In the News

Efforts are being made to transform how energy is produced in Louisiana. New legislation will help those efforts build a hydroelectric power plant along the Red River. 

Louisiana has lock and dam systems along the Red River, but no means to use the flow of water for energy. The company, Nelson Energy, looks to take advantage of the potential power source by constructing a hydroelectric plant. 

"Well hydroelectric power is as you would imagine is environmentally friendly. I think that is very important in today's age where there's concern for using up our resources," said Colin Brown, executive director of Red River Waterway Commission.

Besides generating clean, renewable energy, the project would generate jobs. 

"Projects each are estimated contribute 400 to 700 jobs during the construction period and have a potential economic impact of several hundred-million dollars each," said Douglass Spaulding, president of Nelson Energy.

Their efforts are supported by Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy and Representative Mike Johnson who passed a bill that extends licensing for the project. Federal laws for renewable energy have deadlines for projects and hydroelectric has the shortest.  

Spaulding said they're looking for a utility purchaser in the state to work with. But it's hard for hydro to compete in today's energy market because of the cheap costs of natural gas and federal tax credits for solar and wind. He said it should become easier in the next few years to compete. But it's a long-term investment that could benefit generations to come. 

"The power market has historically moved up and down. Hydroelectric projects are a long-term asset and last well over 100 years. Since there's no fuel costs associated with hydroelectric projects they become very economical sources over the next 50 to 100 years," Spaulding said.

Spaulding said the extension gives them six to eight years to find a utility company to enter into a contract with. They need the utility company to distribute the power to homes and said the another added benefit of hydropower is it will lead to lower energy costs for homeowners.