The details
The new substation is part of Entergy's Southeast Texas Energy Plan, also known as the STEP Ahead program. The project focuses on investing in energy infrastructure ahead of growth to support customers, strengthen reliability and help communities thrive, according to a Jan. 8 news release.
Sean Meredith, vice president of capital projects for Entergy, said the substation was built to help support areas of Montgomery County experiencing growth, including New Caney and Porter.
“There is growth, and it's not just happening here in East Montgomery County, but all of Montgomery County,” Meredith said. “The station is here to support that, and it's going to do a great job at that.”
A closer look
Meredith said the project consists of several electrical towers and roughly 6 miles of transmission lines. He noted the towers have been built to withstand hurricane-force winds and other extreme weather events.
“If a hurricane blows through, there may not be roofs on building, but those [towers] are going to be standing,” Meredith said. “These are built to withstand the strongest storms.”
Additionally, Stuart Barrett, vice president of customer service for Entergy, said the new substation includes modern equipment that can automatically shift power to other lines if there’s a problem, which he said would help shorten outage times.
“By modernizing our infrastructure now, we’re helping businesses stay open, keeping families safe during storms and helping our communities recover more quickly when severe weather occurs,” Barrett said.
What they’re saying
Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough touted the project during the ribbon-cutting.
“This project is about the security of the people of this community,” Keough said. “Entergy’s commitment to excellence and communication throughout the progress of this project was second to none.”
Mark Linabury, president and CEO of the Greater East Montgomery County Chamber, echoed Keough’s sentiment.
“I am so proud to see Entergy’s proactive approach,” Linabury said. “They’re making sure there’s enough power for our area as more business is coming.”
What's next
Meredith said the new towers and transmission lines represent the first phase of the project, noting officials will be able to expand the project in the future.
“We're expecting more growth here,” Meredith said. “We're planning for the future, so we can add more transformers ... [and] add more distribution lines.”
