WOODLANDS, Texas – Entergy Texas has officially placed its Orange County Advanced Power Station into service, adding a new around-the-clock power source to meet growing energy demands across Southeast Texas.
The 1,215-megawatt facility — known as OCAPS — can generate enough electricity to power more than 230,000 homes. Over time, the plant is expected to deliver more than $1 billion in customer savings through lower fuel and operating costs, while strengthening service reliability across the region.
“OCAPS is yet another way that we’re making sure Texas families and businesses have the energy and infrastructure they need to succeed,” said David Borde, CEO of Entergy Texas.
“Our customers count on us to power critical parts of their everyday lives, and OCAPS helps us deliver even more of the safe and reliable power they deserve in a cost-effective manner. Today is a huge milestone for our communities, and a big step toward the stronger and more resilient energy future Southeast Texas needs to thrive.”
Why the new plant was needed
Texas added more residents than any other state between 2024 and 2025, and Southeast Texas continues to see new business and industrial development. As a result, Entergy Texas expects electricity demand across its service area to grow by about 13% between 2024 and 2028.
OCAPS was designed with that growth in mind. Operators can quickly increase or decrease power production to match real-time electricity demand — a critical capability during high-demand periods like summer and winter.
The plant uses combined-cycle technology, which captures heat that would otherwise be wasted and uses it to produce additional electricity. That means more power from the same amount of fuel. Because fuel costs are passed directly to customers, the plant’s efficiency is expected to help lower bills over time.
Economic impact
The benefits of OCAPS extend beyond the power grid. Construction of the plant generated approximately $1.8 billion in economic activity and supported more than 7,000 direct jobs.
Orange Mayor Larry Spears Jr. said the plant is a meaningful investment for the region.
“OCAPS is a significant addition for The Golden Triangle area — a region that faces everything from winter storms to hurricanes,” Spears said. “Having a resource like this gives our community access to more of the reliable power we count on every day, while also helping to ensure that we’re better prepared for extreme weather challenges.”
“It’s the kind of investment that helps a community keep moving forward, gives businesses confidence to grow and creates opportunities for the people who call this place home.”
Part of a larger plan for Southeast Texas
OCAPS is one of several major investments Entergy Texas is making across the region. Through its Southeast Texas Energy Plan — known as STEP Ahead — the company is investing in additional power generation, new transmission infrastructure and other grid improvements designed to make the power system more reliable and resilient.
For more information about future projects planned for Southeast Texas, visit EntergyTexas.com/StepAhead.
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