LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation (AECC) has begun construction on a 900-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant in Morris County, Texas, near Naples. Construction on the facility is scheduled to begin in summer 2026.

The plant is part of AECC’s plan to meet wholesale power generation needs. AECC plans to have the on-demand power generation facility in commercial operation by 2029. The two-turbine, simple-cycle facility will be approximately 100 acres. The plant is located within the catchment area of ​​the Southwest Power Pool regional transmission organization (RTO) and will contribute to reliability within the RTO. This new state-of-the-art facility will be among the highest-performing, lowest-emissions and most efficient natural gas power plants in AECC’s fleet.

According to Vernon “Buddy” Hasten, AECC President and CEO, AECC is committed to continuing to fulfill its mission of providing reliable, affordable electricity to electric cooperative members in a responsible manner. The natural gas source will provide easily controllable power 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to AECC’s 17 distribution cooperatives and ultimately to the 600,000 electric cooperative members in Arkansas and parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Louisiana.

“The Morris County, Texas, facility is critical to maintaining reliable energy resources,” Hasten said. “AECC continues to evaluate proven, easily controllable power generation technologies to provide reliable, affordable electricity to our members.”

Hasten said AECC reviewed potential sites in Arkansas before deciding on the Texas site. He cited the Morris County site’s proximity to natural gas pipelines and transmissions as major factors in the site selection.

On August 14, an open house for the project was held in Naples, Texas, to meet the community and share plans.

The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas are comprised of 17 electric distribution cooperatives; Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. (AECI), a Little Rock-based cooperative that provides services to the distribution cooperatives; and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC), an electric generation and transmission cooperative. The distribution cooperatives provide electricity to approximately 600,000 homes, farms, and businesses in Arkansas and surrounding states.

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