Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons says a new power plant being built in Washington County could be a boon to the local economy.

For the first time in 50 years, Entergy Mississippi is building a new natural gas power station. The facility will be the first combined-cycle combustion turbine power station the company has built from the ground up.

“It is a great day to witness the profound significance and impact of the $1.2 billion new Entergy plan for Greenville, Washington County, and the Mississippi Delta,” Simmons told the Clarion Ledger. “This initiative is a transformative project that promises to bring significant economic growth, improved infrastructure, and enhanced energy reliability to the region. For Greenville, the plan means a boost in job creation, particularly in the construction and energy sectors, which could lead to increased employment opportunities for local residents.”

The combined-cycle combustion turbine facility is a dual-fuel technology. While natural gas is the primary resource, the advanced facility will be designed to support blended hydrogen to produce reliable energy, according to Entergy.

When completed in 2028, this will be the fourth natural gas power station built by Entergy in the last two decades, following Attala Plant in Sallis (2006), Hinds Energy Facility in Jackson (2012) and Choctaw Energy Facility in French Camp (2019).

“As our customers’ needs and environmental factors evolve, so must our fleet. We’re investing in cleaner, more efficient power generation now, to help us keep bills lower for customers than they otherwise would be in the future,” Entergy president and CEO Haley Fisackerly said in a statement.

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Simmons said the Entergy plan represents a major step forward in modernizing the energy grid in the Mississippi Delta, ensuring that residents and businesses have access to more reliable and sustainable energy.

“As an advocate for investments that uplift underserved and rural communities, I see this project as a key driver in bridging the development gap in the region,” Simmons said. “The plan aligns with the city’s long-standing efforts to promote economic revitalization, infrastructure improvement, and environmental sustainability, not only in Greenville but across the Delta. This partnership with Entergy showcases Greenville as a forward-thinking city, ready to embrace modern solutions for growth while addressing the needs of its citizens and businesses alike.”

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Eventually, the company will retire the Gerald Andrus Steam Electric Station, which is currently located in Greenville. By replacing older power plants with more advanced and efficient technology, Entergy Mississippi says it is producing more electricity from the same amount of fuel while reducing carbon emissions.

Ross Reily can be reached by email at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on Twitter @GreenOkra1.