Biodiesel Equipment and Fuel Tax Exemption. When Louisiana residents purchase specific “property and equipment used to manufacture, produce, or extract unblended biodiesel,” their purchases are exempt from state sales and use taxes (“Summary of Renewable Energy”). UTILIZING LOAN PROGRAMS Even with net metering and tax credits, some customers are still unable to afford renewable energy production systems. The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources offers a variety of loans to fund a multitude of energy efficiency projects. Through the Home Energy Loan Program, the LA Department of Natural Resources offers five­year loans to homeowners for improvements in energy efficiency. These low­interest loans can be used for the purchase and installation of solar PV systems and solar thermal systems, as well as geothermal heat pumps and other renewable energy systems. The LA Department of Natural Resources subsidizes purchases up to $6000. Another loan program created by the LA Department of Natural Resources is the Louisiana Revolving Loan Fund Program. Unlike the Home Energy Loan Program, the Revolving Loan Fund Program excludes the residential sector and is only available to commercial and industrial facilities. The purpose of the Revolving Loan Fund Program is to “encourage the development, implementation and deployment of cost­effective energy efficiency, compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling and vehicle, and renewable energy projects in Louisiana” (“Louisiana Revolving Loan Fund Program”). The LA Department of Natural

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Resources uses this program to offer low interest rate loans to eligible applicants for the funding of green projects at approved commercial and industrial sites. Louisiana residents can also utilize Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing. PACE Financing provides the initial financing costs of a project, helping managers overcome the challenge of expensive start­up costs. PACE covers most costs in energy efficiency projects, including “new heating and cooling systems, lighting improvements, solar panels, water pumps, and insulation” (PACE Programs). Since its establishment in 2010, PACE has funded 25,000 projects in the residential sector and 327 projects in the commercial sector in the US. 27 states are currently using PACE Programs to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. In Louisiana, there is currently a PACE Program in development. Through this program, local Louisiana governments act as a Sustainable Energy Financing District (SEFD). Through the SEFD, property owners can apply for financing for improvements in energy efficiency. EXAMINING THE RENEWABLE ENERGY PILOT PROGRAM In 2010, Louisiana launched its Renewable Energy Pilot Program. This program included two major elements: the Research Component and the Request for Proposal (RFP) Component (“Louisiana Renewable Energy Pilot Program”). Both of these elements were used to determine the renewable portfolio standard for the Renewable Energy Pilot Program. The Research Component required investor­owned utilities (IOU) to complete three projects to collect data on the usefulness of various renewable energy sources. To complete adequate research, utility companies could either construct new renewable energy facilities or purchase pre­existing renewable energy sites through contracts. The guidelines stated, “Utilities may not purchase more than 5 MW from any single project, and may not purchase more than 30 MW of total capacity” (“Louisiana Renewable Energy Pilot Program”). The Request for Proposal (RFP) Component related to long­term renewable projects that would last between 10 and 20 years and generate a maximum of 350 MW. The three largest utilities in Louisiana, Entergy, Swepco, and Cleco, participated in the Renewable Energy Pilot Program. Cleco collaborated with University of Louisiana at Lafayette to study woody biomass as a viable renewable energy source. Entergy and Swepco chose to use the Request for Proposal option; Entergy made a deal with Lafourche Sugars, and Swepco purchased wind energy from a company in Kansas called Flat Wind 2 Energy. Ultimately, in August 2013, the commissioners of the Renewable Energy Pilot Program reviewed the reports compiled by Entergy, Swepco, and Cleco, and “decided there was no need for Louisiana to implement a Renewable Portfolio Standard, but to continue to gather information from utilities’ annual reports on federal policies in development and best practices in other states” (“Louisiana Renewable Energy Pilot Program”).

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EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF BIOMASS ENERGY In Louisiana, “the abundant water, subtropical climate, and high­quality soils help create a rich and diverse agricultural economy that includes pine and hardwood forests as well as sugar cane, rice, and other cultivated crops” (“Louisiana State Profile”). The waste from the processing of crops and wood provide Louisiana the potential to create an abundance of energy from biomass. Many parts of Louisiana produce over five­hundred thousand tons of biomass per year, as depicted in Figure 3. The energy from the biomass industry currently produces about 445 MW of electricity. This power covers about 2 percent of the energy demand for the state and accounts for two­thirds of the total renewable energy used in Louisiana.

Figure 3

http://www.hpba.org/government­affairs/renewableenergy/pdfs/Louisiana.pdf

USING AGRONOMIC BIOMASS Louisiana is covered in crop fields and has great potential for agricultural residue to be converted into biomass energy. The most common crop fields include cotton, rice, sugarcane, and corn. The three agricultural byproducts of rice are straw, hulls, and bran (Viator). Rice straw is normally left on the ground to prevent erosion and provide nutrients. Rice hulls are often composted or used as conditioners for fertilizers. Rice bran is a key ingredient in cattle feed. While these crop residues have conventional uses on farms and in crop fields, the biomass energy industry remains as a viable alternative. UTILIZING WOOD BIOMASS Northern Louisiana is covered with forests, making the timber industry one of the largest manufacturing segments in the state. The leftover waste from logging is a suitable resource for

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biomass energy. Discarded treetops and limbs are normally left on the ground to supply important nutrients to the younger seedlings. However, this waste from logging has the biomass potential to provide power to 140,000 homes (Viator). There are approximately 173 different sawmills, panel mills, and pulp/paper mills dispersed throughout Louisiana (Viator). These mills generate over seven million tons of wood residues. While most of the residual wood is utilized by the mills or converted into energy, a portion of the wood is wasted. About 17,000 tons of milling residues, which are often dumped into landfills, also have the potential to generate even more electricity. EXPERIMENTING WITH BIOMASS AND BIOFUELS A few years ago, the LSU Agricultural Center received a $17.2 million grant from the USDA for a Sustainable Bioproducts Initiative. This five­year project focuses on “developing strategies for the production, harvest, processing, and transportation logistics of biofuels in the southern US” (Viator). The main goal of the Sustainable Bioproducts Initiative is to find viable, low­input methods for biofuel production. The LSU AgCenter is currently inquiring about converting biomass, such as Energy Cane and sweet sorghum, into biofuels using existing sugarcane factories. Researching Energy Cane Energy Cane is a cross between sugar cane and some of its wild variants. The plant is genetically bred to contain a high fiber content and low sugar content, resulting in a high biomass yield. Currently, Energy Cane can only be harvested for three months out of the year. “Researchers at the USDA­Agricultural Research Service Sugarcane Research Unit in Houma, Louisiana, are crossbreeding sugarcane with two ancestral species of sugarcane to produce a number of different Energy Cane varieties that can be grown in colder climates” (“Energy Cane Demonstration”). Producing a cold­tolerant variety of Energy Cane would lengthen the growing season and increase crop output; higher crop yields result in more biofuel production. Creation of an Energy Cane variety that is resistant to cold temperatures also expands locations that Energy Cane can be planted in. States with traditionally colder climates could begin to include Energy Cane in their agricultural portfolios. During the winter of 2012, the LSU AgCenter planted 1,000 variants of Energy Cane at the Macon Ridge Research Station in Winnsboro (“Energy Cane Demonstration”). The experiment revealed that 300 of the varieties of Energy Cane performed well. LSU AgCenter Researchers replanted the strongest 300 variants the following winter for more testing. The winter of 2013 produced some of the coldest temperatures in Louisiana history, but the Energy Cane continued to yield well. In addition, the frigid winter did not seem to damage the plants.

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Testing Sweet Sorghum Historically, farmers in Louisiana neglected to grow sweet sorghum as a commercial crop. However, the plant has displayed great potential for biofuel production. “Sweet sorghum’s advantages as a biofuel crop are that it contains large amounts of sugar for fermentation to ethanol and fiber for cellulosic conversion” (Viator). Sweet sorghum is also appealing because of its adaptability. The plant thrives in essentially all soil types and climate conditions. These promising characteristics of sweet sorghum led the LSU AgCenter to conduct experiments with the plant. Sweet sorghum uses relatively low amounts of water and requires low nitrogen fertilizer rates, making it an environmentally friendly crop to grow. This bonus also makes the plant appealing for LSU AgCenter’s Sustainable Bioproducts Initiative. The LSU AgCenter worked with four different varieties of sweet sorghum during the research period: Dale, M8IE, Theis, and Topper 76­6 (Viator). Dale is of the medium maturing variety and was developed in Mississippi in the 1960s. M8IE is a late maturing variety and was developed in Mississippi in 1981. M8IE is also more susceptible to frost than the other variants of sweet sorghum. Theis is of the late maturing variety and was developed in Mississippi in 1974. Theis can grow from 12 to 16 feet tall, making it larger than the other varieties. Topper 76­6 was developed in 1994 by a joint project between the University of Georgia and Mississippi State University. Topper 76­6 is bred to have a high resistance to diseases. The results indicated that the sugar yields among the four varieties of sweet sorghum remained consistent as long as the plants were located in the same area. The only noticeable difference occurred with the Dale variant. Dale tended to have higher concentrations of sugar but a lower stem yield; however, Dale’s overall sugar production was the same as the other three varieties. The main cause behind varying sugar yields were differing locations and fluctuating times of planting (Viator). Previous research specifies that Louisiana farmers can plant sweet sorghum any time between March and July. However, the results from the LSU AgCenter experiments revealed that the ideal planting period ranged from mid­April to early May. The sweet sorghum planted during the LSU AgCenter specified period produced higher yields of biomass and sugar. Since cooler soil temperatures “delay seedling emergence and limit plant growth rate,” researchers recommended that planting should only commence once the soil reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit (Viator). Otherwise, the seedlings are more prone to frost damage, which stunts their growth and decreases their sugar and biomass output. Since research on sweet sorghum is limited, the LSU AgCenter published a Sweet Sorghum Production Guide with tips on planting, fertilization, harvest, and processing methods. The LSU AgCenter is hoping their guide will ease Louisiana farmers into producing their own sweet

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sorghum crops. Researchers at the LSU AgCenter believe that sweet sorghum will gain popularity among farmers and commercial production will occur in the near future. Concluding on the Experiments The experimental results from the LSU AgCenter indicate that Louisiana has the potential to produce biomass year­round. Sugarcane is harvested four months out of the year, and the resulting biomass waste is available for conversion into biofuels. Immediately following the sugarcane harvest is winter, and farmers can harvest Energy Cane for those additional three months. A few months later, agriculturists can harvest the sweet sorghum throughout the late spring and summer months.

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INVESTIGATING OTHER FORMS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY Aside from biomass energy, Louisiana is greatly lacking in renewable sources. Biomass generates about two­thirds of the overall power from renewable resources, and hydroelectric produces the remaining one­third. As displayed in Chart 1, relatively very few MW are generated from sources such as wind, solar, and ethanol. This section explains a few pre­existing forms of renewable energy as well as the potential for growth in other sources.

Chart 1

http://www.acore.org/files/pdfs/states/Louisiana.pdf

GENERATING HYDROELECTRIC POWER Louisiana is home to only one hydroelectric power plant: the Sidney A. Murray, Jr. Hydroelectric Station in Vidalia, Louisiana. The station was named after the Mayor of Vidalia. Sidney A. Murray, Jr. sought to find a non­polluting and cheap source of energy for his town. The hydroelectric station is designed to generate electricity from the natural current in the Mississippi River. The hydroelectric station is located north of the US Army Corps of Engineers Old River Control complex, meaning the facility doe not include a large impounding dam. Construction for the power plant and hydroelectric station ended in 1990; at that time, it became the largest prefabricated power plant in the world. The plant currently produces about 192 MW per year (“Sidney A. Murray, Jr. Hydroelectric Station”). The 192 MW generated from the Sidney A. Murray, Jr. Hydroelectric Station accounts for about 1 percent of total electricity demand in Louisiana. This hydroelectric plant also accounts for one­third of the total power generated from renewable resources in the state. Louisiana’s state rank is 31 for total hydroelectric power generated in the US (“Electricity Generation for Renewable Energy”).

TAPPING INTO WIND ENERGY Wind energy is one of the most under­utilized sources of clean energy in Louisiana. Electricity generated from wind power accounts for 3 percent of the overall energy demand in the US, but the power produced from wind in Louisiana is essentially nonexistent. However, state tax credits and other programs incentivize Louisiana citizens, both residential and commercial, to consider investing in wind turbines and clean energy.

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Figure 4 and Figure 5 display, respectively, the wind speeds for onshore and offshore Louisiana. Onshore, the average wind speed varies from 5 m/s to 6 m/s. Offshore, wind speeds are a bit higher, ranging from 7 m/s to 8.5 m/s. Based on the data, Louisiana should invest in more offshore wind turbines.

Figure 4 Figure 5

http://apps2.eere.energy.gov/wind/windexchange/wind_resource_maps.asp?stateab=la

Defending Offshore Wind Turbines Most of the potential wind energy production occurs off the coast of Louisiana since the wind speeds are highest offshore. Many citizens of Louisiana are skeptical of wind turbines due to their visual intrusiveness and noise creation (Buchanan). Placing the wind turbines offshore eliminates those issues and exposes the turbines to higher wind speeds. Additionally, offshore wind patterns are much more consistent than wind patterns on land. Offshore oil and gas rigs could be converted into platforms for wind turbines, reducing the initial capital needed to fund new wind projects. Exploring Potential Wind Projects St. Mary Parish is a potential site for Louisiana’s first commercial wind farm. Southern States Renewable Energy is proposing a project to erect eight wind turbines, each with a height of 498 feet. Southern States would strategically place the $40 million turbines on an isolated patch of land off the coast (Burgess). Bill Galardo, the project manager, estimates the wind turbines will generate about 20 MW at peak wind speeds. On average, the wind turbines would most likely produce about 10 MW of electricity, which could provide power to thousands of homes in the area. The biggest challenge for Southern States is finding a utility company to partner with for the project; Galardo is hoping Cleco will agree to purchase the electricity generated from the wind turbines.

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INVESTING IN SOLAR Figure 6 shows that Louisiana receives a decent amount of sun exposure. However, the Southwest receives the most sunlight in the US; therefore, solar power is the most popular in that region. Even though solar power is less prominent in Louisiana, solar tax credits and renewable financing are helping to increase the number of installed photovoltaics in Louisiana. Figure 6 Figure 7

http://geology.com/articles/renewable­energy­trends/ http://www.seia.org/state­solar­policy/louisiana­solar Figure 7 depicts all of the solar companies in Louisiana. There are more than 57 companies in total, employing 1,200 Louisiana residents. These companies represent “4 manufacturers, 3 manufacturing facilities, 39 contractor/installers, 2 project developers, 4 distributors and 8 engaged in other solar activities including financing, engineering and legal support” (“Louisiana Solar”). These solar companies are expanding and taking on more projects every day. Growing the Solar Industry Through these companies and increased interest in photovoltaics, the solar industry in Louisiana has grown tremendously in the past few years. In 2009, only about 0.2 MW of photovoltaic projects were installed in Louisiana. In 2014, Louisiana invested $111 million on solar installations, producing an additional “31 MW of solar electric capacity, ranking it 19th nationally” (“Louisiana Solar”). This progress boosted Louisiana to a total of 65 MW of solar energy installed throughout the state. The electricity generated from solar photovoltaics alone is enough to power 6,100 homes. From a cost standpoint, solar energy is steadily decreasing in price. The price to install a photovoltaic system has dropped 49 percent since 2010. With dropping prices and advances in technology, the solar industry will continue to grow rapidly in Louisiana.

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Works Cited

Buchanan, Susan. "Wind Power Wafts Into Louisiana, Bringing Jobs And Energy." The

Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.

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html>

Burgess, Richard. "State's First Energy Wind Farm Planned in St. Mary Parish." The Advocate,

n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015.

<http://theadvocate.com/home/6640632­125/states­first­energy­wind­farm>

"Electricity Generation from Renewable Energy in Louisiana." Clean Energy in My State. US

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ass­crop.html>

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Environmental Protection Agency, 21 Nov. 2014. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.

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"Louisiana Revolving Loan Fund Program." Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, n.d.

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<http://dnr.louisiana.gov/assets/TAD/programs/revolving_loan_fund/LRLFPGuide_2014

0903.pdf>

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"Louisiana Solar." State Solar Policy. Solar Energy Industries Association, Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

<http://www.seia.org/state­solar­policy/louisiana­solar>

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<http://www.entergy­nuclear.com/plant_information/default.aspx>

"PACE Programs." PACE Near You. PACE, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.

<http://www.pacenow.org/resources/all­programs/>

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"Sidney A. Murray, Jr. Hydroelectric Station." Vidalia Area History. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr.

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Viator, Sonny. "Sweet Sorghum for Biofuel Production in Louisiana." LSU AgCenter. N.p., n.d.

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