Entergy Arkansas’ plan to build a massive new power plant in Jefferson County has drawn opposition from state officials, even as the utility insists the project is both necessary and widely supported.
The proposed Jefferson Power Station, a natural gas-fired facility capable of generating more than 750 megawatts of electricity, would be constructed alongside Entergy’s existing White Bluff Power Plant near Redfield. Company leaders say the project is essential to meeting long-term energy demands and securing reliable service for customers across the state.
But earlier this month, both the attorney general’s office and the general staff of the Arkansas Public Service Commission urged regulators to reject the application, citing concerns about cost and planning.
Energy consultant Scott Norwood, testifying on behalf of the attorney general’s office, warned that Entergy had not fully considered cheaper alternatives. He specifically questioned whether the utility had seriously evaluated converting the coal-fired White Bluff plant to burn natural gas rather than constructing an entirely new facility.
“[Entergy Arkansas] has not demonstrated that the cost of the Jefferson Power Station is reasonable or that the project is the best available resource for meeting [its] system capacity need in 2030,” Norwood wrote in testimony filed September 5.
Even so, Norwood acknowledged that Entergy had shown a need for additional power generation, just not necessarily at the price point or through the method being proposed.
Entergy, meanwhile, has defended its application, saying that the back-and-forth is a routine part of the regulatory process. Company officials point to strong support from Arkansas lawmakers for the new plant.
“The application has not been denied. The regulatory proceeding is ongoing,” said Ventrell Thompson, vice president of customer service for Entergy Arkansas. “This is a back and forth where additional information is sought out, and we’re going to provide that to ensure the commission has everything needed to determine that this project is in the public interest for our customers.”
If approved, Entergy hopes to break ground on the Jefferson Power Station next year, with operations beginning in 2029.
The Arkansas Public Service Commission is expected to continue reviewing testimony and filings before issuing a final decision.
