PLAQUEMINE — Entergy Louisiana has filed a lawsuit in state district court against the Iberville Parish Council following its second vote against the proposed Cypress Harvest Solar facility, according to documents acquired by The Advocate.

The utility company is asking the judge to require parish officials to provide a formal, written statement outlining the exact reasons for the vote.

The newspaper reported Entergy’s lawsuit was filed on Oct. 5 in Iberville Parish and centers on the interpretation of the council’s own solar farm ordinance adopted in January 2023, which requires that the council write a statement detailing the reasons for denial and allows for a 30-day period after so problems can be addressed.

According to The Advocate, the lawsuit alleges that a letter sent by parish officials about two weeks after the vote maintained that the requirement of such a written statement doesn’t apply to the council because it isn't “an official” and can’t “issue a letter explaining each council member’s vote.”

The Iberville Parish Council denied Entergy’s solar farm proposal for the second time in September in a 12-1 vote, with council member Terry Bradford abstaining.

In August, Entergy met with Iberville residents to hear their concerns over the proposed project, which would be built on 30 acres of land off Highway 75 in Plaquemine. Many expressed concerns that the development would be too close to residential homes, schools and neighborhoods.

Entergy has said that the Cypress Harvest Solar project is expected to cost around $297 million and could create 201 construction jobs as well as four full-time positions.