Louisiana regulators approve SWEPCO solar and wind projects
Solar

Louisiana regulators approve SWEPCO solar and wind projects

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has granted American Electric Power subsidiary Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) approval to acquire three solar and wind projects totaling 999 MW.

Renewable Energy World previously reported that SWEPCO sought approval to acquire the 200 MW Mooringsport solar project in Caddo Parish, Louisiana; the 200.6 MW Diversion wind project in Baylor County, Texas; and the 598.4 MW Wagon Wheel wind project spanning Logan, Garfield and Noble counties in Oklahoma.

The projects are being developed by Invenergy and represent a $2.2 billion investment.

Diversion is expected to reach commercial operation in December 2024, and Mooringsport and Wagon Wheel are expected to come online in December 2025.

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SWEPCO’s need for capacity is driven by the retirement of aging generation units. The utility is facing a capacity deficit beginning in 2023 that grows to 1,574 MW in 2028 after the retirement of other units.

New rules from the Southwest Power Pool, the grid-balancing authority that includes Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, also require utilities to have available additional generating capacity to support reliability.

SWEPCO’s long-term plan calls for more than one-third of its Southwest Power Pool accredited capacity to be satisfied with wind and solar resources.

In February, SWEPCO announced plans to add 72.5 MW of solar energy through a power purchase agreement with the proposed Rocking R Solar project in northwest Louisiana.

SWEPCO and sister company Public Service Company of Oklahoma also own and operate the 1,484 MW North Central Energy Facilities in north central Oklahoma. The project includes 199 MW Sundance, 287 MW Maverick and 998 MW Traverse wind projects and is one of the largest wind facilities in the world.