RIGID Constructors, a Louisiana-based, privately held construction company, has begun work on additional phases for the Magnolia Power Generating Station, a $750 million, 700-megawatt electric generation plant in Iberville Parish.
The station is expected to provide electricity to power more than 500,000 homes per year for five rural utility cooperatives across Louisiana beginning in 2025.
RIGID Constructors was contracted for site work and the construction of an access road that will allow the transporting of major pieces of equipment and materials from the power plant at the back of Magnolia Power’s industrial property to River Road. This access road is 32′ wide and 1.3 miles long with drainage ditches on either side of the road and several drainage pipes under the road at specific locations. Asphalt will be added on the access road after most of the construction on the power plant has been completed, expected in June 2024. RIGID is currently performing additional excavation and embankment work. Commercial operations for Magnolia Power are expected to start in May 2025.
“We operate one of the largest fleets of earthmoving equipment in the South,” said Cody Fortier, owner of RIGID Constructors. “Our fleet of earth-moving equipment is specifically designed to work in the soil conditions of the Gulf Coast Region.”
According to Kindle Energy, the Magnolia Power Generating Station will create up to 475 jobs during peak construction. The Louisiana Economic Development expects the project to create 119 new jobs in the Capital Region.
“This investment by Kindle Energy is a win for job creation, emissions reduction, and rural resilience,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards during a groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 13, 2023. Also in attendance were Iberville Parish President Michael Ourso and Kindle Energy CEO Lee Davis.
“Magnolia Power will increase the affordability and sustainability of electricity to some of the state’s most rural communities,” said Edwards. “It also will modernize the state’s public utility infrastructure by employing gas turbine technology that uses natural gas and carbon-free hydrogen rather than carbon-intensive coal as its fuel source.”
“Kindle Energy is excited to bring the Magnolia Power Generating Station to Louisiana to serve the 1803 Electric Cooperative and deliver clean, efficient power across the state,” said Davis. “Magnolia Power represents substantial progress toward the cleaner, more efficient energy mix of the future, and supports Gov. Edwards’ goals to reduce Louisiana’s carbon footprint by 2050.”
Ourso said, “With a strong footprint of success, Kindle Energy’s Magnolia Power Generating facility will no doubt become a strong community partner.”
RIGID Constructors has successfully completed several site work projects in difficult soil conditions by leveraging its civil and marine expertise and equipment. “We are excited to use our experience and knowledge on projects knowing it will help provide jobs and supply power for the surrounding community,” said Cody Fortier, owner of RIGID Constructors.
RIGID Constructors’ team has decades of experience in site work, as well as earthwork and infrastructure. RIGID’s expertise and innovative approach allows them to maximize constructibility by expediting scheduling and increasing cost-effectiveness without compromising the quality of work.
