Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) will build a 900-megawatt (MW) natural gas-based generation facility in Morris County, Texas, near Naples. Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, with commercial operation beginning by 2029.
The plant is part of AECC’s plan to address wholesale generation needs. This new state-of-the-art asset will be among the highest-performing, lowest-emitting and most efficient natural gas plants in AECC’s fleet.
According to AECC President/CEO Vernon “Buddy” Hasten, the natural gas resource will provide 24/7/365 readily dispatchable energy for AECC’s 17 distribution cooperatives and, ultimately, the 600,000 electric cooperative members in Arkansas and parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Louisiana.
“The facility in Morris County, Texas, is crucial to maintaining reliable energy resources,” Hasten said. “AECC continues to review proven, readily dispatchable power generation technologies to provide our members with reliable, affordable electricity.”
Hasten said AECC evaluated potential site locations in Arkansas prior to selecting the Texas location. He cited the Morris County site’s proximity to natural gas pipelines and transmission as the primary factors in the location selection.