< PreviousThe four states that comprise the Entergy Region — Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas — are home to the largest industrial base in the United States. e utility owns and operates one of the cleanest, large- scale U.S. power generating fl eets with approximately , megawatts of electric generating capacity, including , MW of nuclear power. e company had annual revenue of approximately $ billion, and is among the top % of companies in North America demonstrating sustainable business practices. But it’s not about them. It’s about you. e company’s utility business puts service to its million customers at the top of its priority list. In the process, Entergy’s fi ve operating companies are helping to build a region. In alone, Entergy helped attract $. billion in corporate facility investment to its territory. In , its territory felt like the crossroads for calamity, as the hurricane season, with named storms and fi ve that hit Louisiana, was the busiest ever recorded. But Entergy was ready, deploying more than , resources including employees, contractors, and mutual-assistance workers from more than states. e region’s momentum may have paused, but never stopped. “ saw numerous new and expansion billion-dollar petrochemical projects slow their process down but none cancelled,” Karl Segura, senior manager, business development at Entergy Texas, tells me. “We have already seen signs of them ramping back up in . e vast network of petrochemical infrastructure and other positive factors that we have in southeast Texas far outweigh the negative impact caused by weather.” e other parts of Entergy territory boast their own menus of infrastructure and institutional assets. Entergy Mississippi has welcomed an abundance of activity in the logistics and wood products sectors, with Amazon alone locating over million total square feet of space in Desoto and Madison Counties. Other distribution announcements include Toshiba, O’Rielly and Associated Wholesale Grocers for another approximately ,, square feet. Just these fi ve projects will create over , new full-time jobs. Entergy Mississippi in was able to add distribution centers as an eligible industry sector for the Economic Development Rider incentive. e utility’s team also is able to support Mississippi’s Data Center Incentives Program. Amazon’s busy in Arkansas too. Over the past months or so, says Danny Games, director, Business & Economic Development, Entergy Arkansas, “we’ve worked on four Amazon projects in Pulaski County — the Amazon fulfi llment center at the Little Rock Port, the I- distribution center, the Galloway exit distribution center, and a Maumelle last-mile delivery station — all served/to be served by Entergy Arkansas.” Andrew Jacques, project manager, Business & Economic Development, Entergy New Orleans, says his team has welcomed Amazon too, in the form of daily fl ights by Amazon Air that started from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in November as part of a national expansion by Amazon to build an air cargo network that will compete with the likes of FedEx, DHL and UPS. In Entergy territory, the deals keep coming because communities keep growing. “We continue to have as many projects as we can manage,” says Steve Pilgrim, director, Business & Economic Development, Entergy Texas. “It’s defi nitely picked up,” says his colleague Karl Segura. “It’s wide open.” Companies would be wise to check in on the wide open opportunities in Entergy territory spelled out in the following pages. 118 MAY 2021 S I T E S EL E C T I O N ENTERG Y INTELLIGENCE REPOR T GATEWAY REGION ENTERGY TERRITORY IS RESILIENCE PERSONIFIED Despite obstacles imposed by the pandemic, our employees found ways to connect, innovate, drive growth, and build toward the future.” — Leo P. Denault, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Entergy, in a March 2021 letter to stakeholders in the company’s 2020 Integrated Report Despite obstacles electric generating capacity, including company had annual revenue of approximately $ billion, and is among 120 MAY 2021 S I T E S EL E C T I O N ENTERG Y INTELLIGENCE REPOR T WORKFORCE LOCAL SOLUTIONS DRIVE INNOVATION IN TALENT DEVELOPMENT Power provision may be job No. 1 for a major utility. But ask any utility economic developer, and you’ll find talent provision truly powers regional economies. Cases of workforce development innovation are popping up across Entergy territory at least as frequently as company projects themselves. In Texas, Jobs for America’s Graduates has honored Entergy with their Partner in the Pandemic Award, for the utility’s work with Southeast Texas Workforce Solutions. The award recognizes Entergy for the leadership and support the company has contributed to JAG to help youth and young adults facing significant academic, environmental, economic and social challenges, so they can succeed in their career pursuits. It’s been a long-simmering effort driven by existing industry in the petrochemical corridor known as the Golden Triangle, as industry, community college and other leaders collaborate to fill skills gaps. Educating parents is one of the gaps being bridged. “I’ve lived in this area my whole life,” says Karl Segura, senior manager, Business Development, Entergy Texas. “My father and both grandfathers worked in refineries, and my father’s only goal was to keep his kids out of the refinery, because back in the 1970s it was a dirty, unsafe pace to work. For so long the school system was set up where everybody gets a four-year degree.” Texas legislation encouraging students to pursue a more technical path has opened eyes. “Some parents now realize these plants are clean,” says Segura, who sits on the regional workforce board. On the higher education level, Entergy supports the Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship (CICE), a partnership between Lamar University’s College of Business, College of Engineering and the Southeast Texas business community. “We promote a strong emphasis on student development and training to prepare graduates for rewarding careers by familiarizing them with entrepreneurial real-world projects,” says Segura, “New businesses supported by the center are technology-focused, providing products and services for existing and future industry.” Another partnership with the university has resulted in a new degree in port administration. Steve Pilgrim, director, Business & Economic Development, Entergy Texas, also serves as the chairman of the Conroe Economic Development Council. “When you work on the front lines like Karl and I,” he says, “we have a commitment to engage with the communities we work in.” Among the paths to improved engagement is a partnership with Lone Star College to work with existing and prospective industrial companies on classes and certifications that proactively identify and address skills gaps. Beaumont is also home to the Lamar Institute of Technology, which recently compared average salaries of graduates to those from other community and technical colleges around the country and found it was No. 1 in Texas and No. 3 in the United States. Home to more than 8,000 students, the school has a 90% job placement rate, with some graduates finding jobs that pay more than $100,000. Many of those jobs, of 122 MAY 2021 S I T E S EL E C T I O N course, are at petrochemical facilities, which pay extremely well, Segura says. “You can get a two-year degree and make a really good living.” Mississippi Matriculation With fewer people searching for jobs, companies looking to hire often fi nd a gap between the quality of worker they need and the quality of those who apply. Ten Mississippi counties, with support from Entergy Mississippi, are working to close that gap. Each has graduated from an Entergy-sponsored ‘boot camp’ that trained them to become a certifi ed ACT Work Ready community. e counties join other counties in Entergy’s Mississippi service area that have already received ACT certifi cation. ACT’s program gives a standardized and trusted way to communicate the skills base in a community with measurable data through a testing framework for workforce development. Most ACT training sessions take place outside of the southeastern U.S. Counties that want to take part must pony up for travel, lodging, food and training. at can be tough, so to ensure that all counties had the opportunity to become ACT Work Ready, Entergy Mississippi paid to bring the training to the communities. Entergy hosted two boot camps at Northwest Community College and Hinds Community College. DeSoto, Jeff erson Davis, Montgomery, Quitman, Scott, Smith, Tate, Tallahatchie, Yalobusha and Yazoo counties all took part. By partnering with ACT, Entergy Mississippi also enabled participants to train more people, explain Entergy Mississippi economic development leaders. “ ey’ll now continue the process of certifi cation by implementing testing in their communities to reach the goals set by ACT,” they say. “It was a win-win for all.” Doing the Hard Work in the Big Easy Andre Jacques, project manager, Business & Economic Development, Entergy New Orleans, describes a number of initiatives supported by Entergy, including $ million in higher education initiatives from the State of Louisiana focused on the number of degrees awarded in computer science, management and STEM fi elds, created in order to ensure the successful future of DXC Technology’s new Digital Transformation Center in downtown New Orleans. “To develop key components of the NASA Orion crew capsule and Space Launch System which will send Americans to the moon and Mars, a qualifi ed workforce is critical,” Jacques says. In response, Louisiana launched a new Aerospace Manufacturing Center of Excellence at nearby Nunez Community College. e new curriculum built a direct workforce pipeline for Boeing and others working with NASA. Louisiana Technical College System (LCTCS), in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), implemented AWS Educate, AWS’s global eff ort to support cloud learning for students and faculty to unlock new career opportunities in cloud computing. And Ochsner Health has invested $ million in a partnership with Delgado Community College to train the next generation of nurses and health professionals in New Orleans by expanding scholarship programs and building a new state-of-the-art building on Delgado’s City Park Campus in Orleans Parish. To support the momentum in New Orleans’ entrepreneurial ecosystem, Entergy also has backed eff orts such as Idea Village, which to date has served over , entrepreneurs, provided $. million in resources and helped companies raise over $ million in capital. CTE Leadership in Arkansas Entergy Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Education announced last December the development of virtual business & industry career and technical education (CTE) courses targeting high school students and adults currently in the workforce. “CTE is essential, as it provides high school students the opportunity to build workforce skills that will enhance learning and employability,” said Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Johnny Key. “Fifty-three percent of CTE students earn a median income of $, or higher after graduation, and % of students who complete a CTE program of study earn a post-secondary credential. ese additional opportunities will expand the workforce pipeline to address critical economic development needs.” Online CTE coursework in industrial equipment technologies; precision machining; machine power and equipment systems; mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems; and metal fabrication are among the courses that will be available to students for the - school year. “Technology has advanced tremendously in the last few years while Arkansas competes every day in recruiting for new and expanding business,” said Danny Games, director, Business & Economic Development, Entergy Arkansas. “ ese companies require an educated and skilled workforce that can satisfy their needs and, in turn, provide higher-skilled and higher-paying jobs. ese CTE courses should benefi t students and their potential employers for years to come.” ENTERG Y INTELLIGENCE REPOR T In addition to a ordable and reliable electricity, we need a good business environment, good transportation and qualifi ed employees to help businesses grow if we want our state and communities to be successful.” — Laura Landreaux, Entergy Arkansas President and CEO direct workforce pipeline for Boeing and others working with NASA. In addition to a ordable framework for workforce development. direct workforce pipeline for Boeing and 124 MAY 2021 S I T E S EL E C T I O N ENTERG Y INTELLIGENCE REPOR T SITES In recognizing Entergy’s economic development team as a Top Utility in Economic Development for the th straight year in , we noted the team’s site development program that’s helped communities far and wide. Entergy Louisiana has assisted counties in delivering site videos, interactive building fl iers and ESRI story maps to further enhance the competitiveness of industrial sites. Entergy Louisiana assisted Louisiana Economic Development (LED) in certifying sites in — Louisiana currently has certifi ed sites, of which are within Entergy territory. A survey of that territory shows the momentum has not slowed. It includes a new eff ort targeting data centers, touting the region’s reliable and aff ordable power, cost of doing business, cleaner energy, telecom bandwidth and yes, access to quality sites that are close to critical infrastructure. Entergy Mississippi runs its own Entergy Qualifi ed Site program, and in announced three new sites within its territory to receive this designation: East Metropolitan Center in the Rankin First Economic Development Authority’s ,-acre business and industrial park next to I-; Ceres Industrial Park, also near I- and overseen by the Vicksburg-Warren Partnership; and Leland Industrial Park, where acres await at the site administered by the Washington County Economic Alliance less than a mile north of Leland. Entergy Mississippi’s other qualifi ed sites are in Adams, Bolivar, DeSoto, Hinds, Madison and Tunica counties. e utility also assists communities via its Excellerator Grant Program, a matching grant program, in order to complete site due diligence. In Arkansas, community leaders of Crittenden County, the City of West Memphis and the City of Marion came together in unifi ed support of the ,- acre West Memphis I- Select Site. e City of West Memphis is leading the eff ort to continue to improve the mega site which was originally certifi ed in November . Due diligence on the site includes a Phase I environmental assessment, wetlands delineations, geotechnical report and cultural resource studies. Other Select Site properties are located in Jeff erson County, Mississippi County, Little Rock, Magnolia, Maumelle, Newport, and now Russellville, as offi cials in December announced the completed certifi cation of the city’s second certifi ed Select Site, a -acre tract known as the Butterfi eld – Russellville East End Site. (For more, visit www.ArkansasSiteSelection.com.) “With today’s climate,” says Danny Games, director of Business and Economic Development for Entergy Arkansas, “it is even more important that we communicate that state of readiness online and up our digital game.” Offi cials with Mississippi County Economic Development and Entergy Arkansas also recently announced completion of the utility’s Select Site certifi cation for the Osceola Driver industrial site, which sits on acres near I-, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway, and the Mississippi River. “ e timeline for responding to prospects has shortened signifi cantly,” said Clif Chitwood with Mississippi County Economic Development, “and going through the certifi cation process helps to ensure that we have the site information necessary to respond quickly to inquiries. PREPARING THE WAY: ENTERGY’S WORK ON SITE PREP REAPS RESULTS FOR COMPANIES AND COMMUNITIES To increase reliability and support two new container gantry cranes at the Port of New Orleans, Entergy New Orleans recently created an underground service loop (automatic load transfer) to serve the operations of the Napoleon Intermodal Terminal. Lineage Logistics just announced a $42 million, 50-job expansion at the port. Photo courtesy of Port of New Orleans126 MAY 2021 S I T E S EL E C T I O N ENTERG Y INTELLIGENCE REPOR T CLEAN ENERGY The only utility company to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for consecutive years, Entergy is among the top % of companies on the continent when it comes to demonstrating sustainable business practices. So Entergy leaders knew what they were talking about when they pledged in to lower their carbon emission rate to half of year- levels by , then followed up in by announcing their plan to attain net-zero carbon emissions by . Getting there is a long journey with multiple pathways. ree ongoing major projects illustrate how innovation, partnership and service will propel success, while also off ering major appeal to commercial and industrial customers looking to green their own footprints. In September , Entergy and Mitsubishi Power, a global leader in power generation and storage, signed a joint development agreement in which they will collaborate to bring decarbonization projects to Entergy’s utility businesses in Arkansas, Louisiana (including the separate jurisdiction of New Orleans), Mississippi and Texas. Mitsubishi Power is a fi rst mover in hydrogen-enabled gas turbine and long- and short- term storage solutions. It also provides the world’s fi rst and only standard integrated green hydrogen packages. e two organizations will focus on a number of areas with great economic development potential: • developing hydrogen-capable gas turbine combined cycle facilities; • developing green hydrogen production, storage and transportation facilities; • creating nuclear-supplied electrolysis facilities with energy storage; • developing utility scale battery storage systems; • enabling economic growth through partnerships with the Entergy utility customers. “For two decades, sustainability has been a priority for Entergy,” said Paul Hinnenkamp, Entergy’s executive vice president and COO. “New technologies and innovative solutions to the challenges posed by climate change present opportunities for us to signifi cantly decrease carbon emissions from our generation portfolio The Mitsubishi Power M501JAC hydrogen-enabled gas turbine turns at the center of a powerful new alliance between the company and Entergy. Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Power CATALYST FOR TRANSFORMATION: ENTERGY ON THE PATH TO NET-ZERO S I T E S E L E C T I O N MAY 2021 127 ENTERG Y INTELLIGENCE REPOR T while maintaining low rates. We are pleased to welcome Mitsubishi Power as a collaborative partner in developing strategies to integrate these new technologies and solutions that support us achieving our environmental and customer commitments.” For its part, Mitsubishi Power is on the forefront of innovative technologies aimed at a carbon-free grid. In March 2020, the company announced the sale of its first hydrogen-capable advanced-class gas turbines, which will enable a power plant in Utah to move from coal to a mixture of 30 percent hydrogen with natural gas by 2025, ramping to 100 percent green hydrogen fuel by 2045. Also in 2020, the company announced a 200-MW lithium-ion battery storage project in Texas (its largest to date) and the world’s first green hydrogen standard packages for power balancing and energy storage. “In recent years we have supported Entergy on three large power projects that the utility executed on schedule and on budget as part of a multi-year project to modernize the power generation fleet Next >