STOWELL, Texas – Entergy officials joined with business leaders and elected officials at the Stowell Substation on State Highway 65 in Stowell today to “cut the wire” on a transmission project that is part of a three-year, $2 billion investment by Entergy Texas to modernize infrastructure to provide more reliable and affordable energy across Southeast Texas.
The wire-cutting ceremony officially launched construction of Entergy Texas, Inc.’s 230-kV China-Stowell Transmission Project. The $66 million project will ensure reliable, low-cost power for Entergy Texas’ customers. Additionally, the construction of the project will create an additional economic impact across the area.
“As the state’s population continues to grow, Entergy is investing in new infrastructure to meet the growing demand of the region, and ensure that everyone has access to reliable energy,” said Sallie Rainer, Entergy Texas President and CEO. “Our investment today is a critical piece meeting that commitment to customers.”
When completed in 2019, the China-Stowell Transmission Project will feature 25 miles of high-voltage transmission lines that span from just west of China in Jefferson County to the Stowell Substation in Chambers County. It will be the fourth and newest source of high voltage power in the Stowell area.
The new lines will support and enable economic growth in the area, as well as enhance reliability for existing and future customers.
“Over the next three years, Entergy Texas plans to invest nearly $2 billion to improve how we serve customers,” Rainer said. “Our investments will benefit our communities by investing today to power tomorrow.”
These capital investments will not only allow for expansion in Southeast Texas, but they will also improve electrical service to customers in the 27 counties that Entergy Texas serves.
The investments include:
$600 million in transmission projects
$825 million in new power generation
$415 million in distribution upgrades
Besides the China-Stowell Transmission Project, other projects that are part of the investments include:
The Montgomery County Power Station, Entergy’s first generation investment in Texas since building the Sabine Plant in 1979.
The Port Arthur Reliability Project, a 230 kV transmission project that will provide additional support to vital industrial customers across the region.
The West Region Economic Project that will add transmission in the Conroe-Huntsville area.
An Advanced Metering System that will provide customers with the energy solutions that reduce outages and give them more control of their energy usage.
“We are providing all of these improvements while maintaining rates that are among the lowest in the nation,” Rainer said.
Entergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 450,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11 billion and more than 13,000 employees.