Simmons actively volunteers with Special Olympics, participates in school backpack programs, organizes food drives, and is engaged with the Angel Tree Program. Each of these experiences reflects his commitment to improving the lives of others and nurturing a sense of community.

“Working for Entergy has opened new avenues for volunteering and has introduced me to programs I wasn’t aware of,” said Simmons. “I appreciate the company’s encouragement to volunteer and take part in these activities.”

From an early age, Simmons was surrounded by the values of community involvement and making a difference. Growing up in a family that prioritized volunteering, he continues that commitment with his own children, instilling the same principles of community and kindness. As a Freemason, Simmons adheres to the core principles which align with his passion for volunteerism and service, making helping others a joyful part of his life.

One of Simmons’ most memorable volunteer experiences was assisting at a local nursing home during a fishing derby. One of the women he was helping had never been fishing. When she caught her first fish, her excitement and joy was overwhelming, and Simmons was glad that making those memories briefly took her mind away from her ailments.

Learn more about Entergy’s commitment to volunteer service.

JACKSON, Miss. – Entergy Mississippi is prioritizing community needs, while preparing to meet future energy demands. Company leaders shared early plans to build new power generation and welcomed input from residents near a selected site on West County Line Road in Ridgeland, during a town hall Friday.����

Initial insights include the millions in cost-saving benefits for all customers, since the location is near robust transmission lines, supporting grid interconnection. Additionally, investment in new technology, like an advanced combined-cycle combustion turbine natural gas plant, would produce more power from the same fuel and lower costs. ����

The new power station would also benefit the community and surrounding region by bringing in temporary construction jobs and full-time positions.��

“Planned power generation retirements and growth across our service area is driving us to think ahead, so we can continue serving reliable, efficient and affordable power to our customers. While it’s very early in the process, we’re connecting with the community. Our goal is to ensure the project considers their needs, including integrating the facility into the surrounding area with the goal of minimizing visual impact,” said Robbie Kemp, vice president of customer service.��

“We understand that residents have concerns, and the safety of our communities and employees has always been our leading value. ����’s why our local power generation fleet meets or exceeds the EPA and MDEQ health requirements and abide by noise ordinances. This new site will be no different,” said Jeremy Vanderloo, vice president of business operations.��

In October, the company broke ground on a similar plant to the one proposed, in Greenville, Mississippi. The����will be a 754-megawatt facility; represents a $1.2 billion investment; and will employ about 21 full-time personnel once it comes online.��

Representatives from the company will use input from Friday’s town hall to inform the developing power station plans.��

About Entergy Mississippi��

Entergy Mississippi provides electricity to approximately 459,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���. Entergy produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We’re also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at����and connect with��@EntergyMS��on social media.

Meeting the demands of historic electricity usage during arctic blast

Entergy customers used more electricity during the January winter storm than ever before in cold-weather months, surpassing the peak winter usage recorded in the storms of January 2024. Entergy Arkansas, Louisiana, New Orleans and Texas service areas all recorded new high peak usage records, while Entergy Mississippi neared its record of peak usage.

As cold weather drove increased energy usage, Entergy closely monitored our equipment and weather conditions, taking appropriate steps to ensure reliable delivery of power to our customers. This included working closely with MISO, the electric grid operator for the central United States, to monitor grid conditions and prepare generators accordingly. Despite the record-breaking power usage,��Entergy’s fleet maintained production margins and provided enough generation to meet the energy load throughout the storm.

Storm ready: responding to winter weather events

While the January weather event did cause localized outages, crews quickly and safely restored power to just over 13,000 customers who lost service across Entergy’s service territory throughout the three day-event while navigating freezing temperatures, icy roads and hazardous working conditions.

The winter storm most heavily impacted Louisiana, bringing unique challenges like downed tree limbs and the strain of cold-load pickup, an increase in energy demand as power is restored to areas impacted by extreme cold. Despite these challenges, the company’s systems and teams proved resilient, minimizing the impact on customers across the state. Just two weeks prior, Entergy Arkansas swiftly restored power to its customers during a����with snow accumulations of nearly 15 inches in some areas and more than a quarter-inch of ice in others according to the National Weather Service.

Entergy stays storm ready with extensive��winter weather readiness measures��and remains prepared to respond to the next weather event.

Resources for customers

Customers can learn more about��bill management and assistance options following winter weather.

Whether customers have questions about their bill, need more time to pay or are looking for assistance, our one-stop shop connects them to available programs and services at��

Located near Russellville, ANO is home to two pressurized water reactors. Unit 1 began operations on Dec. 19, 1974, followed by Unit 2 on March 26, 1980. Together, these units provide low-cost energy to more than 730,000 Entergy Arkansas customers. ANO exemplifies Entergy’s mission of delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable power to the communities it serves with approximately 70% of the power delivered to Arkansas coming from nuclear power.

“Marking the 50th anniversary of ANO is a celebration of its enduring contribution to our state’s progress,” said Entergy Arkansas President and CEO Laura Landreaux. “As we look to the future, its role will be even more critical in powering innovation, attracting investments in our state and ensuring a sustainable energy future. Together, we’re not just meeting today’s energy needs, we’re building the foundation for tomorrow’s opportunities.”

With more than 1,800 MW of capacity, ANO alone can provide enough energy for nearly one million households, making it the backbone of an Entergy Arkansas generation fleet that is vast, varied and growing to meet the needs of customers.

“Celebrating our 50th anniversary is a proud moment for everyone here at ANO and our local community,” said Doug Pehrson, site vice president. “Even though we are recognizing this milestone, each year Entergy invests heavily into our facility to ensure we continue powering people’s lives with clean electricity.”

Economic and Community Contributions:

ANO’s contributions go far beyond electricity. The station employs more than 1,000 full-time workers and hundreds of additional contractors, making it one of the River Valley’s top employers. These employees, supported by an annual payroll of about $84 million, play an integral role in the region’s economy.

ANO also generates significant economic benefits during refueling and maintenance outages, bringing an influx of approximately 1,000 additional workers to the area and boosting local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and gas stations. With roughly $12 million annually spent on materials, services and fuel sourced from more than 175 Arkansas companies, the plant’s financial impact is extensive. In fact, ANO contributes over $190 million annually to Arkansas’s Gross State Product as well as generating over $21 million annually in state and local tax revenues.

Environmental Leadership:

As a nuclear facility, ANO provides clean power, helping reduce the carbon footprint in Arkansas. By preventing the release of greenhouse gases and air pollutants associated with fossil fuel generation, the plant plays a critical role in improving air quality and providing 76% of the clean energy produced in the state.

Commitment to the Community:

ANO employees are dedicated members of the community, donating their time, talents and financial resources to make a difference in the River Valley. Each year, grants totaling more than $100,000 are awarded to local nonprofits and ANO employees partner with Entergy to contribute more than $230,000 to the River Valley United Way. Volunteerism is also a cornerstone of ANO’s culture, with employees supporting programs such as Summer Food for Kids, the Angel Tree program and numerous Arkansas Nuclear One (ANO), the state’s only operational nuclear power plant, proudly celebrates 50 years of commercial operation this December. Since Unit 1 began generating reliable electricity in 1974, ANO team members have delivered safe, clean and reliable energy to Arkansas, powering communities and businesses while making a positive environmental and economic impact in the Arkansas River Valley.educational initiatives with local students and schools.

About Entergy Arkansas

Entergy Arkansas, LLC provides electricity to approximately 730,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, 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 Arkansas, visit the����and connect with��@EntergyArk��on social media.

About Arkansas Nuclear One

Arkansas Nuclear One, located in Russellville, Arkansas, is owned and operated by Entergy Arkansas, a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���. The site includes two pressurized water reactors with a combined capacity of more than 1,800 megawatts. For 50 years, ANO has been a leader in providing safe, emission-free energy and serving as a pillar of the Arkansas River Valley community. For the latest news from Entergy Nuclear visit the Newsroom and connect with @EntergyNuclear on social media.

A groundbreaking ceremony for Entergy Mississippi’s newly announced Delta Blues Advanced Power Station was held recently in Greenville, along with recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Gerald Andrus Steam Electric Station. Gerald Andrus will be retired when the new plant comes online in 2028.

Our power generation portfolio

At Entergy, more than half of the energy we supply comes from efficient natural gas-powered generation and clean nuclear energy. This strategic mix enables us to provide reliable electricity while minimizing environmental impact. Our generation fleet includes a range of sources such as natural gas, nuclear, coal, oil, hydroelectric, in addition to renewable energy resources.

With approximately 24,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale generation fleets in the country. We have a fleet of 28 active natural gas, oil, hydroelectric, and coal generating facilities with a combined capacity of nearly 19,000 megawatts.

Our nuclear fleet produces approximately 5,000 megawatts of nuclear capacity. This carbon-free power source is critical in meeting our climate goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Furthermore, we have approximately 8,600 megawatts of renewable energy projects that are either operational or in approval status awaiting construction.

With a focus on clean energy, Entergy has achieved an impressive milestone with our carbon dioxide emissions 40% below the national average. This accomplishment highlights our dedication to not only meeting but exceeding environmental industry standards.

Local clean energy initiatives

Reflecting our commitment to a sustainable energy future, Entergy New Orleans current portfolio includes approximately 100 MW of renewable energy. Our New Orleans Solar Station, which provides 20 MW of large-scale local renewable generation, exemplifies our efforts to harness solar power and to reducing our carbon footprint. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy that ensures our power generation portfolio continues to meet the growing demand for clean energy.

We believe that our sustainability initiatives should not come at the expense of affordability. This commitment ensures that as we invest in cleaner technologies, we also keep energy costs manageable for our customers. Our dedication to providing affordable services is evident in our competitive electric rates, which are 10% below the national average.

“As a part of Entergy’s power generation team, we understand our responsibility in confronting environmental issues,” said Keith Wood, director of resource planning and market operations at Entergy New Orleans. “Our dedication to sustainability drives us to explore cleaner energy sources and to utilize innovative technology that reduces our carbon output and costs for our customers.”

Entergy New Orleans takes pride in our proactive approach to community engagement and environmental stewardship. Since the establishment of the New Orleans City Council’s clean energy targets, we have consistently met the benchmarks each year. This demonstrates our dedication to supporting local initiatives and underpins our role as a leader in the clean energy landscape.

“At Entergy New Orleans, we understand the critical role we play in addressing the challenge of climate change,” said Deanna Rodriguez, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans. “Our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint is at the core of everything we do. By investing in clean energy alternatives, we are not only meeting the energy needs of today, but also ensuring a cleaner, healthier future.”

As we look to the future, we remain committed to leading the charge in clean energy generation. Our focus on addressing climate issues has placed us among the cleanest generation fleets in the country. Through our investments in renewable resources and innovative technologies, we will continue to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to the communities we serve.

Learn more about Entergy’s power generation fleet¬†here.

About Entergy New Orleans

Entergy New Orleans, LLC provides electricity to approximately 208,000 customers and natural gas to approximately 109,000 customers in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, 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 New Orleans, visit the and connect with @EntergyNOLA on social media.

Entergy Arkansas submitted grant applications for the two projects through the DOE’s Grid Deployment Office grant program. The program pays for 30% of the costs of capital improvement projects with the goals of maintaining and enhancing existing hydroelectric facilities. The projects will help ensure Entergy Arkansas can continue generating clean electricity at the dams for years to come.

“Hydroelectricity is the largest supplier of renewable energy in power generation, and many of the assets across the industry are aging facilities,” said Braxton Bennett, senior plant manager for Entergy Arkansas. “Investing in the Remmel and Carpenter dams provides multiple benefits for Entergy and our customers. As safety is a top priority, these capital investments allow us to increase the reliability of our equipment used for generation and lake level control to ensure the public remains safe from the threats of flood conditions and allows for the continuous recreational use of Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine. They also allow for operations personnel to respond to grid conditions in a more agile manner with updated technology.”

The Carpenter-Remmel Grid Resiliency Project was awarded $978,138 to upgrade the control valves in both the Carpenter and Remmel facilities, upgrade and replace the Carpenter Dam’s programmable logic controller human machine interface system with an advanced control technology, and to collocate the Carpenter and Remmel facilities control system to an offsite location. Benefits of the project include the ability to start/stop the turbine units remotely, with little to no ramp up time, which will increase Carpenter-Remmel’s available power generation.

The Remmel Dam Safety Project was also awarded $1,877,216 to proactively improve safety at the Remmel Dam facility, including some concrete repair on the dam gate decks and installing a new remotely operated gate hoist. Being able to remotely operate the gate improves the operator’s ability to safely maintain water levels, adjust to changing river flows, and intervene during a major storm event — all of which help ensure the safe operation of the dam even in extreme weather conditions. This year marks the 100^th anniversary of Remmel Dam providing safe, reliable power to customers.

Funding for the projects comes from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is part of the first round of grants awarded to nearly three hundred hydroelectric improvement projects. Work on both projects is expected to begin later this year and expected to be complete within three years. ��

These grants from the DOE are part of Entergy’s larger strategy to pursue state federal and state funding opportunity available to Entergy and our partners to support maintaining and improving the electrical infrastructure in our service areas.

“Receiving funding for large infrastructure projects helps reduce costs for customers,” said Laura Landreaux, president and CEO of Entergy Arkansas. “This also allows Entergy to redeploy our capital dollars toward more projects across Entergy Arkansas so we can keep our electrical grid resilient and safe while providing additional value to our customers.”

Entergy Arkansas also has a grant application under consideration with DOE for funding for resilience and hardening projects through their competitive — in 2023, another Entergy operating company, Entergy New Orleans, was awarded $55 million in matching federal funds through the GRIP grant program. Entergy Arkansas is also awaiting the results of three applications to the program, which was funded through the BIL’s 40101(d) state . Both programs are expected to announce awardees this fall.

Our efforts to ensure that our communities receive a fair share of federal funding don’t stop with the programs for which Entergy is eligible as the direct recipient — we also work with external stakeholders to help them access funding opportunities beyond Entergy’s scope, such as the DOE’s for state governments and����program for HBCUs.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Adding to its growing fleet of utility-scale solar generating facilities, Entergy Arkansas has announced the start of commercial operations at Walnut Bend Solar ���ϳԹ��� Center. The 100-megawatt solar energy center is located in Lee County to the east of Brinkley, Arkansas. Entergy Arkansas acquired Walnut Bend from Invenergy, a leading privately held developer, owner, and operator of sustainable energy solutions. Invenergy led the development, engineering, and construction of the facility.

“Walnut Bend will be a valuable addition to our generation fleet, which, in turn, complements our diverse mix of generation sources that have been powering life in Arkansas for more than 100 years,” said Entergy Arkansas President and CEO Laura Landreaux. “Our investments in these generation resources are a key part of keeping the rates our customers pay below the regional and national averages and enables us to provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable service to our customers throughout the state.”

“Walnut Bend is another example of Invenergy’s successful track record of building clean energy solutions, and we are proud to support Entergy’s growing solar power portfolio,” said Mick Baird, Chief Development Officer at Invenergy. “We are grateful to the Lee County community for their partnership, and we look forward to continuing to develop projects in Arkansas to meet the state’s energy needs and invest in local communities.”

The Walnut Bend facility will generate an estimated $700,000 in annual property taxes for Lee County. It utilizes innovative technologies, including bifacial solar panels and racking equipment that tracks the sun. Bifacial panels capture sunlight on both sides of the panel, taking advantage of light reflecting off the ground, while the racking systems adjusts their tilt so that they follow the sun throughout the day, maximizing their energy production.

“I am pleased to welcome Walnut Bend Solar to my district,” said Arkansas Senator Ron Caldwell, District 10. “This facility represents a significant investment in Lee County that will provide economic benefits locally and throughout Arkansas.”

Walnut Bend is the fourth solar resource Entergy Arkansas has placed into service – all generating renewable, emission-free solar power for all Entergy Arkansas’ customers. The others are the 81-megawatt Stuttgart Solar, the 100-megawatt Chico Solar at Lake Village and the 100-megawatt Searcy Solar. The four facilities combined will generate 381 megawatts of power for Entergy Arkansas customers. Total investment is more than $300 million, with net customer benefits of more than $170 million over the life of the facilities.

Later this year, Entergy Arkansas will bring 430 additional MW of solar power facilities online: West Memphis (180MW) and Driver (250 MW), which it will own and operate. Two additional solar facilities are planned to come online in 2025: Flat Fork (200 MW) and Forgeview (200 MW), which will provide energy and capacity to Entergy Arkansas via long-term power purchase agreements.

“Walnut Bend Solar is a great addition to my district,” said Mark McElroy, Arkansas District 62 Representative. “The facility will generate economic benefits for Lee County and the surrounding communities.¬† This investment will strengthen our communities and help support economic development that will be good for Arkansas.”

About Entergy Arkansas

Entergy Arkansas, LLC provides electricity to approximately 730,000 customers in 63 counties. Entergy Arkansas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, 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 Arkansas, visit the and connect with @EntergyArk on social media.

About Invenergy

Invenergy is accelerating cleaner, more reliable, affordable energy. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, build, own, and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation, transmission and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Headquartered in Chicago, Invenergy has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Poland, and Scotland. 

Invenergy and its affiliated companies have successfully developed more than 31,000 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction or contracted, including wind, solar, transmission infrastructure and natural gas power generation and advanced energy storage projects. Learn about Invenergy at

GREENVILLE, Miss. – For the first time in 50 years, Entergy Mississippi is building a new natural gas power station, which will ensure customers continue to have modern, reliable energy well into the future. The advanced facility will be the first combined-cycle combustion turbine power station the company has built from the ground up.

“As our customers’ needs and environmental factors evolve, so must our fleet. We’re investing in cleaner, more efficient power generation now, to help us keep bills lower for customers than they otherwise would be in the future,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi.

The combined-cycle combustion turbine facility is a dual-fuel technology. While natural gas is the primary resource, the advanced facility will be designed to support blended hydrogen to produce reliable energy.

Eventually, the company will retire the Gerald Andrus Steam Electric Station, which is currently located in Greenville. By replacing older power plants with more advanced and efficient technology, Entergy Mississippi is producing more electricity from the same amount of fuel while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Over the past two decades, the utility has bought three natural gas power stations – Attala Plant in Sallis (2006), Hinds ���ϳԹ��� Facility in Jackson (2012) and Choctaw ���ϳԹ��� Facility in French Camp (2019).

In addition to the current natural gas units, the Sunflower Solar Station near Ruleville (2022) and the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson (1985) are generating emission-free electricity and contributing to the company’s diverse and reliable power generation mix. Entergy Mississippi purchased the solar facility and owns a portion of the nuclear plant.

The new power station is expected to be completed in 2028.

About Entergy Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 459,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, 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 , 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 Mississippi, visit the and connect with @EntergyMS on social media.

“Our power plant workers are the unsung heroes of our operation,” said Hisham Sidani, senior vice president of operations services and generation. “This week, we shine a spotlight on their dedication, but their commitment is around the clock, all year long, ensuring our customers have reliable power. ����’s a privilege to be part of such a dedicated team with a safety-first mindset.”

With more than 24,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, Entergy owns and operates one of the cleanest large-scale generation fleets in the country. We have 30 active natural gas, oil, hydroelectric, solar, and coal generating facilities with a combined capacity of nearly 19,000 megawatts. Our nuclear fleet produces approximately 5,200 megawatts of nuclear capacity.��

“Our nuclear professionals and their achievements are essential to our commitment to cutting CO2 emission rates in half by 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Kimberly Cook-Nelson, Entergy executive vice president of nuclear operations and chief nuclear officer. “Our safe, secure and reliable operations provide a path forward to Entergy’s premier utility status.”

to read or download a fact sheet about Power Plant Worker Appreciation Day.