Pictured left to right: Public Utility Commission of Texas Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty, PUCT Chairman Peter Lake, PUCT Commissioners: Kathleen Jackson and Lori Cobbs, Entergy Utility Operations Group President Rod West, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Entergy Texas President and CEO Eliecer Viamontes, Entergy Chairman and CEO Drew Marsh, and Entergy Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Pete Norgeot. Photo by Entergy.

US-based power company Entergy has officially broken ground on the Orange County Advanced Power Station (OCAPS), a 1,215MW combined cycle plant that will be located near Bridge City, Texas.

Nearly 200 people, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, attended a groundbreaking ceremony this week to celebrate the start of construction.

Located in one of the largest industrial regions in the country, the plant would have the initial capability to use up to 30% hydrogen by volume along with natural gas to generate power.

Mitsubishi Power is supplying the two M501JAC gas turbines, steam turbine, heat recovery steam generator and advanced control recovery system. The company said OCAPS would eventually work up to 100% hydrogen. Hydrogen produces zero carbon emissions when combusted as a fuel source for electric generation.

A consortium of Mitsubishi Power, Sargent & Lundy and TIC—The Industrial Company will provide Entergy with engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services to build the plant.

The expected total cost of the project is $1.2 billion, which includes the estimated costs of the generation facilities, transmission upgrades, contingency, allowance for funds used during construction and necessary regulatory expenses, among others.

The construction of OCAPS is expected to create nearly $1.8 billion in total economic activity in Southeast Texas.