THE WOODLANDS, Texas – A brighter, more resilient energy future is on the horizon for Southeast Texas. On January 16, the Public Utility Commission of Texas unanimously approved Phase I of Entergy Texas’ Texas Future Ready Resiliency Plan. The first phase of the company’s comprehensive resiliency plan will be implemented over a roughly three-year period and includes $137 million in strategic projects to strengthen the Southeast Texas power grid, reduce storm-related outages, and save customers millions in restoration costs over the coming decades. Over the next 50 years, these improvements are projected to reduce outage times by an estimated 1 billion minutes, significantly cutting the time families and businesses spend in the dark after severe weather events.

“This is more than a plan — it’s a promise to our customers that we’re investing in their future,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “The PUCT’s approval allows us to continue building a power grid that can withstand today’s challenges and adapt to tomorrow’s needs. This is how we help build a stronger foundation for our communities to thrive, even in the face of extreme weather.”

The first phase of the Texas Future Ready Resiliency Plan will focus on key infrastructure upgrades, including:

• Stronger distribution lines: Upgrading local distribution and main feeder lines to higher storm-resilient standards.
• Stronger transmission lines: Rebuilding high-voltage lines and poles to withstand hurricane-force winds.
• Undergrounding select lines: Moving overhead lines underground in targeted areas.

In addition, Entergy Texas plans to pursue funding from the Texas ���ϳԹ��� Fund to implement additional projects at no cost to customers and explore innovative financing options like storm securitization to deliver long-term savings. The company’s approach to balancing affordability with strategic grid improvements proved successful when it recently  through the Department of ���ϳԹ���’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program to bolster grid reliability in Port Arthur, a coastal community vulnerable to storms. A portion of these funds will offset the cost of Phase I projects as well.

Resiliency is a key component of Entergy Texas’ holistic Southeast Texas ���ϳԹ��� Plan (also known as STEP Ahead). This six-step strategy aims to add 1,600 megawatts of new generation capacity by 2028, maintain affordable rates, and meet the region’s rapidly growing energy needs with reliability and resilience at the forefront.

 about how Entergy Texas is staying a STEP Ahead of energy challenges and building a more grid energy future for Southeast Texas.

About Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas provides electricity to approximately 512,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, 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  and connect with @EntergyTX on social media.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Entergy Texas has been awarded nearly $54 million in federal funding to improve power grid resilience in Port Arthur’s Pear Ridge, Kolbs, and Lakeview neighborhoods. This funding will go toward a resiliency project aimed to help lessen the impact of future extreme weather events in this coastal community. Once completed, the project is designed to reduce outage durations, restoration costs, damage to utility infrastructure, and accelerate recovery after major storms.¬†

The funding comes from the Department of ���ϳԹ���’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The GRIP program supports projects that make the power grid more flexible and resilient against climate change and the growing threats of extreme weather. This award will match Entergy Texas’ investment on the project with $53.75 million dollars in federal funding.¬†

“By securing this federal funding, we’re helping to keep bills affordable for our customers and building a stronger grid that they can count on,” said Entergy Texas President and CEO Eliecer Viamontes. “Despite not being selected for this award last year, we listened to the feedback, improved our approach, and tried again—because that’s what our customers deserve. This project will benefit not just Port Arthur but the entire Southeast Texas community, reinforcing the Gulf Coast as a key economic hub and improving service for thousands of homes and businesses.”

Benefits of Entergy Texas’ Port Arthur resilience project include:¬†

• Increased resilience: Improving service resilience for approximately 7,000 homes and businesses by:
  • Upgrading or burying 950 distribution structures;
  • Reinforcing 57 transmission structures;
  • Installing 14 devices to allow faster response to power outages; and
  • Adding a self-healing microgrid with a large battery to manage short-term outages.
• Faster recovery: Reducing the time customers are without power after storms by approximately 257 million minutes over the next 50 years.¬†
• Cost savings: Lowering storm recovery costs, saving an estimated $74 million over the next 50 years.
• Community support: Creating job and training opportunities for residents of disadvantaged Census areas.¬†

“As extreme weather events continue to stress electric systems across the country, the Biden-Harris Administration is using every tool in the toolbox to make sure America’s power grid can provide reliable, affordable power,” said Maria Robinson, Director of DOE’s Grid Deployment Office. “By fortifying critical infrastructure in both distribution and transmission systems to withstand extreme weather events, Entergy Texas will advance a critical step in maintaining reliable power in Port Arthur, a community that has endured some of the country’s most historic weather events.”

Texas and the Gulf Coast have faced several powerful storms this year alone, including Hurricanes Beryl, Francine, Helene, and Milton. These storms and other extreme weather events in recent years highlight the urgent need to strengthen our power systems. 

Entergy Texas’ Port Arthur resilience project also addresses the critical need to improve infrastructure in areas hit hardest by both extreme weather and social and economic challenges. More than 94% of Port Arthur residents live in federally recognized disadvantaged areas. This project will help ensure that improvements to the grid are fairly distributed, giving these communities fair access to more reliable and affordable energy.¬†

“As a city that has faced the repeated devastation of extreme weather, this project comes at a crucial time for Port Arthur,” said Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie. “This funding will provide a critical boost to our infrastructure, ensuring that our residents and businesses are better protected before, during, and after extreme weather events. We’re grateful to Entergy Texas and the Department of ���ϳԹ��� for their continued support in making Port Arthur a stronger, more resilient place to live and work.”

As part of this project, Entergy Texas has also developed a multi-phased community benefits plan, which includes the creation of a Community Benefits Working Group made up of community partners. The working group will build on the company’s existing programs and relationships to deliver additional benefits to the Port Arthur community, such as labor engagement, education and job training programs, and financial services to low-income families through partnerships with social services organizations.¬†

“Our goal is to improve lives and uplift the communities we serve,” said Viamontes.¬†

Learn more about Entergy Texas’ continued commitment to building a brighter future for Southeast Texas.¬†

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 512,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, 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‚ÄØ‚ÄØand connect with‚ÄØ@EntergyTX‚ÄØon social media.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Extreme weather has become more frequent and severe in Texas. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, there have been from 1980 to June 2024, including hurricanes and winter storms. These extreme events, coupled with an increased dependence on electricity to power homes, businesses, and essential services, underscore the need for an even more resilient electrical grid.

To better protect the Southeast Texas power grid from extreme weather and improve service reliability, Entergy Texas recently with the Public Utility Commission of Texas for approval of Phase I of its comprehensive Texas Future Ready Resiliency Plan. Once approved, the investments included in Phase I are expected to benefit customers by decreasing future storm restoration costs by approximately $129 million and reducing the duration of power outages following significant weather events by 4.5 billion minutes over the next fifty years.  

“The increasing frequency and cost of storm restoration, the increasing impact from prolonged outages and recently passed state legislation demonstrate that now is the optimal time to pursue key grid hardening investments,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “While Entergy Texas has historically invested in the reliability and resiliency of its generation, transmission, and distribution systems, significant and emerging circumstances support the need to accelerate the pace of these investments. Our comprehensive Resiliency Plan creates stronger communities while managing customer bill impacts.”

Phase I of the company’s Resiliency Plan is a multiyear proposal that includes six key measures to prevent, withstand, and recover from damage imposed by significant storm events.¬†¬†¬†

• Distribution feeder hardening: Rebuilding main feeder lines to a storm-resilient overhead design standard.
• Lateral hardening: Rebuilding neighborhood distribution lines to a storm-resilient overhead design.
• Transmission rebuild: Replacing poles with higher wind-rated structures and equipment on high-voltage lines.
• Lateral undergrounding: Undergrounding select overhead neighborhood lines.
• Substation control house remediation: Hardening substations by upgrading roofs to meet wind standards.
• Targeted vegetation management: Proactive inspections and trimming to mitigate vegetation-related outages and wildfire risks.

The accelerated hardening projects included in Phase I total a $335 million investment in the Southeast Texas power grid. To minimize the impact on monthly customer bills, Entergy Texas plans to seek $198 million in non-ERCOT grants from the Texas ���ϳԹ��� Fund to help finance these projects. The company has also applied for federal dollars under the Department of ���ϳԹ���’s Grid Innovation and Resilience Partnerships program to invest more than $107 million to strengthen the Port Arthur grid, a portion of which would offset the cost of hardening projects included in Phase I. Entergy Texas continues to look for innovative ways to lessen the storm risks and costs for its coastal communities. Another example involves exploring an expedited storm securitization process, which could save customers millions of dollars over the long term compared to traditional financing methods.

Since the early 2000s, Entergy Texas has been making strategic investments to make the Southeast Texas power grid more resilient. Recent projects include the on the Bolivar Peninsula, which is raised on platforms to better withstand potential storm surges, and the in the Port Arthur community to withstand weather events as strong as a Category 4 hurricane.

“The City of Port Arthur holds dear the commitment by Entergy Texas in our joint partnership to harden the Southeast Texas power grid and build a more resilient energy future for our community,” said Thurman Bartie, mayor for the City of Port Arthur.

“We are grateful that Entergy Texas is planning for the future and staying a ‘STEP Ahead’ of growing electrical needs in Beaumont,” said Roy West, mayor for the City of Beaumont. “Because of Entergy Texas’ hard work, Beaumont and the entire Southeast Texas area continue to have a bright energy future.”

The accelerated resiliency efforts proposed in Entergy Texas’ Resiliency Plan are a key component of the company’s Southeast Texas ���ϳԹ��� Plan, also known as the STEP Ahead plan. This strategic initiative aims to add 1,600 megawatts of generation capacity to the Southeast Texas power grid by 2028 by keeping rates affordable, building more generation, investing in a diverse mix of generation resources, and strengthening the grid to withstand extreme weather.

For more information about Entergy Texas’ STEP Ahead plan and ongoing efforts to meet 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 ���ϳԹ���, 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 and connect with @EntergyTX on social media.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, with a population that is by 2050. This rapid growth brings many benefits, such as economic development and job creation, but it also poses significant challenges, especially in terms of meeting the energy needs of expanding communities.

Entergy Texas expects to see a significant increase in energy demand across its residential, commercial and industrial customer base over the next few years. This anticipated surge in energy consumption requires the Southeast Texas power grid to have an additional 1,600 MW of generation capacity by 2028, which is approximately 40% of Entergy Texas’ current generation capacity.

“Over the last three years, Entergy Texas reached commercial operation on a state-of-the-art 993 MW natural gas plant, contracted a 150 MW solar facility, and started construction on a highly advanced 1,215 MW natural gas plant, but that’s still not enough to support the extraordinary growth we’re seeing in Southeast Texas,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “To support the everyday energy needs of our growing communities, we’ve developed a strategic plan that will provide a diverse mix of generation, strengthen the Southeast Texas power grid, and drive economic growth – all while striving to keeping rates affordable for our customers.”

Entergy Texas developed the Southeast Texas ���ϳԹ��� Plan, also known as STEP Ahead, to meet the generation capacity necessary to keep the lights on and power the economic growth. The six-step plan also aims to develop more reliable, affordable, and sustainable power so Texas can remain a premier destination for families and businesses.

The key components of STEP Ahead include:

• Keeping rates affordable. Entergy Texas rates have consistently been below the national and state averages, and the company will strive to maintain that position during the buildout of this plan to responsibly serve Southeast Texas customers.
• Building more power generation immediately. A robust, integrated plan will be submitted to the Public Utility Commission of Texas to augment existing generation facilities with new power plants as soon as possible to reach the required 40% increase in capacity by 2028.
• Sufficient 24/7 dispatchable power. This step involves leveraging Southeast Texas’ existing infrastructure and unique regional characteristics to build new natural gas power plants. The design of these plants will enable carbon capture and hydrogen technology to help meet customer sustainability goals and position Entergy Texas to comply with current and potential changes to federal regulatory requirements.
• “All-of-the-above” generation. The majority of the large-scale businesses relocating and expanding their operations in Texas are seeking a diverse portfolio of power generation resources for siting new investments. Adopting an “all-of-the-above”¬†approach inclusive of renewables will help give Southeast Texas an advantage in economic development moving forward.
• Routing power to where it’s needed. This portion of the plan calls for upgrading existing transmission infrastructure and installing new transmission lines to quickly transport reliable power to the fast-growing areas of Southeast Texas.
• Protecting the power grid from extreme weather. The Gulf Coast region is experiencing an increase of extreme weather events. To reduce the duration of weather-related outages and restoration costs, Entergy Texas developed a resiliency plan that will go before the PUCT for approval later this year. The company plans to leverage grants from the recently passed Texas ���ϳԹ��� Fund to make necessary resiliency investments at an affordable cost.

Entergy Texas will file its first set of proposals for STEP Ahead in early June, which will require approval from the PUCT. The company plans to announce additional details regarding the next set of proposals in the coming months.

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 512,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, 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 and connect with @EntergyTX on social media.¬†

WILLIS, Texas – Entergy Texas’ state-of-the-art Montgomery County Power Station (MCPS) was recently featured as one of the five stops on Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s . The tour allows Comptroller Hegar to visit some of the state’s key power entities and take a deep dive into Texas’ challenges and successes in energy generation, management and planning.

Entergy Texas’ Montgomery County Power Station provides 993 megawatts of clean, affordable and efficient energy to power over 184,000 homes. The plant achieved commercial operation in January 2021, which was ahead of schedule and crucial to providing essential generation to Southeast Texas during Winter Storm Uri.¬†¬†

“The Montgomery County Power Station utilizes technology that provides efficient, dispatchable power,” said Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. “The plain truth is Texas needs natural-gas-fueled electric generation to ensure we have a diverse portfolio of energy sources that can meet the needs of our growing state regardless of weather conditions or the time of day.”

Natural gas provides more than 40 percent of the electric-generating capacity in Texas, making it the largest single source of power in the state. MCPS is the newest of the state’s 176 natural gas-fired power plants that play a crucial role in meeting peak electricity demand and ensuring grid reliability.

“It was an honor to host Comptroller Hegar at MCPS and showcase how the plant continues to provide reliable, sustainable and lower-cost energy, including during extreme weather events,” said Eliecer Viamontes, CEO and president of Entergy Texas. “We were equally proud to share our progress on another state-of-the-art facility under construction, the Orange County Advanced Power Station, which will yield 1,215 MW of natural gas to power more than 230,000 homes.”

By the end of 2024, Entergy Texas plans to invest over $2 billion to replace aging generation and increase resiliency and capacity for Southeast Texas.

To learn more about the investments the company is making support the growing energy demand in its service area, visit www.entergy.com/brightfuturetx.

BEAUMONT, Texas – Entergy Texas recently promoted three employees to help lead its industrial accounts team. Megan Norris has been named manager of industrial accounts, and Deborah Drago and Ronald Fletcher will serve as industrial account executives.

The industrial accounts team manages the company’s engagement with industrial customers and other key stakeholders as Entergy Texasworks to deliver new, sustainable solutions for customers while maintaining reliable and affordable power for Southeast Texas.

“We’re excited to welcome Norris, Drago and Fletcher in their new roles, as they bring many years of experience in the industry and across Southeast Texas,” said Ernest Peeples, director of business and economic development at Entergy Texas. “Each person brings knowledge from various departments across the company, equipping them with a well-rounded sense of the business, which is essential as we work to advance growth in our communities and for our customers.”

Norris will be responsible for leading the industrial accounts team in providing innovative customer products, services and programs to foster growth across Southeast Texas. She has nearly¬†20 years of local industry experience, starting with project management at chemical plants before joining Entergy full time in 2007. She spent 14 years in various roles at industrial plants spanning from engineer to plant manager, and most recently served as the Texas distribution operations center manager. Norris’ career highlights include her time as a plant manager at the Lake Charles Power Station, where she was involved from the facility’s groundbreaking through commercial operation. Her experience provides a valuable perspective to industrial customers and those seeking to build new facilities in the Entergy Texas service area.¬†Norris holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in business administration from McNeese State University, where she was a collegiate soccer player.¬†Norris leads a team including Drago and Fletcher, who both serve as industrial account executives at Entergy Texas.

Drago is a Port Arthur native who joined Entergy Texas as a customer service specialist supporting customer advocacy initiatives and most recently served as the customer service manager for the Port Arthur Network. She has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and educational sectors and has leveraged her background and community connections to support key region initiatives that improve customer satisfaction. Drago holds a bachelor’s degree in applied learning and development from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration from Lamar University. She continues her community advocacy through civic leadership, currently serving on the Texas Nonprofit Council. Drago is also an executive board member of the United Way of Mid & South Jefferson County, Chair of Leadership Southeast Texas Advisory Council, and a board member of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce.¬†
 
Fletcher served as the customer service manager serving the Port Arthur and Winnie network locations followed by the Beaumont and Dayton networks before moving to the industrial accounts department. In his customer service roles, Fletcher was responsible for leading customer service functions including account management, stakeholder engagement, and customer experience. He has been with Entergy for nearly 34 years, worked in customer facing roles for the past 25 years, and maintained a perfect safety record throughout his career. Fletcher obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from North Carolina Central University and his masters in operations management from the University of Arkansas. He is also a retired Commander who served with the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves.

About Entergy Texas
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 499,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the .

ORANGE, Texas – Entergy Texas executives, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, government officials and community leaders gathered to celebrate a new chapter for reliable, affordable and sustainable energy across Southeast Texas. Nearly 200 people attended a special groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the start of construction on the Orange County Advanced Power Station, a project underway next to Entergy Texas’ Sabine Power Plant in Orange. At full capacity, the combined-cycle power plant will be capable of producing 1,215 megawatts of electricity per year, which is enough to power 230,000 homes.

“This groundbreaking marks the start of an exciting opportunity to serve the growing demand across Southeast Texas,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “By investing in modern and fuel-efficient technology, we can meet the needs of our customers today while laying the foundation for future growth across our region.”

The construction of OCAPS will create nearly $1.8 billion in total economic activity in Southeast Texas, and result in more than 7,000 direct and indirect jobs.

“Facilities like the Orange County Advanced Power Station will ensure that reliable power is available in Southeast Texas for generations to come,” said Governor Abbott. “I want to thank the Orange County City Council and community leaders for all your hard work bringing such a great company to this wonderful city. And thank you to Entergy for continuing to invest in Texas and the great people of Orange. The new facility will be a Texas-sized investment in the future of Southeast Texas.”

A of Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc., Sargent & Lundy and The Industrial Company will provide Entergy Texas with engineering, procurement and construction services. The plant is expected to be in service by 2026.

Pictured left to right: Public Utility Commission of Texas Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty, PUCT Chairman Peter Lake, PUCT Commissioners: Kathleen Jackson and Lori Cobbs, Entergy Utility Operations Group President Rod West, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Entergy Texas President and CEO Eliecer Viamontes, Entergy Chairman and CEO Drew Marsh, and Entergy Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Pete Norgeot.

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to 499,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the .

BEAUMONT, Texas – Entergy Texas and Monarch ���ϳԹ���, a company known for its green hydrogen and electro-fuels projects, have signed a memorandum of understanding to help advance the energy infrastructure in Southeast Texas. As part of the agreement, Entergy Texas will work with Monarch ���ϳԹ��� to leverage existing transmission infrastructure and/or construct new generation resources to supply long-term renewable power to Monarch’s 500-megawatt green hydrogen electrolyzer project near Beaumont, Texas.

“Southeast Texas is growing at a rapid pace, and it’s essential we make investments that help power that growth and support a resilient electric system,” said Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas. “This partnership with Monarch ���ϳԹ��� allows us to diversify our generation portfolio while also strengthening the region’s economic development.”

Monarch ���ϳԹ���’s hydrogen electrolyzer project represents a potential $500 million investment in the Beaumont region, creating over 500 temporary construction jobs and over 30 permanent operational jobs. Monarch ���ϳԹ��� began development of the facility in 2021 and expects to commence commercial operations in 2026.

“Monarch is excited to be working with a best-in-class partner in Entergy Texas,” said Ben Alingh, co-founder and CEO of Monarch ���ϳԹ���. “Securing a reliable supply of clean power is critical to the success of our green hydrogen project in Beaumont.”

Entergy Texas has a distinct locational advantage as it sits in the heart of hydrogen producers, storage infrastructure and industrial customers. Additionally, the utility’s service territory has a workforce with the skillset needed to support hydrogen innovation. Entergy Texas remains committed to working with industry leaders to provide reliable, affordable and sustainable power to our customers for generations to come.

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to 499,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the .

About Monarch ���ϳԹ���

Monarch ���ϳԹ��� develops green hydrogen and electro-fuels projects with a specialization in hydrogen electrolysis and clean energy. The company was founded in 2021 with a mission to transform today’s hydrogen supply chain by utilizing clean molecules derived from water and zero carbon electricity. Monarch is developing a pipeline of projects containing 4 GW of future installed electrolyzer capacity across the United States and reduces its customers’ environmental footprint by providing clean alternatives to legacy feedstocks.

“At Entergy Texas, we always look for ways to partner with universities and learning institutions in our service territory to advance evolving technologies,” said Stuart Barrett, vice president of customer service for Entergy Texas. “This grant will help students and faculty gain valuable experience with both solar panels and EV chargers.”¬†

The project was made possible through Entergy’s Environmental Initiatives Fund, which provides¬†grants that help better the environment by reducing emissions, protecting natural resources and restoring wetlands and forests. Design, construction and implementation of the charging station was a joint effort by the¬†university’s department of engineering technology’s multidisciplinary students, technician and faculty¬†with logistics support from academic community engagement¬†staff.¬†

“This is going to be¬†the first DC fast charging station as well as the first solar project¬†on campus,” said Dr. Reg Pecen, SHSU professor of engineering technology.¬†“Vehicles with totally empty batteries will be charged in 30 to 40 minutes as opposed to the seven to eight hours with a regular EV charger.”¬†

SHSU representatives expect the charging station to open for use by students, employees and the public by July 2023. 

The Edison Electric Institute estimates 18 million EVs will be on U.S. roads by 2030. To support the growth and accessibility of EVs, last year, Entergy joined with five other utilities to form the  to ensure that electric vehicle drivers have access to a seamless network of charging stations connecting major highway systems.

Looking at purchasing an electric vehicle? Entergy’s eTech program offers customers an incentive for purchasing electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Find out more at¬†.

About Entergy Texas 

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 500,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the .

“Umbriel marks a major milestone, as it will be our first solar resource to come online, further diversifying our portfolio,” said Abigail Weaver, Entergy Texas director of resource planning and market operations. “Our communities are increasingly asking for clean-energy offerings, and this facility will provide affordable, reliable and sustainable energy for years to come.”¬†

The renewable energy generated by Umbriel is projected to be the equivalent of avoiding approximately 250,000 metric tons annually of CO2 emissions, which is equal to taking approximately 55,000 cars off the road each year that the facility is in operation.

The project will be constructed by McCarthy Building Companies and is expected to reach commercial operations by the end of this year. 

“Texas continues to be an attractive market for solar development, and we are pleased to achieve financial close and begin construction on Umbriel,” said Adam Horwitz, VP of origination and development operations at Longroad ���ϳԹ���. “Umbriel’s closing marks over 1.7 gigawatts of total wind and solar projects developed, financed and built in Texas by the Longroad team.”

Umbriel Solar will also supply a resource-based renewable energy offering (green energy tariff) for Entergy Texas customers. The  program is a new voluntary program that provides the benefits of solar generation without the burden of owning solar panels. GFO is currently under consideration by the Public Utility Commission of Texas and will go live upon receipt of PUCT approval and resource availability.

In 2021, ���ϳԹ��� announced plans to triple its renewable energy portfolio over a three-year period. The company expects to have 11,000 megawatts of renewable energy generation by the end of 2030. Umbriel Solar is another milestone in our continued transformation of our power generation portfolio, meeting customers’ needs with cleaner, efficient and diverse sources of electricity while maintaining affordable rates.¬†Learn more about our renewable energy generation growth at entergy.com/renewable-energy.¬†

About Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 500,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through its operating companies across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy is creating a cleaner, more resilient energy future for everyone with our diverse power generation portfolio, including increasingly carbon-free energy sources. With roots in the Gulf South region for more than a century, Entergy is a recognized leader in corporate citizenship, delivering more than $100 million in economic benefits to local communities through philanthropy and advocacy efforts annually over the last several years. Our approximately 12,000 employees are dedicated to powering life today and for future generations. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the .¬†