The state of solar development in Louisiana can be evaluated by key factors such as federal and local regulations, incentives, grid interconnection and integration. The current state of development activity in Louisiana is growing and can be seen in this analysis summarizing all facets of solar energy project development.
We will break down the various federal and state incentives available to solar energy developers in Louisiana and how to access them.
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Louisiana Solar Energy Activity
Although Louisiana currently only has 5 operating utility-scale solar farms, the state has one of the largest pipelines for future utility-scale solar development with 856.28 MW capacity for 30 planned projects, 22,882 MW capacity for 121 queued projects, and 10,276 MW capacity for 95 site control projects. Overall, if all planned, queued, and site control farms go into operating status, Louisiana will expand its capacity by 34,014 MW. In Louisiana, the average solar farm size is 150 acres, producing 15 MW of electricity under ideal conditions. So a solar farm in Louisiana needs an average of 10 acres per MW of capacity.
Historically, Louisiana, abundant in natural resources, has been known for their natural gas and petroleum-driven electricity generation and production. Coupled with pushbacks on renewable energy implementation from farmers, ranchers, and legislators, solar development was not prioritized as a result, hence the fewer number of operational utility-scale projects in the state. The opposition has been catalyzed by rivalries for pasture and agricultural land, apprehensions that solar projects might not maximize economic gains on crucial industrial sites, anxieties about post-obsolescence cleanup, and apprehensions about substantial, enduring transformations to Louisiana's natural landscapes.
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