Frustrated with the lack of renewable energy from utilities in Louisiana, some of the largest corporations doing business in the state have banded together to acquire their own solar power, reports Louisiana Illuminator.
Their plan includes what is called a sleeved power purchase agreement (PPA) that lets a customer negotiate what it will pay for electricity from a non-utility source such as a community solar garden or private wind farm. The Louisiana Public Service Commission adopted a rule last week that allows a sleeved PPA for the Louisiana Energy Users Group, a coalition of 26 companies.
LEUG’s membership roster includes Dow Chemical, Chevron, Air Products, Georgia-Pacific, ExxonMobil, Honeywell, Monsanto, Nucor Steel, Phillips 66, CF Industries and BASF, among other industrial giants. Collectively, the group employs about 35,000 people in Louisiana with a $2.5 billion annual payroll, according to LEUG attorney Randy Young, who testified at Wednesday’s meeting. Read more.