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News Release > Entergy Texas proposes new power plants to support rapid growth in Southeast Texas
Entergy Texas proposes new power plants to support rapid growth in Southeast Texas
06/04/2024
The company filed an application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas for approval to build two natural gas power plants in Liberty and Jefferson counties
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Southeast Texas is experiencing extraordinary economic and population growth, leading to a significant rise in electricity demand and the urgent need for Entergy Texas to add 40% more generation capacity to its power grid in four years. To help address this challenge, Entergy Texas filed an application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas to seek approval of two state-of-the-art natural gas power plants to be named Legend and Lone Star.
“The Legend and Lone Star Power Stations will address the critical need for increased power generation capacity, support increased economic activity throughout the region, and pave the way for sustainable energy solutions that will benefit Southeast Texas for decades to come,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “These future-forward projects are projected to save customers approximately $370 million over the lifespan of the plants.”
The Legend Power Station is a 754-megawatt combined cycle combustion turbine facility that will be located in Port Arthur, Texas. As a commitment to modernizing the way Entergy Texas serves its customers, this project will be carbon capture-enabled and feature a hydrogen-capable combustion turbine. Upon completion, the $1.46 billion investment will produce enough reliable and sustainable energy to power nearly 190,000 homes–adding a significant amount of generation capacity to the Southeast Texas power grid while striving to minimize environmental impacts.
The Lone Star Power Station is a 453-megawatt combustion turbine facility that will be located near Cleveland, Texas. The $735 million investment to further modernize the power grid features a hydrogen-capable combustion turbine. Once operational, Lone Star’s cutting-edge technology will provide enough efficient and affordable energy to power over 110,000 homes.
These proposed 24/7 dispatchable power generation resources are expected to be in service by 2028 and will bring a total of $2.8 billion in economic benefits to the region. Additionally, the construction and operation of these power plants will offer substantial employment opportunities for local communities.
Entergy Texas president & CEO Eliecer Viamontes discusses power plant proposal with Texas Governor Greg Abbott
“As Texas continues to grow, so does our need for more dispatchable, reliable power to help businesses in Southeast Texas and across our great state thrive,” said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “Entergy’s two new power stations will help bolster the electric grid, adding over 1,000 megawatts of generation capacity in four years. I thank Entergy Texas for working to bring $2.8 billion in economic investments to Southeast Texas and provide affordable power to hundreds of thousands of Texans. Together, we will power a bigger, better Texas.”
The Public Utility Commission of Texas will consider approval of these critical power plants in the coming months. Approval of the two projects will increase service reliability for all customers and support large-scale economic activity in the region like Sempra Infrastructure’s Port Arthur LNG project.
“Sempra Infrastructure’s Port Arthur LNG project has the potential to be one of the most significant energy export projects in the world, bringing U.S. energy to global markets and supporting job creation, economic prosperity and wellbeing here at home. This all starts with a resilient and sustainable electricity grid,” said Justin Bird, CEO of Sempra Infrastructure and Executive Vice President at Sempra. “We are pleased to see Entergy Texas progress its initiatives to serve Southeast Texas through additional power generation, and especially through the eventual utilization of low carbon solutions, including carbon capture, hydrogen generation and renewables.”
Entergy Texas’ dispatchable generation application is a critical step forward in the company’s Southeast Texas Energy Plan, also known as STEP Ahead. The strategic six-step plan aims to add an additional 1,600 MW of generation capacity to the power grid by 2028, critical transmission to get power where it’s needed, and grid-hardening projects to help Southeast Texas withstand extreme weather.
Click here to learn more about how Entergy Texas is staying a STEP Ahead of the region’s growing energy needs.
About Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 512,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy Texas, visit the Newsroom and connect with @EntergyTX on social media.
About Sempra Infrastructure
Sempra Infrastructure, headquartered in Houston, is focused on delivering energy for a better world by developing, building, and operating low carbon solutions, energy networks, and LNG infrastructure that are expected to play a crucial role in the energy systems of the future. Through the combined strength of its assets in North America, Sempra Infrastructure is connecting customers across the globe to modern energy infrastructure to source and transport renewables and natural gas, while advancing carbon sequestration and clean hydrogen. For more information about Sempra Infrastructure, please visit www.SempraInfrastructure.com and social media.
