KEY TAKEAWAYS: Entergy Louisiana has begun a $270 million grid resilience project across Jefferson Parish. More than 500 utility poles and other infrastructure along Veterans Boulevard are being replaced or strengthened. Entergy plans to replace or reinforce about 8,400 distribution and transm ission poles across the parish. New poles are designed to withstand winds up to 140 mph, with upgrades aimed at reducing storm damage and outage times.   Entergy Louisiana has begun a $270 million project to strengthen electric infrastructure across Jefferson Parish, including replacing or reinforcing thousands of utility poles to improve reliability during hurricanes and other severe weather. The utility marked the start of the project Thursday with local elected officials and community leaders. The investment is part of Entergy Louisiana’s broader grid resilience program, which targets infrastructure considered particularly vulnerable to major storms. Work already underway along Veterans Boulevard includes replacing or hardening more than 500 utility poles and other electrical infrastructure between the Orleans Parish line and Clearview Parkway. Entergy expects that portion of the project to be completed by October, depending on weather and construction conditions. New poles installed as part of the project are designed to withstand winds of up to 140 mph. Entergy said the improvements are intended to reduce damage and shorten power outages following severe weather. “Today’s ribbon cutting represents more than the start of a construction project. It reflects our long-term commitment to building a stronger, more resilient grid for the communities we serve,” Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May said. “These investments will help reduce storm impacts, improve reliability for our customers and support Jefferson Parish’s continued economic growth for decades to come.” Across Jefferson Parish, Entergy plans to upgrade hundreds of miles of electric infrastructure as part of its resilience program. The work includes replacing or reinforcing about 8,400 distribution and transmission poles with structures engineered to withstand winds of up to 140 mph. The utility said the upgrades could benefit businesses by reducing outages and improving continuity during and after severe weather. Jefferson Parish is home to industries including health care, engineering, supply chain operations and technology that depend on reliable electricity. The Jefferson Parish work is part of Entergy Louisiana’s statewide grid resilience plan. The utility said it used an analysis of thousands of potential storm scenarios to identify projects expected to provide the greatest reliability benefits. Entergy projects the broader resilience program could avoid about $175 million in future storm restoration costs and reduce restoration times following major storms. The company also estimates the program could produce about $5 billion in capital maintenance and investment benefits over 50 years through fewer emergency repairs, reduced equipment failures and longer-lasting infrastructure. Construction in Jefferson Parish will continue in phases along Veterans Boulevard. Entergy said motorists could encounter traffic impacts in some areas, while customers could experience planned power outages when necessary to safely complete the work. Customers affected by planned outages will be notified in advance. Entergy Louisiana provides electricity to more than 1.1 million customers in 58 parishes. The utility is a subsidiary of New Orleans-based Entergy Corp., a Fortune 500 company that serves about 3 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and employs approximately 12,000 people. ...read more read less