Entergy's new Millbend Substation to increase energy capacity in Montgomery County

“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.”