Entergy Texas pursues $79.5M federal grant for Port Arthur infrastructure, grid hardening work

Entergy Texas requested this week $79.5 million in federal financing in a bid to finance proposed infrastructure investments and electric grid strengthening proposals in Port Arthur, Texas.

Ideally, the company intends to harden a total of 900 transmission structures and underground 57 distribution structures and associated spans, coupling them with certain battery installation activities to improve the reliability and resilience of Port Arthur’s circuits and, therefore, the entire local grid. Entergy Texas stated that this would make the system more durable in extreme weather and allow for more rapid restoration in case of outages, benefiting approximately 7,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

“Modernizing our electrical grid and enhancing grid flexibility are essential components of building a more resilient power system,” Eliecer Viamontes, president and CEO of Entergy Texas, said. “This generational funding opportunity will help strengthen our communities while minimizing the impacts on our customers’ monthly energy bills.”

Current federal guidelines stipulate that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain government investments must go to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and underserved by existing measures. Entergy Texas said that it specifically chose this project for the potential to strengthen the system and reduce the energy burden on a community, with more than 90 percent of its residents defined as disadvantaged on multiple levels based on federal guidelines.

“This project will serve as a stimulus that will spark tremendous economic growth,” Ron Burton, city manager for the City of Port Arthur, said. “It’s a great opportunity for a true public-private partnership to achieve a robust energy infrastructure.”

In a buoy to these efforts, Entergy Texas already received a letter of encouragement from the federal government, prodding it to provide full applications for the first round of funding. This funding would be provided through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience and Innovative Partnerships program, although final awards will not likely be announced until this fall.