As an industry leader, Entergy has an opportunity to help develop future generations of the energy workforce by strengthening awareness and promoting the advantages of careers in our field. We are sharpening our focus, elevating different perspectives, and ensuring that everyone with the talent and desire has an opportunity to succeed.

A sustained path forward

We have an established history of working with educational institutions to develop a workforce that not only supports our own needs, but also bolsters the continued economic development of the Gulf South region. We live here. We work here. We raise our families here. What matters to the communities we serve and to our customers, matters to us.

That’s why we’re proud to continue our longstanding support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities with a 10-year, $20 million commitment to elevate and empower the institutions and their students through academic scholarships, facility grants and endowments, workforce development programming, internship experiences, access to resources and financial aid and generational wealth building.

Education creates opportunities for all individuals to realize their full potential, and, to that end, we understand the vital role that HBCUs play. We want to broaden the path to employment for HBCU students by ensuring they have access to resources and experiences, and also by closely collaborating with their educators and administrators to ensure they are equipped with the relevant skills needed for success.

Through this $20 million commitment, we hope to see our partner schools increase student retention, improve graduation rates and expand post-graduation job placement opportunities. For the students, their families and their communities, we look forward to outcomes like increased access to capital, improved household economic stability and better lifetime earning potential.

Building on our past progress

Our commitment to supporting HBCUs creates opportunities through education, career readiness and workforce development. Since 2018, we have invested more than $7.4 million in HBCUs in our service area for facility and curriculum improvements, technology upgrades, mentoring programs, research study collaborations, internship/co-op opportunities and more.

For example, at Southern University, the Entergy Scholars Program provides engineering majors with hands-on skills that prepare them for early career positions. And to close the gap between academia and industry, our Entergy Faculty Extern Program regularly invites STEM educators from regional HBCUs to participate in facility tours and job shadowing, which helps them better prepare their students for careers in energy.

Investing in students, and in our communities, is core to our values, and we know that education alone is not enough. We must also work to close the racial wealth gap. That’s why Entergy launched program in 2023. The program consists of two components: removing barriers to student success through a partnership with Single Stop, a national nonprofit that connects students and their families to resources and funding from local, state and federal sources. The second component of the program consists of a partnership with Stackwell Capital through which we will equip students with the knowledge, tools and resources – including seeded investment accounts – to build generational wealth, which is a foundation for economic stability, access to opportunity and long-term prosperity. By investing more than $700,000 in the pilot program, our shareholders are helping 1,200 HBCU freshmen in New Orleans unlock new opportunities.

Today, with this new $20 million commitment, we are able to expand The Power of Prosperity Program throughout our service area so that HBCU students across Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas will have new doors opened to them through our partnerships with Stackwell Capital and Single Stop.

Through these partnerships, our goal is to help students graduate on time, with minimal debt and equipped with an investment account and the ability to build wealth with intention. By investing in our HBCU students, we are investing in the next generation of leaders who will shape our communities, drive innovation and bring about positive change.

Looking ahead

An educated, skilled and diverse workforce is critical to Entergy’s long-term success, as well as the health and viability of the communities we serve. Empowering the HBCUs in our region is one of the best ways we can contribute to the quality of life in our communities.

Entergy also maintains partnerships with organizations such as the National Urban League, NAACP, the American Association of Blacks in ���ϳԹ���, National Society of Black Engineers and the Center for ���ϳԹ��� Workforce Development, which all work to foster diversity and create inclusive communities.

We also continue to collaborate with local leaders and federal policymakers to ensure that funding opportunities are prioritized and that there’s a regulatory environment conducive to growth. We’ll continue to fight for every dollar of federal funding that we can leverage to benefit our customers and communities.

I’m proud of the progress we’ve made so far, but there is more work to do. Entergy will enthusiastically take on that work to create new opportunities and forge this path forward.

and stay up-to-date with Entergy’s latest HBCU partnerships.

Not only do we serve communities with some of the highest poverty regions in the country — approximately 25% of Entergy’s 3 million residential customers live at or below the poverty line — but our service area includes assets critical to our national economy and energy independence on a global scale. That’s why we are leading the charge, calling on the entire industry to join us in seizing the generational federal funding opportunities created by legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to invest in not only more resilient energy infrastructure, but also more resilient communities.

Recently, Entergy joined other leaders at the 2024 American Association of Blacks in ���ϳԹ��� National Conference to discuss how to move the energy sector forward to a clean and equitable future and share how we have successfully pursued — and are continuing to pursue — generational federal infrastructure funding opportunities to strengthen and modernize our electrical grid while providing vital investments in disadvantaged communities, improve the lives of our customers and power a brighter energy future for all. 

Empowering more resilient communities

The clean energy transition presents a momentous opportunity for the energy industry to improve educational, economic and environmental outcomes in our service areas, and Entergy is setting the standard for how utilities can deliver these benefits equitably across our communities by addressing the roots of poverty through all facets of our business.

Our philanthropic and social responsibility efforts create millions of dollars of economic impact for our service areas each year, but our focus goes beyond just philanthropy, employee volunteerism, and helping our customers access financial assistance – we also provide resources and opportunities to make our communities more resilient by helping to lift families out of poverty through education and career opportunities while ensuring all members of our community have a voice in our energy future.

We are leveraging federal funding opportunities to further invest in a workforce that is prepared to support our region’s growth while also reflecting the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We’re committed to supporting educational outcomes in our communities through mutually beneficial partnerships with high schools, community colleges and universities, and industry trade associations on programs ranging from promoting interest in energy and STEM fields to technical training programs that produce graduates aligned with our future staffing needs.

We also partner with several organizations to provide scholarships for minority students pursuing higher education and vocational training, and we’ve revamped our entire approach to supporting , contributing more than $3.8 million since 2018 for facility and curriculum improvements, technology, scholarships, internship and mentoring programs and initiatives to support generational wealth building.

As we’re helping to build the energy workforce of the future, we’re also prioritizing the success and development of today’s workforce through a robust workforce development program that engages historically marginalized populations in the energy industry through skills-based training, inclusive recruiting efforts, and employee retention and development programs. And we are upskilling fossil fuel workers to help them move into new clean energy jobs and transition their communities to a new, sustainable economic base with dignity.

We manage a spend portfolio of $5-$7 billion, which we use as yet another tool to foster equitable economic development in our service areas. Our supply chain and procurement program includes an emphasis on working with safe, qualified and competitive diverse and local suppliers that goes beyond transactions to coaching and mentorship to help them build relationships and understand how to capitalize on business opportunities to achieve their goals.

Building more resilient, sustainable infrastructure

While working to strengthen the economic foundations of our service areas, we are also fiercely committed to safeguarding customer affordability without compromising reliability or service. We are making strategic investments to modernize the electrical grid and make it more efficient and better able to withstand severe storms. We are proposing a $15 billion long-term plan to help reduce restoration costs and disruption risks from major storms, which could lower Gulf Coast region risk by 55%. By investing in power grid resilience today, we’re strengthening our energy infrastructure to protect against tomorrow’s stronger storms, reducing the cost of power restoration and minimizing outages.

As we spearhead grid resilience efforts in the industry, we also recognize the importance of ensuring our communities have access to clean, sustainable energy. At Entergy, this includes setting ambitious decarbonization targets, including a pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We are continuing to transition our generation fleet to low- to zero-carbon power to minimize the impact of the high level of anticipated industrial growth in our region and to help our customers meet their own sustainability goals.

Across all efforts, we are fighting for every dollar of federal and state funding available to allow us to accelerate these projects while keeping the cost to customers as low as possible. At the same time, we’re working closely with local stakeholders as we develop projects and application to ensure our projects’ community benefits plans are truly responsive to their needs. For funding opportunities beyond what we’re eligible for as a utility, we’re also partnering on state and regional projects and providing community organizations like HBCUs with letters of support for their applications and helping them navigate the complicated federal funding process.

The entire energy industry has a role to play in modernizing our energy infrastructure, and we have an obligation to ensure we are driving positive change for not only our industry, but for our communities and the entire nation. Entergy remains committed to powering more than just life — we are powering a brighter future for everyone.

Learn more about Entergy’s progress in our latest performance report.

Utility leader Entergy, a sponsor of the POLITICO ���ϳԹ��� Summit, has been working to secure an energy future that balances customer affordability, reliability and sustainability. However, company leaders know it will take a firm resolve and unwavering commitment. Entergy operates in and around the Gulf Coast, a critical region to U.S. energy independence, and provides power for three million customers, a quarter of whom live at or below the poverty line.

The company is making thoughtful investments in strengthening the power grid that will increase resilience and expand clean energy generation, while furthering their goal — and policymakers’ goals — toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero.

Guest column originally published June 5, 2024, in the vol. 18, no. 45 issue of .

The foundation of our resilience plan, which was originally filed with the LPSC over 16 months ago, lies in a proactive approach to grid modernization, guided by data-driven insights and a commitment to delivering maximum value to our customers. Beyond mitigating storm-related disruptions, our vision encompasses broader benefits, including enhanced everyday reliability of electric service and streamlined operational efficiencies.

Our resilience plan is a proactive approach that will help bring more of our electric infrastructure up to higher standards, keep pace with Mother Nature and protect what matters most — customers, homes and businesses within the communities we serve. Although we have been building resilience into our power grid for years, we must accelerate those efforts now in light of the reality that storms are becoming more frequent and severe.

By strategically investing in grid hardening projects, we anticipate significant cost savings for customers over the long term. These savings extend beyond storm restoration expenses by minimizing economic disruptions and helping businesses and residents get back on their feet sooner.

Phase one of our resilience plan includes a diverse portfolio of projects, ranging from transmission line enhancements to distribution system upgrades.

Addressing concerns about affordability, we recognize the importance of balancing resilience with cost-effectiveness. While initial investments may result in modest bill adjustments, starting at 57 cents per month for a typical residential customer, the long-term benefits — both in terms of cost savings and enhanced quality of life — far outweigh the associated costs.

Entergy Louisiana’s resilience plan represents more than just infrastructure upgrades — it’s a testament to our unwavering dedication to the communities we serve.

PHILLIP MAY

president and CEO, Entergy Louisiana

Guest column originally published in the April 29, 2024, edition of .

Statewide online applications are limited within our service areas spanning Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Consequently, applying often requires traveling to community action agencies, which leaves many people in need yearning for faster and less burdensome financial assistance options.

The pandemic exacerbated these frictions, introduced health and safety concerns and widened the scope of LIHEAP-eligible households due to unemployment and rising need. We quickly recognized that the status quo was no longer acceptable. The LIHEAP application process was primed for improvement.

Our digital LIHEAP application tool

Our service areas encompass some of the country’s largest pockets of poverty. This stark reality drives us to do more for our customers. To ease the burden, and in collaboration with external partners, we assembled a multi-disciplinary task force to explore solutions to connect customers to LIHEAP and simplify the application process.

Through this effort, our digital was born. The user-friendly platform empowers our customers to apply at from anywhere, on any device – thus no longer requiring their physical presence at community action agencies. The platform also offers community action agency-specific modules that simplify caseworkers’ application reviews and determinations.

Using a phased innovation approach, we first launched a limited pilot at one community action agency with 15 customers in Arkansas. Using what we learned, we have continuously built, measured and enhanced the application tool to better meet customer and caseworker needs. The platform is now operational at five Arkansas community action agencies. It has helped thousands of low-income Arkansas households with accessing federal funds to cover their energy bills. 

We have also leveraged the technology to solve other customer needs. In the summer of 2022, soaring natural gas prices, peak inflation rates, extreme weather events, record temperatures and mounting energy usage plagued the U.S. power and utilities sector – producing some of the highest electric bills our nation has ever seen. As a result, thousands of Entergy-powered households faced financial strain. In a matter of weeks, we adapted the digital LIHEAP application platform to help administer a novel direct bill payment assistance program to low- to moderate-income customers, including those who do not qualify for programs like LIHEAP.

We are continuously exploring new opportunities to help our customers thrive. To learn more about how we’re innovating to make customers more successful, visit .

This content was originally published on .

The following is an excerpt from the utility spotlight feature on Entergy in the May 2023 issue of , written by Sonal Patel:

Echoing the geneses of most utilities in the U.S., Entergy’s founding began with ambition. On Nov. 13, 1913, a 36-year-old entrepreneur, Harvey Couch, established Arkansas Power and Light (AP&L) with a vision to build an interconnected utility network that could bring affordable and reliable power to the Middle South. In sharp contrast with the founders of other utility giants, however, Couch’s intent was shaped by extraordinarily humble beginnings. “It’s a classic Horatio Alger story that sounds too good to be true: poorly educated farm-boy-turned-mail-clerk strikes out to start an innovative company in a fledgling industry and ends up becoming one of the most influential men of his time,” notes corporate historian Heidi Tyline King in the 2013-published commemorative history book We Power Life: Entergy’s First Century. But “that’s exactly what Harvey Couch did,” she writes.

Couch’s beginnings were bleak. One of six children, he grew up working on a 130-acre farm in Calhoun, Arkansas, a rural town stricken by severe poverty, subsisting on what his family raised, and attending school only long enough to learn the basics of reading and writing. At age 17, when the farm failed, his family moved to Magnolia, Arkansas, and though Couch briefly re-enrolled in school, he quit for good to support his family through a series of odd jobs.

But Couch’s ambitions, driven by curiosity, began to take seed when he saw construction workers raising poles for telephone wires. At age 27, armed with a “slow-talking style” and a reputation for honesty and hard work, he used savings of $156 to sell coupon books to customers for telephone service, King writes. Using mules and a crew, he established a telephone connection between Bienville and McNeil, Arkansas. Seven years later, that enterprise had expanded into 1,500 miles. In 1911, he sold it to Southwestern Bell for more than $1 million in profit. He then invested the earnings in two failed electric power franchises with intent to establish an interconnected utility network. Under his newly founded venture, Arkansas Power and Light Co., his first deal was to purchase steam from a sawdust-powered boiler from Arkansas Land and Lumber Co., a lumber yard owned by H. H. Foster.

Over more than a week, Entergy Mississippi and our customers experienced an unprecedented series of severe storms, tornados and unusually high winds that caused the largest outage in our service area since Hurricane Katrina. This event saw scores of fast-moving storm cells with 80+ mph winds cutting a widespread path through our entire service area.  This treacherous weather also came day-after-day, sometimes through the same areas repeatedly. The damage was so extensive that our power grid lost half as many poles, wires and transformers in one week as we lost from all storms in 2020, which was one of our worst storm years in recent history with four hurricanes and two tropical storms.

This created a worst-case scenario for power restoration, and it was a heavy lift. Our crews were forced to restore in an incredibly large area, stop work in mid-restoration as new storms kept re-appearing, and sometimes restore the same lines again after new storms caused new damage. It was almost a week before crews could work in a day with no new storm cells creating new damage. Making matters worse, securing additional crews from neighboring states was initially difficult because those states saw similar extensive damage.

Nevertheless, our 2,300-strong workforce from Mississippi and six other states did incredible work. All told, these heroes restored power to nearly a quarter of a million customers – half of our entire customer base – since June 10. They replaced or repaired over 600 poles and 121 miles of power lines in a matter of days – the distance from Jackson to Grenada! And they did it not in a straight line but winding through neighborhoods and rural areas in 34 of our 45 counties from the Tennessee to the Louisiana borders. I truly wish all our customers could have gotten a firsthand look at the great work our people and our partners did in getting their power on as quickly and safely as possible.

We know those customers who had their power out for several days were frustrated – and we were, too.  I can assure our customers that when the power goes out NOBODY wants it to come on faster than the men and women of our company. We know how much our customers depend on the electricity we provide, and that’s because we are customers, too. Over the last week Entergy Mississippi employees have been without power themselves or had elderly parents, children, loved ones, friends or neighbors who were without power in the middle of a hot, humid June. That is why we take our responsibility personally and work so hard during these weather events.

Given the level of destruction to our facilities and the weather conditions, Entergy Mississippi’s response was good. However, we always want to work hard to try to make it perfect next time. That is why after every outage we evaluate our work to see where we can improve for customers. We know customers were frustrated by receiving less communication from us than they have become accustomed to, and we will be taking a hard look at the performance of our systems that provide that critical information. While those tools do not restore power, I know firsthand how important they are to customers as they make decisions for their families.

Despite their frustration and discomfort during the outage and restoration process, I was touched by the stories from our crews who told me about customers with no lights or air-conditioning who took the time to thank and encourage them while they worked. On behalf of all the employees of Entergy Mississippi, I want to express our thanks to our customers for their patience during this difficult weather event and challenging restoration.

And, I want customers to know that regardless of the severity of future storms that sweep through our state, the men and women of Entergy Mississippi will always do what it takes to keep powering your lives.

Kimberly Cook-Nelson recently sat down for an ‘s Jack Criss to discuss the benefits of nuclear power and her journey to become one of only three female chief nuclear officers in the country. 

Cook-Nelson was named Executive Vice President of Nuclear Operations and Chief Nuclear Officer of Entergy in November of 2022, where she is responsible for the safe, secure and reliable operations of Entergy’s four nuclear power plants and five reactors located in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Entergy Nuclear is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. 

As a member of the company’s office of the chief executive, Cook-Nelson is also engaged in building and strengthening relationships with external stakeholders. Prior to her current role, she served as chief operating officer, nuclear operations from 2021 to 2022 with responsibility for Arkansas Nuclear One, River Bend and Palisades nuclear generating stations. She served as Entergy’s vice president, system planning and operations from 2019 to 2021, where she was responsible for the local balance authority, energy marketing, commercial operations/origination, energy settlements, non-nuclear fuel purchasing and scheduling, long-term capacity planning and more.

In 2016, Cook-Nelson—a Massachusetts native—moved to the Entergy Nuclear headquarters office as vice president, operations support, where she was accountable for the line corporate functional area managers, training, performance improvement, organizational effectiveness, and business planning. She previously held various leadership positions of increasing responsibility in system engineering, continuous improvement, maintenance, nuclear safety assurance and operations. She was the general manager of plant operations at Waterford 3 from 2011 to 2014. She also completed a rotational assignment at the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, where she qualified and functioned as an organizational effectiveness team leader and a corporate evaluator. Cook-Nelson began her career in 1996 as a design engineer at Entergy’s Waterford 3 nuclear plant in Killona, La., later moving to the nuclear safety analysis group where she focused on work in probabilistic risk assessment and risk-informed applications. She moved into plant leadership in 2001 as a mechanical maintenance first-line supervisor, followed by operations, receiving her senior reactor operator license in 2003.

She has an MBA, a master’s degree in engineering management and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Orleans. She also attended the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School. She is a licensed professional engineer and received her senior reactor operator license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for Waterford 3. 

DBJ: Congratulations on your new job and promotion! You’ve spent your entire career with Entergy, moving up to the top nuclear position as one of only three female chief nuclear officers in the country. Tell me about those years.

I’ve worked with Entergy for twenty-seven years and was in the nuclear realm for all of those years but two. So, given that, I knew I was on the trajectory to my new position and, honestly, I am so happy to be at this pinnacle of my career. I’m thrilled to work with the people I do and am thrilled to be in my new role. As a female executive, I’ve been in a male-dominated field and, while I’ve never been treated differently, it’s a pleasure to be seen as a role model and inspiration to young women. We’re “always learning,” as we put it here at Entergy.

DBJ: What is your day-to-day focus now?

My focus is on our people and our long-range strategy. We want to empower our employees—everybody. My goal is for all of us to be better people physically and spiritually, with a strong purpose with the company and the communities we serve. Fulfillment is the key. I interact with people a lot, on a regular basis, and I love doing that.

DBJ: Have you discovered or learned anything new in your current role?

I am learning more about what our people on the ground are doing on a daily basis and how the nuclear unit can help them. It may sound simple, but it’s the truth. Going forward, I think nuclear power is an exciting option and I am constantly meeting with people in politics and business about potential options. My challenge is to present the case for nuclear in the most positive, pro-economy way I can. And I’m up for that! 

DBJ: So what are the economic benefits of the nuclear program? 

Nuclear fuel is less expensive, for one thing, and we are able through nuclear to weather any possible disruptions to service. Additionally, we are providing well-paying jobs to thousands of Mississippi residents and residents in the other states where we have plants, and we are also committed to giving back to the communities we serve. That commitment is well-documented, and we are happy to help those in our service areas. As am I: my father was employed in the nuclear energy industry and I actually did a sixth-grade project on the benefits of nuclear so you could say it’s in my DNA!

There’s another significant economic and environmental benefit that nuclear offers: it’s clean, carbon-free energy that is extremely important to helping Entergy meet its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Lowering our carbon emissions can’t be achieved through renewables alone, although those are important, too. Increasingly, industries are committing to reducing their carbon footprint, and when they look to relocate or expand, it’s one of the first questions they ask:  how clean is the energy you provide? It’s become an economic recruiting tool.

DBJ: Given the possible misconception by the public about the safety and reliability of nuclear energy, how do you assuage those misgivings or fears?

Our safety requirements are incredibly stringent and the record shows that nuclear power is very safe. There was a Forbes article a few years back that noted that the safest job in America is in the commercial nuclear industry because it’s easy to measure and guard against radiation and because the extreme safety protocols at nuclear plants are the best in the world. What we have in place is very rigorous concerning safety, and we also work very closely with local political officials on training and response in the extremely rare case/event that some problem could occur. We are totally prepared. However, that is a preemptive measure. The benefits of the 24/7 carbon-free energy that nuclear can provide far outweighs any perceived negative perceptions. 

Last week, I toured parts of the Entergy Mississippi service area that were devastated by the recent tornado outbreak, including Rolling Fork, Silver City and Winona. It was destruction that I have never seen in my time at Entergy or in my personal life as a Mississippian. It was an emotional day as I also met with families who have been left homeless, community leaders who are faced with the overwhelming task of rebuilding, and survivors who told heartbreaking stories of loved ones lost forever.

I was grateful to witness the effort of our heroic crews who have been working tirelessly to restore power to the community’s homes and businesses as quickly and safely as possible. One of the residents I spoke to was an Entergy employee who lost his parents in the storm and was combing through their destroyed home looking for belongings. He reminded me of the resiliency of our people, no matter the environment.

Amid the destruction, the humble strength and positive outlook of these remarkable Mississippians and their determination to remake their world lifted my spirit. To help them at the beginning of this hard road to recovery, Entergy shareholders have made a to support their relief efforts in Mississippi. In addition, Entergy employees are making personal contributions that our company will be matching. We want our customers to know our slogan — “We Power Life” — is about more than providing electricity. After the cameras leave and the focus moves to the next event, we are still a long-term partner to the communities we serve.

Entergy Mississippi marks its 100^th anniversary this month, and we have certainly seen our share of natural disasters. But in every aftermath, we’ve also seen Mississippi share what they have with those who need it most. It’s why we’re hopeful for the Mississippi Delta’s future and prepared to serve them in more ways than one.

At Entergy Mississippi we think a lot about the future. Why? Because we are not only tasked by the State of Mississippi with providing you power today, but also with having plans in place to ensure you have safe, reliable and affordable power years from now.

Much like turning a large ship at sea, the massive and complex grid infrastructure required to provide you with 24/7 power cannot be turned quickly. So we watch for changes on the horizon to get ready for what’s ahead. A power plant being constructed today is designed to meet customer power needs a decade from now. It takes years of coordination and planning by thousands of people any time we make major enhancements to the grid.

That is why we are planning in 2023 for things we think will impact our customers in 2033. Two of those are: how will we serve the needs of today’s growing electric vehicle market; and how will we diversify our power generation for a future of potentially more volatile natural gas prices in a global economy?

Regardless of what your personal vehicle preference may be right now, most major auto companies have publicly stated their plans to offer more electric vehicles in the future. Some predict that by 2030, as much as half the U.S. car market will be electric vehicles. At Entergy, we must start planning for car charging infrastructure today. If we wait, Mississippians will not be able to consider half of the new vehicles in the future car market because they will only be able to charge those vehicles at home. Furthermore, if Mississippi remains a car charging “desert,” out-of-state EV owners will be unwilling to risk making visits through our state – depriving Mississippians of tourism dollars.

To learn what kind of impact widespread use of public and home charging systems will have on the power grid, Entergy Mississippi has filed a state plan to pilot a handful of charging station sites in Mississippi now – in January 2023. We hope to learn how different charging station models, frequency, time-of-day and locations might impact the grid. When the day comes for privately-owned, commercial charging stations at gas stations, shopping centers, city downtowns and other convenient places for Mississippi consumers, Entergy Mississippi will be ready to serve them reliably and cost-effectively.

We are also looking at where affordable power will come from in the future. Entergy Mississippi has long had a diverse, “all of the above” approach to generating power. Like most utilities, we have historically relied on a fleet of natural gas and coal-fired plants to generate the bulk of our electricity. Our customers have also benefitted from the low cost, zero-emission nuclear power generated at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson.

However, worldwide inflation and international conflicts doubled natural gas prices over the last year and more volatility is expected. Also, recent environmental regulations and transportation disruptions have made burning coal for electric generation unsustainable. These developments have prompted utilities to further explore renewable energy to fill the void in coming years.

With a generation portfolio that is more than 60% natural gas, customer bills rising as a result and few other diversification options available today, Entergy Mississippi has turned to large solar projects as a way to keep costs down for customers – last year. The company will add about 500 megawatts of solar power to its portfolio by 2026 and plans to add another 500 megawatts by 2027. While we recognize that solar energy is not a 24/7 power source, it can complement our existing generation sources and help keep bills affordable.

There is also an ancillary benefit to this renewable energy diversification: economic development. Many large corporations now require a certain amount of the power serving their facilities to be emission-free. When our state is recruiting large, job-creating economic development projects to Mississippi, officials can now tell these companies that emission-free nuclear and solar power are both available in Entergy-served areas – giving Mississippi another advantage in creating new jobs in the future.

Whether it’s preparing for a coming storm next week or anticipating the impact of a new technology next decade, Entergy’s 2,500 utility and nuclear employees in Mississippi are always looking ahead. All of us wish you and your family a happy and healthy 2023, and a bright future beyond.