A natural gas power generating plant is shown in California, U.S., June 24, 2021.
The company stated that the proposed Legend and Lone Star power stations are scheduled to begin operations by mid-2028. Once completed, they are expected to provide over 1,200 megawatts of additional capacity to the Southeast Texas power grid, supporting the area’s growing energy needs.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has projected that electricity consumption in the United States will reach record highs in both 2025 and 2026. In Texas, commercial power demand has already shown a sharp rise. Between 2019 and 2023, annual demand in the state’s commercial sector increased by 13 terawatt-hours, largely driven by expansion in data centers, according to EIA data.
Entergy Texas emphasized that the decision to build new plants reflects feedback from local customers and communities. CEO Eliecer Viamontes said: "We've heard directly from our customers and communities about the need for more power to support our rapidly growing region, and these facilities will deliver just that."
Currently, Entergy Texas serves nearly 524,000 customers across 27 counties. The company noted that the new projects are designed to meet long-term requirements and ensure that sufficient electricity will be available as demand continues to rise.
With consumption levels projected to keep increasing, the addition of these natural gas facilities will provide important support for Texas’ energy infrastructure. By expanding generation capacity, Entergy Texas aims to improve system reliability and respond to the strong growth seen in both population and business activity across the state.
The approval marks a significant step for the utility as it works to align supply with consumption trends. The planned plants, along with other investments in energy resources, reflect broader efforts to strengthen the power grid in Texas and address the challenges of higher electricity demand in the years ahead.
