Ribbon cut for new LEPA plant

MORGAN CITY - The City of Rayne took another step in securing stable electrical rates for its customers for years to come with the formal dedication of the new Louisiana Energy and Power Authority (LEPA) electrical plant on May 20.
Rayne is one of six cities that have committed to purchasing a share of the power from the new energy efficient plant in Morgan City.
The $120.7 million dollar plant is a 64-megawatt nominal rated, natural gas fired combined-cycle gas turbine generating plant (CCGT).
It is the first power plant to be built in the southern region of Louisiana in some 40 years, and the first electrical power plant to be built by LEPA.
Six LEPA member municipalities — Rayne, Morgan City, Houma, Jonesville, Plaquemine and Vidalia — have entered into long term power sales agreements for the plant’s power output.
“The plant is expected to supply these municipalities with competitively priced electrical power that will reduce their reliance on older, more costly electric supply options and fluctuations in natural gas rates,” said LEPA General Manager Cordell Grand.
“Rayne has been the recipient of the rewards of being a member of LEPA, and this first-class facility not only will provide us power, but will allow us to sell our extra power, keeping power costs lower,” said Rayne Mayor Chuck Robichaux, a member of the LEPA Board of Directors, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The CCGT technology used in this plant is superior to conventional fossil fueled generating plants because of its higher efficiency, lower environmental impact, lower capital cost, and shorter construction time,” said Grand. “Because the plant is fuel efficient, it will help stabilize the cost of electrical power for these municipalities by minimizing the impact of fluctuations in natural gas rates.”
The plant has a number of energy efficiency features:
•-Waste heat from the gas turbine will be recovered and used to produce additional power.
•-The combine cycle gas turbine generators are highly efficient and support clean air.
•-The unit uses clean burning natural gas, minimizing extensive environmental control systems. A 1.3 mile, 8-inch natural gas pipeline was constructed to interconnect the plant to the Texas Gas Transmission LLC pipeline.
•-And, the plant utilizes reclaimed water discharged from the nearby Morgan City Waste Water Treatment Plant, conserving treated water.
Created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1979, LEPA consists of 17 Louisiana municipalities that each maintain their own independent municipal electrical system.