Entergy is investing $1.2 billion towards an advanced technology power plant it says will transform the grid infrastructure of Mississippi.
The former Baxter Wilson Steam Electric Station in Vicksburg is being leveled to make way for the 754-megawatt combined-cycle combustion turbine facility. At least 560 construction jobs are expected to be created.
Shamira Muhammad
Entergy advanced power plant
Haley Fisackerly is President and CEO of Entergy Mississippi.
“This power plant will feed the grid that serves all the communities we serve in 45 counties, 385,000 homes, 460,000 customers.” Haley Fisackerly, president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi said. “What's great about this plant though is its advanced technology. It's able to use, when and if hydrogen fuel is available, we can switch fuels to burn that.”
While the new plant will be powered by natural gas, Fisackerly says this type of facility provides cleaner energy through the use of newer technologies.
“They're 40% more efficient from a fuel standpoint,” he said. “They use less water, 90% less water because they use air cooling. So there’s less impact there, and they have carbon capture capability. What that means is when it's economic, we'll build an adjacent facility, a carbon capture facility. It captures the CO2 off the stack.”
Another power plant is also being built in Greenville. Governor Tate Reeves says both represent a strong move forward for Mississippi’s economy.
“They haven't built a new generating facility in Mississippi in 50 years,” he said. “Now we've announced not one, but two in the last 12 months. That just shows you the kind of economic growth that we are having in the state of Mississippi.”
Fisackerly anticipates the new plant to save customers over $700 million in fuel costs.