Bolivar Peninsula – Entergy We power life. Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:00:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 /wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cropped-FavIcon-32x32.png Bolivar Peninsula – Entergy 32 32 New substation on Bolivar Peninsula will improve service reliability /news/new-substation-on-bolivar-peninsula-will-improve-service-reliability Fri, 24 May 2024 07:42:00 +0000 /blog-post/new-substation-on-bolivar-peninsula-will-improve-service-reliability/ The Palms substation is expected to be in service in June and will support the growing electrical demand on the peninsula

BOLIVAR PENINSULA, Texas – Bolivar Peninsula residents will soon benefit from a new distribution substation located near Surfside Drive, which is close to the Big Store on Hwy 87 in the Crystal Beach community. Entergy Texas expects to complete construction on its Palms substation in June, which will help improve service reliability and increase the amount of electricity the company is able to provide during high-demand seasons like winter and summer.

“The Palms substation is specifically designed to the latest storm resiliency standards and raised on platforms to better withstand potential storm surge,”¬†said Jim Nicholson, project manager at Entergy Texas.¬†“This enhanced infrastructure will be able to withstand the more severe storms that continue to impact Southeast Texas. If we do encounter storms and the power goes out, the new substation will serve as another source to shorten outage durations and get the lights back on faster for our customers.”

Aerial view of Entergy Texas’ Palms Substation
Aerial view of Entergy Texas’ Palms Substation

Construction of the Palms substation started in June 2023. The completion of the project will serve as a significant milestone for Entergy’s¬†. This $110 million project is a combination of new construction and equipment upgrades aimed to enhance the reliability and resiliency of Entergy Texas infrastructure and support the growing electrical demand in Bolivar communities.

“Our goal is to always keep our customers safe and informed, which is why Entergy Texas has hosted several community meetings, increased signage in the area, and sent direct calls and messages to residents about significant project milestones,” said Michelle Armstrong, customer service manager for the eastern region of Entergy Texas’ service area. “We encourage all customers to¬†log in to their¬†myEntergy¬†account and make sure their contact information is up to date, so they can receive real-time customer updates.”

The Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project is expected to be completed in early 2025. For more information, visit .

]]>
Entergy Texas’ Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project moves to next phase of construction /news/entergy-texas-bolivar-peninsula-reliability-project-moves-next-phase-construction Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:52:00 +0000 /blog-post/entergy-texas-bolivar-peninsula-reliability-project-moves-next-phase-construction/ The next phase of construction includes installing utility poles and lines, building new distribution lines and setting the foundation for new substation sites

BOLIVAR PENINSULA, Texas – Entergy Texas continues to make progress on a $110 million reliability project designed to improve service and double the amount of electricity¬†supply¬†available to serve¬†Bolivar Peninsula customers. The company’s is a combination of new construction and equipment upgrades to help meet the growing electrical demand in the area.

Crews have successfully prepared the land at project sites to make way for two new substations known as Palms and Port Bolivar. The next phase of construction includes installing utility poles, building new distribution lines and setting the proper foundation at the new Palms and Port Bolivar substation sites. The project’s electrical infrastructure is being built to the latest storm resiliency standards, meaning it’s designed to be strong enough to withstand the increased strength and frequency of storms.¬†

”Through the end of the year, Bolivar Peninsula residents can expect to see the foundations completed and chain walls installed to elevate the electrical equipment 20’ in the air for flood mitigation,” said James Nicholson, project manager at Entergy Texas. “After the chain walls are installed, we’ll begin to install electrical equipment, and that work will continue into early 2024.”

Approximately six miles of new underground conductor and 19 miles of new overhead conductor will be connected to the two existing substations, Bluewater and Sandy Shores, and the two new substations, Palms and Port Bolivar. Additional feeds and multiple self-healing networks, which identify and repair outages and performance issues before they happen, will also help support the area’s reliability and expected load growth for the future.

To receive direct messages regarding project milestones, Entergy Texas encourages customers to log in to and ensure their contact information is up to date. 

For more information on the Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project, visit .

]]>
Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project: Foundation work begins for new substations /blog/bolivar-peninsula-reliability-project-foundation-work-begins-for-new-substations Thu, 17 Aug 2023 21:48:00 +0000 /bolivar-peninsula-reliability-project-foundation-work-begins-for-new-substations BOLIVAR PENINSULA, Texas – A $110 million reliability project designed to meet the growing electrical demand and improve service on the Bolivar Peninsula will soon move to the next phase of construction. Entergy Texas’ is a combination of equipment upgrades and new electrical facilities. Existing substations in areas known as High Island, Bluewater, and Sandy Shores will be upgraded, and two new substations known as Palms and Port Bolivar will be constructed to support load growth on the peninsula.

“Our crews have cleared vegetation at the project site, making way for the construction of the Palms and Port Bolivar substations,” said James Nicholson, project manager at Entergy Texas. “The project remains on schedule, and we’ve prepared the foundation to safely execute the next phase of construction.”

The next phase of the project requires pile driving, which is used to create permanent foundations for the substation structures. Pile driving work is set to begin within the next week and will continue on weekdays sometime between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. for up to two months. Landowners near the sites can expect to hear construction-related noises, as pile driving can typically be heard up to one mile away.

“Pile driving is a noisy construction activity, so we appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as our crews work safely to complete this necessary phase of construction,” said Michelle Armstrong, customer service region manager for the eastern part of the Entergy Texas service area. “Customers should also be aware that traffic may be impacted as oversized equipment travels to the construction site.”Ěý

To receive direct messages regarding project milestones, Entergy Texas encourages customers to log in to and ensure their contact information is up to date.Ěý

For more information on the Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project, visit .

About Entergy TexasĚý
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 499,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our 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, visit theĚý.

]]>
Entergy Texas starts construction on Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project /news/entergy-texas-starts-construction-on-bolivar-peninsula-reliability-project Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:45:00 +0000 /blog-post/entergy-texas-starts-construction-on-bolivar-peninsula-reliability-project/ BOLIVAR PENINSULA, Texas – Entergy Texas continues to invest in opportunities to build a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Southeast Texas communities. To meet the growing electric demand on the Bolivar Peninsula and improve service, Entergy Texas developed a $110 million reliability project that is a combination of new construction and equipment upgrades. Construction for the started on Monday, June 27, and is expected to be completed by December 2024.

“Our service area continues to grow, and we are working to meet the growing energy demand to reliably serve our customers,” said James Nicholson, project manager at Entergy Texas. “The Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project will double the load serving capacity to help strengthen the grid and provide resiliency for an area prone to storms.”

Existing substations in areas known as High Island, Bluewater, and Sandy Shores will receive upgrades, and two new substations known as Palms and Port Bolivar will be constructed to support load growth on the peninsula. Approximately six miles of new underground conductor and 19 miles of new overhead conductor will be connected to the two existing substations, Bluewater and Sandy Shores, and the two new substations, Palms and Port Bolivar. Additional feeds and multiple self-healing networks, which identify and repair outages and performance issues before they happen, will also help support the area’s reliability and expected load growth for the future. 

Extreme temperatures are expected to impact the Southeast Texas region for the July 4th holiday weekend, including the Bolivar Peninsula. Entergy Texas crews are monitoring grid conditions and are on standby to address any issues.

“We understand the importance of keeping our customers informed, especially when it relates to this significant project, so we encourage customers to to ensure their contact information is up to date,” said Jim Malain, customer service manager at Entergy Texas. “We appreciate the understanding and patience of our customers as we work to bring these improvements to the Bolivar Peninsula.”

For more information on the Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project, visit . 

About Entergy Texas 
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 499,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our 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, visit the .

]]>
A Ductile Iron Pole is Born /blog/ductile-iron-pole-born Thu, 19 Nov 2015 06:00:00 +0000 /ductile-iron-pole-born Entergy Texas’ engineering department provides custom-tailored solution for developer in coastal community.

The developer of a high-end residential community on Bolivar Peninsula called Seagrass Beach contacted Entergy Texas to request underground electrical service so potential buyers would have the best possible coastline views.

Here’s the rub. Seagrass Beach is located near the Gulf of Mexico in an area susceptible to flooding during a strong storm with a high tide. The community’s location prevented underground service because the transformers could be damaged often; therefore, other options had to be considered to meet the customer’s request.

Entergy Texas’ engineering team found themselves in a situation that required ingenuity and creativity in order to balance the request for “curb appeal” while protecting the company’s equipment from storm surges. The engineering team assigned to this project included: Randy Hickman, Michael Huff, Kevin J. MohrĚýand TJ Ray.

Huff, who helped design the project, determined metal poles would be the best option. He and the engineering team had multiple meetings with the standards department to develop a workable solution. They also decided to first see how other utilities, including CenterPoint şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř and Duke şÚÁĎłÔąĎÍř, construct underground primary in coastal areas. In Galveston, CenterPoint uses an option called ductile iron poles, a technology also employed by Entergy Louisiana.

Ultimately the Entergy design team decided to also go with ductile iron poles, which were installed at Seagrass Beach in October. This is a hybrid option in which all the wires are hidden underground, apart from the risers on the pole. There are not any overhead wires from pole to pole.

“The changes in the poles from other installations are mostly with the jumpers for avian and lighting protection,” Huff said. “Since it is a metal pole set extra deep, it also has a strong chance at surviving a hurricane.”

Not only are they durable, but they’re 100 percent recyclable. The poles are made of 96 percent recycled cars, appliances, and other metals. And, at the end of a pole’s service life, the manufacturer can melt that pole down and produce another pole from the same material.

Although Seagrass Beach is the first time that Entergy Texas has installed ductile iron poles, it may not be the last.

Huff added, “Since the subdivision will be seen when traveling to the beach from Beaumont, we hope developers and customers will be so impressed that this project ushers in new requests.”

Replacing a pole is expensive. But with lifespan of 75 years, ductile iron poles are a smart investment that will reap benefits for generations to come in the Seagrass Beach community.Ěý

]]>