Little Rock, Ark. – August 15, 2024 – Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) has commenced the process to build a 900-megawatt (MW) natural gas-based generation facility in Morris County, Texas, near Naples. Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in summer 2026.
The plant is part of AECC’s plan to address wholesale generation needs. AECC plans to have the dispatchable generation resource in commercial operation by 2029. The two-turbine, simple cycle generation facility will encompass approximately 100 acres. The facility is located within the Southwest Power Pool regional transmission organization (RTO) footprint and will assist with reliability within the RTO. This new state-of-the-art asset will be among the highest-performing, lowest-emitting and most efficient natural gas plants in AECC’s fleet.
According to AECC President/CEO Vernon “Buddy” Hasten, AECC is committed to continuing to fulfill its mission to provide electric cooperative members with reliable, affordable power in a responsible manner. The natural gas resource will provide 24/7/365 readily dispatchable energy for AECC’s 17 distribution cooperatives and, ultimately, the 600,000 electric cooperative members in Arkansas and parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Louisiana.
“The facility in Morris County, Texas, is crucial to maintaining reliable energy resources,” Hasten said. “AECC continues to review proven, readily dispatchable power generation technologies to provide our members with reliable, affordable electricity.”
Hasten said that AECC evaluated potential site locations in Arkansas prior to selecting the Texas location. He cited the Morris County site’s proximity to natural gas pipelines and transmission as the primary factors in the location selection.
A project open house was held on Aug. 14 in Naples, Texas, to meet the community and share plans.
The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas comprise 17 electric distribution cooperatives; Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a Little Rock-based cooperative that provides services to the distribution cooperatives; and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), a generation and transmission cooperative. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to approximately 600,000 homes,f arms and businesses in Arkansas and surrounding states.
For additional information, contact:
Rob Roedel, Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, 501.570.2296 or rroedel@aecc.com www.ecark.org
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