Powering communities through economic development continues to be one of Entergy’s proudest contributions to the communities it serves. After nearly six years of exploration for a transformational project, Entergy Mississippi played a key role in recruiting Amazon Web Services’ historic $10 billion project – the single largest capital investment in Mississippi’s history. The transformative project includes two data center campuses and will provide at least 1,000 direct jobs. Positioning Mississippi as the newest technology leader in the southeast, the impacts of this sizeable investment will reach across Entergy Mississippi’s service territory – and lead to substantial education and infrastructure investments.
In the realm of technology-focused projects, efficiency and preparedness are paramount. With a focus on speed to market, Entergy Mississippi works diligently to streamline processes, deploy creative solutions and remove barriers to success for future investment.
Entergy Mississippi’s proactive approach to supporting pieces of business-friendly legislation has set the stage for future industrial development. Legislation introduced in 2015 enabled Entergy Mississippi to invest in economic development preferred sites, paving the way for strategic preparations aimed at expediting industrial projects. In 2021, legislation was passed allowing customers to place their fiber in Entergy Mississippi’s right-of-way without additional costs or public approvals, accelerating timelines for technology companies to invest in Mississippi.
Preparation is ingrained in every facet of Entergy Mississippi’s approach to projects. With a meticulous focus on readiness, the economic development team dedicates years to comprehensive planning. Sites are primed for development, with due diligence completed to ensure seamless execution. In addition to site readiness, the team continuously works with distribution and transmission engineering, resource planning and regulatory groups to identify efficiencies for new and existing customers to grow within the company’s footprint.
Innovative procurement strategies are central to any project’s success. With a willingness to think outside the box, Entergy Mississippi navigates challenges associated with equipment procurement, leveraging creative solutions to ensure uninterrupted project progression. Additionally, the company is committed to bringing items requiring approval from regulatory bodies to them in a timely fashion. Their team also has experience working through the legislative process to remove barriers companies that want to locate in Mississippi may not anticipate. Entergy Mississippi is prepared to provide the support necessary to help customers succeed throughout the process.
Entergy Mississippi’s multifaceted approach to economic development not only accelerates project timelines but also provides a foundation for future development and sustained economic growth and prosperity. The company’s affordable rates, strong reliability rankings and diverse generation portfolio give Mississippi a strong advantage in industrial recruitment. Its willingness to be flexible as a regulated utility has helped its customers be successful for more than 100 years. The economic development team at Entergy Mississippi is prepared to lead the way for future growth and is committed to identifying innovative solutions for any challenges companies wanting to locate or expand in Mississippi might face.
Connect with the Entergy Mississippi team here.
