Entergy Mississippi celebrated a brighter energy future for customers at a groundbreaking ceremony of the company’s newly announced Delta Blues Advanced Power Station in Greenville, Mississippi. Alongside the groundbreaking, the company recognized the 50th anniversary of the Gerald Andrus Steam Electric Station, which will be retired when the new plant comes online in 2028. By replacing end-of-life gas generation with more clean and efficient generation, Entergy Mississippi is ensuring customers continue to have modern, reliable energy well into the future.
“Entergy is honored to serve the Gulf South, which is a premier economic hub driving diverse customer growth," says Drew Marsh, Entergy chair and CEO. "Companies are looking for affordable, reliable and clean power – and today we’re proving that we can meet those needs. The Delta Blues Advanced Power Station is leading a new era of power generation in Mississippi, while using better technology to drive sustainability and keep costs as low as possible for our customers.”
Delta Blues Advanced Power Station will be a 754-MW facility capable of powering 385,000 homes across Entergy Mississippi's 45-county service area.
The $1.2 billion investment represents a significant economic impact for the Mississippi Delta, including more than 300 construction jobs in the area over the next several years and additional tax revenue for Washington County. Entergy will employ about 21 full-time personnel to operate the plant when it comes online. When fully operational, the plant will provide the state a newer, cleaner and more attractive power source to highlight when recruiting new industry and jobs to Mississippi.
The new facility will be equipped with a combined-cycle combustion turbine and dual-fuel technology. While natural gas is the primary resource, it will be designed to support blended hydrogen to produce reliable energy while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
“The groundbreaking of the Delta Blues Advanced Power Station is a significant step in our plan to transform our power generation portfolio for the future," says Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi President and CEO. "We’re experiencing historic economic growth in our state. Investing in cleaner, more efficient power generation now will help us keep bills lower for customers than they otherwise would be in the future. Because when we save, so do our customers. Today represents our belief in Mississippi’s bright future.”