Company Recognized as a Top-10 Utility by Site Selection Magazine

New Orleans, La. — For the fifth consecutive year, Entergy Corporation has been recognized as one of the top 10 utilities in North America for its work to support economic development. The recognition comes in the September 2012 issue of Site Selection magazine, which highlights Entergy’s private-sector facility investment of more than $2.3 billion along with the creation of 8,877 jobs in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas.

“Successful economic development is always a team effort, and every year Entergy partners with a number of entities across our service area to attract new business, retain existing businesses and help companies grow,” said Charles Rice, president and chief executive officer of Entergy New Orleans, Inc. “We are encouraged that our participation makes a positive impact on our city and state’s economic future, and will continue to provide leadership and investment to help strengthen local economies and bring jobs to our communities.”

In its list of economic development highlights from the previous year, Site Selection credits Entergy’s work in Louisiana to identify and qualify new target industries and champion eight sites that were ultimately certified by Louisiana Economic Development as ready for development.

In Mississippi, Entergy spends approximately $2 million annually on economic development in the state. During the past two years alone, corporate locations and expansions assisted by Entergy Mississippi have resulted in capital investment of almost $1 billion.

Site Selection also mentions the efforts of Entergy’s Teamwork Arkansas in the passage of an economic development sales tax that will produce $68 million for three Arkansas communities over the next decade. “Other communities are now considering the tax idea, and looking to Entergy’s Teamwork Arkansas for guidance,” Site Selection said in its article.

In Texas, Entergy has identified significant growth opportunities in industries such as renewable energy, solar, wind, energy efficiency, green building, sustainable transportation, algae, biofuels, bio-mass and the environment. Entergy Texas is working with public and private leadership, economic development and workforce development specialists, and educational partners such as Lamar, Sam Houston and Lone Star College on plans to recruit and grow the green economy within the region.

Site Selection magazine bases its ranking on a variety of criteria, including job creation, capital investment, and innovative programs and incentives for businesses such as energy efficiency and renewable-energy programs. The magazine also gathers input from leading site-selection consultants and interviews with company executives.

Entergy New Orleans, Inc. is an electric and gas utility serving Orleans Parish and is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. The company provides electricity to more than 160,000 customers and natural gas to more than 100,000 customers in Orleans Parish.

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