What is This Project?

Entergy Louisiana is constructing the West Fork Creek to Boeuf 500 kV Transmission Line Project — a new high-voltage transmission line that will extend from the proposed West Fork Creek Substation in Richland Parish to the proposed Boeuf Switching Station in Avoyelles Parish. The line will traverse six parishes: Avoyelles, Caldwell, Evangeline, LaSalle, Rapides, and Richland.

This transmission line is a critical piece of infrastructure to support growing loads throughout Louisiana, including one of Northeast Louisiana's most significant economic opportunities. While customers across the state will see significant benefits from this new infrastructure for many decades, a Meta affiliate will be paying the full cost to own and operate this line for at least 20 years.

Why Are We Building This Line?

This new transmission capacity is needed to support reliability, resilience, and economic development across Louisiana as new large, high load factor loads are being added throughout the state, including Meta’s data center.

The confluence of higher levels of large, high load factor loads and new generation being added across the state by Energy and other utilities creates an elevated reliability risk in the spring and fall seasons, when certain generation and transmission assets are typically taken offline for periodically planned maintenance.

Without the ability to conduct these periodic planned maintenance activities, generation and transmission equipment faces a risk of unplanned or forced outages that risks reliability to the regional and state grid.

To deliver the power needed for Meta’s facility and ensure reliability across Louisiana's entire electrical grid, especially in the fall and spring seasons, Entergy Louisiana must expand transmission capacity connecting South Louisiana to North Louisiana and Arkansas.

How Does This Benefit Louisiana Residents?

The West Fork Creek to Boeuf 500kV transmission line is more than just infrastructure; it's an investment in Louisiana's future and will be the first 500kV source in Central Louisiana and can support Cleco Power, electric cooperatives, and new generation and businesses that may locate or expand in Central Louisiana. It may also attract investment in this region.

Grid Reliability Benefits

• Once complete, the transmission infrastructure will enhance system reliability and efficiency, improving power delivery for all Entergy Louisiana customers.
• New generation, storage, and transmission capacity will strengthen the grid against future challenges.

Grid Resilience Benefits

• West Fork Creek to Boeuf and Babel to Webre will add a new storm-hardened 500kV transmission line to Central Louisiana, connecting North-South and East-West.

Immediate Economic Benefits

• Establish a 500kV source in Central Louisiana that will be available to Cleco and co-ops to support load growth.
• As an example of load growth and economic development, Meta’s data center will bring:
  • $4.65 billion in total customer savings over 20 years from the Meta agreements.
  • Thousands of construction jobs from 2026 to 2031.
  • Permanent, high-paying careers in engineering, maintenance and support services across Central and Northeast Louisiana.

Long-Term Community Impact

• Increased tax revenues supporting schools, public safety, and infrastructure in all parishes and surrounding communities where the line runs.
• Expansion of workforce development and access to careers across Louisiana.
• Establishment of a high-tech industry hub positioning Northeast Louisiana as a leader in innovation.

Community Investment

In addition to infrastructure, Meta is committing:

• $120 million (including matching funds) for The Power to Care program to help vulnerable customers.
• $140 million for energy efficiency initiatives.
• Support for renewable energy, including up to 2,500 megawatts of new solar capacity.
• Investment in clean energy solutions, including nuclear and carbon-free resources.

No Cost to Louisiana Customers

Over the next 20 years, a Meta affiliate is funding or bearing the costs of the lines tied to its service agreements, and Louisianans will not see their rates increase because of it.

Regulatory Oversight

The proposed transmission facilities are being reviewed by the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) through an application requesting a Certification of Public Convenience and Necessity (CCN) for construction of West Fork Creek – Boeuf 500kV Transmission Line.This review includes consideration of whether this 500kV corridor is in the public interest. The application was filed in March of 2026 and is anticipated to take up to eight months for the LPSC to issue a final decision.

How Was This Route Selected?

Transmission Line Routing Study Process

Purpose

Entergy utilizes a third party to conduct thorough transmission line routing studies to identify the best possible routes that safely, reliably, and responsibly deliver electricity while minimizing impacts to the communities and environments they pass through.

How the Study Works

1. Define the Study Area — The study begins by identifying the geographic area to be analyzed, based on the project's starting and ending points. This helps focus the analysis on feasible routing options.
2. Identify Constraints and Resources — The engineering and environmental team carefully maps and evaluates:
   • Existing land use (residential, agricultural, commercial, protected lands, etc.)
   • Environmental features (wetlands, forests, wildlife habitats, water resources)
   • Regulatory requirements and agency guidance
   • Existing easements
3. Develop Alternative Routes — Using the information gathered, multiple different route options are developed. These alternatives are geographically diverse to ensure a genuine range of choices for evaluation, not just minor variations of one preferred route.
4. Evaluate Each Route — Each alternative route is analyzed using the same set of evaluation criteria, including impacts to:
   • Land use patterns
   • Environmental resources
   • Agricultural operations
   • Property owners and communities
   • Regulatory and compliance considerations
5. Compare and Rank — The results for each route are compared side-by-side. Routes are ranked based on which offers the best balance of minimizing environmental and land use impacts.
6. Select the Preferred Route — Entergy's final selection considers the environmental ranking, plus additional factors:
   • Engineering and construction feasibility
   • Grid reliability and system security
   • Estimated project costs

Why Multiple Routes? Evaluating several alternatives ensures that the final selection represents the best overall choice, not just one option considered in isolation. This comparative approach helps identify the route that balances technical, environmental, and cultural considerations most effectively.

Right-of-Way Acquisition: How We Work With Affected Landowners

The Process

Entergy Louisiana follows a structured, step-by-step approach to right-of-way acquisition:

• Parcel Data & Title: Parcel data is developed and title research is performed to identify affected properties.
• Survey Permission: Survey permission is sought from affected landowners.
• Market Study: An estimate of compensation is established based on sales of like and kind properties in the area.

Acquisition Timeline

• Initial Offer Letters (November 2026 – June 2027): Offers are sent to landowners based on the market study.
• Negotiation Period (4-8 months after Initial Offer Letters): Entergy works with landowners on reaching acquisition agreements.
• Final Offer Letters (December 2026 – September 2027): Final offer letters are sent to remaining landowners with detailed appraisals and offers of compensation.
• Expropriation (December 2026 – June 2028): If no agreement is reached, expropriation is filed approximately 30-45 days after final offer letters.
• Construction (Mid-2028 – 2031): Once acquisitions are complete, the transmission line will be constructed and expected to be in-service by the end of 2031.

Questions and Support

If you believe your property may be affected by this project, or if you have questions about the acquisition process, you may contact Entergy from the Leave a Comment link above or by leaving a voice message at 504-219-4302.

Entergy Louisiana is committed to working fairly and transparently with all affected landowners. This project represents a significant investment in Northeast Louisiana's future, and we're grateful for the partnership of our landowners in making it possible.