In June 1986, River Bend Station in St. Francisville, La. became the second nuclear power plant to produce electricity in Louisiana. In June 2026, River Bend celebrated 40 years of safe and reliable operation.
River Bend’s output meets approximately 8 percent of Louisiana’s total energy demand.
Serving our community has always been a core commitment at River Bend. Through Entergy funded grants, the station supports STEM education programs, after school development, tourism initiatives and much more across West Feliciana Parish, East Feliciana Parish and East Baton Rouge Parish.
River Bend employees also maintain a strong presence in the community through volunteer efforts and by educating the public about nuclear energy. These outreach activities range from elementary school presentations and university tours to Baton Rouge Earth Day, Girl Scout and Boy Scout Nuclear Science Days and National Nuclear Science Week.
River Bend Station
| Location: | St. Francisville, La. |
| Owner: | Entergy Louisiana, LLC |
| Maximum Dependable Capacity: | 967 MW |
| Reactor Type: | Boiling Water Reactor |
| Reactor Manufacturer: | General Electric |
| Turbine Generator Manufacturer: | General Electric |
| Architect/Engineer: | Stone and Webster |
| Commercial Operation Date: | June 16, 1986 |
| License Expiration Date: | Aug. 29, 2045 |
| Cooling Water Source: | Mechanical draft cooling towers with make-up water from the Mississippi River |
| Number of Employees: | Approximately 748 |
| Parishes included in Emergency Planning Zone: | East Feliciana, West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee’ |
Environmental impact
Generating electricity with nuclear energy prevents the emission of pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) associated with burning fossil fuels.
According to 2019 data, environmental emissions avoided due to nuclear power plant operation in Louisiana included 6,594 short tons of sulfur dioxide, 8,311 short tons of nitrogen oxide and 8.3 million metric tons of CO2.*
Emissions of SO2 lead to the formation of acid rain. NOx is a key precursor of both ground-level ozone and smog. Greenhouse gases like CO2 contribute to global warming.
* Source: Emissions avoided by nuclear power are calculated using regional fossil fuel emissions rates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and plant generation data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.