The Energy Texas service territory includes 27 southeast Texas counties, made up of two different worlds with unique opportunities for prospective businesses.
In the east is Beaumont and Port Arthur, two cities with a long history in the petrochemical, oil and gas industries. The western portion of the service territory, including The Woodlands and Conroe, is home to numerous major corporations in a wide variety of industries such as healthcare, professional and technical services. If your business is looking to relocate or expand, Southeast Texas offers a diverse economy, essential infrastructure, experienced workforce and some of the lowest electricity costs in the country.
With the largest oil refinery and petrochemical complex in North America, the eastern part of the Entergy Texas service territory is focused on energy. In fact, 55% of the nation’s strategic oil reserves are held in the region. Southeast Texas petrochemical facilities are the nation’s No. 1 refiner of jet fuel and currently refine 13% of the country’s daily fuel consumption.
“We have over $50 billion in new capital investment that have either announced or are strongly considering relocating to our area,” says Karl Segura, Senior Manager of Business Development, Entergy Texas. “Two liquefied natural gas projects, both roughly $10 billion, will soon be located on the Gulf in Port Arthur. ExxonMobil and Chevron also have massive expansions projects in place. Southeast Texas is a hot spot for industry right now.”
The region’s infrastructure, particularly along the Gulf of Mexico, is ideal for companies in the petrochemical, oil and gas industries. Southeast Texas features three deepwater ports, three class 1 rail lines, three interstate highways and an extensive raw materials and finished products pipeline network that connects to nearly every state. It’s also in close proximity to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
In addition, US Development Group announced plans to construct a state–of–the–art $130 million multi-modal oil handling terminal in Port Arthur. The project is now under construction and is scheduled to be completed in 2021. The facility is specifically designed to handle a proprietary blend of Canadian heavy crude that is formulated to be non-hazardous and non-flammable by rail. The facility will include rail unloading, marine barge loading and unloading, tank storage and blending and pipeline connectivity to the nearby Phillips 66 Beaumont Terminal, giving customers access to a large network of refining and marine facilities.
Building upon the region’s unparalleled infrastructure, the Sabine-Neches Waterway, known as America’s energy gateway, is currently being widened from 40 to 48 feet. The $1.4 billion waterway project will allow larger ships to reach local ports of various industrial facilities. Current operations supported by the Sabine-Neches Waterway generate $40 billion in gross product annually and provide nearly 375,000 permanent jobs.
Beyond business and infrastructure growth, Southeast Texas offers two four-year universities and numerous community colleges dedicated to training the future workforce. In fact, the Lone Star College System is the largest institute of higher education in the greater Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. were recently ranked among the top 10 community colleges in the U.S.
Montgomery Country, located in the western portion of the service territory, is known for its amazing quality of life, abundant job opportunities and easy access to Houston. According to the 2020 Census, Montgomery County was the ninth fastest-growing county in Texas, while Conroe was ranked the ninth fastest-growing city. In 2021, niche.com ranked The Woodlands as the top U.S. city to live in. This master-planned community is home to many large corporations, including McKesson, Howard Hughes Corporation, Huntsman Corporation and ExxonMobil, to name a few.
Distribution and warehousing are an emerging industry in Montgomery County. FedEx recently built a $18 million freight facility at the Conroe Park North Industrial Park. Joining Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart In the same area, Five Below opened a $42 million distribution center, which is the largest facility in the city at 1.1 million square feet.
“Montgomery County, Texas has been a prime location for businesses to locate and grow for the last several decades. It has transformed into a county with a strong, diverse economy and a large talented workforce. With a quality of life second to none, the county is ready to welcome you to be a part of this growth.” – John S. Tarver, CEcD, Senior Manager, Business and Economic Development, Entergy Texas
To meet growing demand as a result of increased population and business expansion, Entergy Texas is investing more than $2 billion in new generation, transmission and distribution upgrades. The goal is to replace aging infrastructure and improve service to customers across Southeast Texas. For example, the new 993-megawatt Montgomery County Power Station, which began operation in 2021, uses state-of-the-art technology to provide a cleaner, more efficient source of power.
“Our service territory is growing so fast that we needed more electrical capacity,” Segura says. “The Montgomery County Power Station will be a big boost to this region. Entergy Texas has also built several new substations and transmission lines to keep up with the significant growth we’re seeing.”
To deliver safe and cost-effective electric power, Entergy Texas is a member of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) regional transmission organization. One of the world’s largest energy markets, MISO’s member generation facilities are part of a connected energy grid spanning from the Gulf of Mexico, through the Midwest and into Canada.
“MISO features a diversified fuel mix, everything from natural gas to coal to renewables,” Segura explains. “It’s also part of a large geographic area that is less susceptible to outages due to one major weather event.”
To support companies with a commitment to sustainability, Entergy Texas has proposed a plan to work with Recurrent Energy to develop and operate a 100–megawatt solar farm located in Liberty County. The solar facility will add renewable solar capacity to Entergy Texas’ generation portfolio, which provides Renewable Energy Credits to business customers.
“The businesses that we’re recruiting have renewable energy interests, and we’re making a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a company,” Segura says. “In the next few years, solar power will continue to gain momentum in the Entergy Texas region.”
Showcasing the utility’s dedication to fighting climate change, Entergy Texas received the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s highest recognition. Recipients of this award are honored for a commitment to protecting public health through energy efficiency.
The Entergy Texas service territory is made up of two different worlds – both favorable to businesses of all shapes and sizes. With a business-friendly tax climate, low cost of living and strong workforce coupled with expansive infrastructure, Southeast Texas is a powerhouse for industry, innovation and growth.
