Vidalia to discuss LEPA energy contract

Published 12:12 am Tuesday, May 21, 2013

VIDALIA The Vidalia Board of Alderman will meet at noon today to discuss a partnership with five other Louisiana cities to construct a power plant in Morgan City.

The partnership includes Morgan City, Houma, Plaquemine, Rayne, Jonesville and Vidalia. The board’s discussion will focus on the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Though the plant will be located in Morgan City, all six cities will receive electricity from the plant.

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“Each city is going to contribute a certain amount and receive the same amount from the plant,” Louisiana Energy and Power Authority General Manager Cordell Grand said. “What’s happening here is that all these cities are signing the same agreement. The only difference is the amount that they are going to contribute.”

The plant will be a 64-megawatt, combined cycle plant and be fired by natural gas. It will also use Morgan City’s wastewater and be a high-efficiency plant.

“This plant is going to lower each city’s energy cost in the future because it is energy efficient,” Grand said.

Mayor Hyram Copeland said the energy from the plant would be used to entice future industry with reliable power.