Kendra James – Entergy We power life. Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:01:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 /wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cropped-FavIcon-32x32.png Kendra James – Entergy 32 32 Entergy Texas volunteers pack 10,000 meals to fight hunger in Southeast Texas /blog/entergy-texas-volunteers-pack-10000-meals-to-fight-hunger-in-southeast-texas Mon, 19 May 2025 22:18:27 +0000 /?p=13498 At Entergy Texas, our commitment to the community goes beyond providing reliable power — we strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve. That’s why our employees recently teamed up withԻ’s “Feed the Funnel” program to help fight food insecurity in Southeast Texas. Together, volunteers packed more than 10,000 meals for local families in need.

“Dozens of people came together for a crazy fun Feed the Funnel party where volunteers packed delicious and healthy meals that will reach neighbors in need through the Montgomery County Food Bank,” said Bret Raymond, CEO of The Pack Shack. “We are grateful for Entergy Texas and their steadfast commitment to #beneighborly in the local communities where they live and work.”

Food insecurity remains a serious issue across the country, with more than 47 million Americans, including one in five children, struggling to access enough food, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By working alongside community partners, Entergy Texas is helping to address this critical need.

“We are incredibly grateful for Entergy Texas and their longstanding partnership with Montgomery County Food Bank,” said Kristine Marlow, president and CEO of The Montgomery County Food Bank. “Their unwavering support not only strengthens our mission to unite the community to fight hunger but also reflects our shared commitment to creating healthier communities. The Feed the Funnel food packing party is a wonderful example of how collaboration can directly impact lives, as the rice and beans packaged during this event will help provide nutritious meals to families facing hunger in our community.”

With more than a century of service in the region, Entergy Texas remains committed to giving back through volunteerism, advocacy, financial support and partnerships that strengthen local communities. Through efforts like the Feed the Funnel event, our employees are helping to build a brighter, more sustainable future for everyone.

To learn more about how Entergy Texas supports the community, visitentergy.com/communities.

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Entergy Texas’ Orange County Advanced Power Station: Progressing to power Southeast Texas /blog/entergy-texas-orange-county-advanced-power-station-progressing-to-power-southeast-texas Thu, 27 Feb 2025 22:52:36 +0000 /?p=13579 An empty, dusty lot in Orange, Texas, has transformed into the foundation of Southeast Texas’ energy future. Numerous yellow cranes and massive industrial-style structures now dominate the landscape—a visible sign of significant progress on Entergy Texas’ Orange County Advanced Power Station. Construction of this state-of-the-art facility, designed to generate 1,215 megawatts of power, is more than 60% complete overall,with construction surpassing 30%. The project remains on track to power more than 230,000 homes by June 2026.

“Since breaking ground in 2023, our dedicated teams have made tremendous progress, completing much of the underground work and shifting focus to above-ground construction,” said John Watts, senior project engineer. “This milestone reflects the incredible work of our teams and partners and includes the safe delivery and installation of equipment critical to the project’s success.”

To bring this massive project to life, construction requires an impressive inventory of materials:

  • Over 1.3 million feet of electrical cables
  • More than 43,000 feet of underground piping
  • Nearly 2,000 tons of steel
  • Over 22,000 cubic yards of concrete

“This facility is a cornerstone of our strategy to modernize our infrastructure and provide reliable and more sustainable power,” said Jim Malain, customer service manager. “Its fuel efficiency will generate more than $1 billion in savings for our customers during its lifetime, making a real difference in the communities we serve.”

OCAPS is more than just a power station—it’s an investment in Southeast Texas. During construction, the project will generate more than 7,000 indirect jobs and, once operational, will support 27 permanent roles.

Beyond economic benefits, the facility reflects Entergy Texas’ commitment to sustainability. By leveraging modern, fuel-efficient technologies, OCAPS will help reduce emissions while providing the reliable power that communities need.

Learn more about Entergy Texas’ vision of an affordable, sustainable, and resilient energy future for Southeast Texas by visitingentergy.com/entergypowerstexas.

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Entergy helps empower women in energy at Congressional Black Caucus Institute meeting in Houston /blog/entergy-helps-empower-women-in-energy-during-cbci-houston-meeting Tue, 05 Dec 2023 21:23:00 +0000 /entergy-helps-empower-women-in-energy-during-cbci-houston-meeting In October, Entergy hosted an “Empowering women in energy” panel during the 2023 fourth quarter meeting in Houston. The CBC Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social welfare organization whose primary mission is to “educate today’s voters and train tomorrow’s leaders,” as well as inform, inspire and ignite its communities into action on issues that affect them the most. The meeting was held in Houston to allow members of Congress and various industry governmental affairs representatives to tour the area and hear from local industries with a focus on the energy industry.

Entergy is a member of the CBC Institute Corporate Advisory Council. As we expand and enhance our profile in the national and federal landscape, relationships with organizations like the CBC Institute are critical to ensuring our ability to share our message with key stakeholders.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (the law enacted from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or IIJA) has created an unprecedented amount of funding opportunities for clean energy and electrical grid resilience projects, such as the $55M grant that Entergy New Orleans was through the Department of ϳԹ’s “Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships” program.

All IIJA/BIL funding opportunities require a in order to comply with the Biden Administration’s , which established a goal that 40% of the benefits of climate and clean energy investments flow to disadvantaged communities.

Because the majority of Entergy’s service territories fall within areas that qualify as disadvantaged communities, or DACs, under the Justice40 definition, and the scoring of the community benefits plan plays a significant role in award decisions, we are uniquely qualified to leverage our longstanding investment in our communities. Letters of support from respected national organizations like the CBC Institute that represent the interests of some of the members of these DACs can also bolster the credibility of our community benefits plans in these highly competitive application processes.

Participating in events held by organizations like the CBC Institute also present unique opportunities for us to share information about our industry-leading innovations and efforts to promote a just clean energy transition, ensure a reliable and resilient bulk electrical system and support the communities we serve.

“Entergy has been an active part of the CBC Institute’s programs since our inception,” said CBC Institute Executive Director Vanessa Griddine-Jones, “They continue to be a valued partner in informing and educating members of Congress and other national stakeholders on key issues in the energy sector.”

Left to right: Louise Duncan, Entergy vice president of power plant operations; Yovanka Daniel, Entergy vice president of customer contact solutions; Elizabeth Adams, Entergy vice president of system planning; Sandra Diggs-Miller, Entergy vice president of external affairs; Kristin Johnson, Entergy vice president of human resources
L to R: Louise Duncan, Yovanka Daniel, Elizabeth Adams, Sandra Diggs-Miller, Kristin Johnson

Kendra James, manager of communications for Entergy Texas, moderated the panel of five female vice presidents from across the company:

  • Elizabeth Adams, vice president of system planning
  • Yovanka Daniels, vice president of customer contact solutions
  • Louise Duncan, vice president of power plant operations
  • Kristin Johnson, vice president of human resources
  • Sandra Diggs-Miller, vice president of external affairs

The discussion focused on the crucial role of women in the energy sector during the clean energy transition. As the world continues to prioritize sustainable and clean energy solutions, ensuring gender diversity and inclusivity is imperative. The clean energy transition presents a unique opportunity to address historical disparities and create a more equitable energy workforce. Entergy has proactively joined forces to foster the advancement of women and minorities within the energy sector.

Panelists shared their experiences, insights, and strategies for promoting diversity, inclusion, and partnerships to advance the efforts. They explored the challenges faced by women professionals, best practices, success stories and practical steps to overcome barriers and create a more supportive environment. The panel also highlighted the collaborative efforts undertaken by the company, through policy and partnerships, to empower and support women professionals in the energy industry, particularly those in disadvantaged communities.

*Pictured at the top — Back row: Alex Washington, Entergy director of federal governmental affairs; Chonya Johnson, chief of staff for Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA); Louise Duncan, Entergy vice president of power plant operations; Sandra Diggs-Miller, Entergy vice president of external affairs; Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV), Congressional Black Caucus chairman, Kendra James, Entergy Texas manager of communications Front row: Yovanka Daniel, Entergy vice president of customer contact solutions; Elizabeth Adams, Entergy vice president of system planning; Kristin Johnson, Entergy vice president of human resources

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