Step 3: Ensure sufficient 24/7 dispatchable power
To help support the rapidly growing energy needs of Southeast Texas, Entergy Texas filed an application with the Public Utility Commission of Texas in June of 2024 that seeks the approval of two state-of-the-art natural gas power plants to be named Legend and Lone Star.
Entergy proposes two new gas-fired power stations for Southeast Texas
The Legend Power Station is a 754-megawatt combined cycle combustion turbine facility that will be located in Port Arthur, Texas. As a commitment to modernizing the way Entergy Texas serves its customers, this project will be carbon capture-enabled and feature a hydrogen-capable combustion turbine. Upon completion, the $1.46 billion investment will produce enough reliable and sustainable energy to power nearly 190,000 homes – adding a significant amount of generation capacity to the Southeast Texas power grid while striving to minimize environmental impacts.
The Lone Star Power Station is a 453-megawatt combustion turbine facility that will be located near Cleveland, Texas. The $735 million investment to further modernize the power grid features a hydrogen-capable combustion turbine. Once operational, Lone Star’s cutting-edge technology will provide enough efficient and affordable energy to power over 110,000 homes.
These proposed 24/7 dispatchable power generation resources are expected to be in service by 2028 and will bring a total of $2.8 billion in economic benefits to the region. Additionally, the construction and operation of these power plants will offer substantial employment opportunities for local communities. Approval of the two projects will increase service reliability for all customers and support large-scale economic activity in the region like Sempra Infrastructure’s Port Arthur LNG project. The Public Utility Commission of Texas will consider approval of these critical power plants in early 2025.
Benefits of natural gas
Natural gas plays a critical role in supporting reliable and sustainable power. It helps power plants quickly meet energy demands, which is essential for maintaining grid stability, especially as renewable energy sources become more common. Compared to coal, natural gas burns cleaner and releases fewer pollutants, making it a more environmentally friendly option for generating electricity. With its abundant supply and lower operational costs, natural gas helps keep energy prices affordable for consumers while ensuring a steady and reliable energy supply. Additionally, its compatibility with advanced technologies like carbon capture and hydrogen-capable turbines positions it as a key component of the transition to a lower-carbon energy future.
Benefits of carbon capture and storage
The future use of carbon capture and storage at Entergy Texas’ Legend Power Station will help reduce carbon emissions while supporting local economic growth. Southeast Texas is ideal for CCS because its underground rock formations are perfect for storing carbon. As a result, many companies in the region are already working to build the pipelines and wells needed for large-scale storage. By using CCS, we can provide cost-effective, low-carbon electricity, which is important for the area’s growing industries. We are also developing a voluntary CCS tariff to allow customers interested in reducing their Scope 2 emissions to subscribe and receive the low-carbon intensity attributes associated with CCS from Legend.