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PUC of Texas Approves Entergy Texas' Plans to Build Over 1,200 MW of Gas-Fired Capacity

LCG, September 12, 2025--Entergy announced yesterday that the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) approved Entergy Texas’ proposal to build two efficient natural gas-fired power plants to support the region’s rapid growth. The combined electric generating capacity of the two facilities, the Legend Power Station and the Lone Star Power Station, will add over 1,200 MW to the Southeast Texas power grid to support new customer demand, increase reliability and lower costs for all customers. Both facilities are scheduled to commence operations by mid-2028.

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Puget Sound Energy Starts Construction on 142-MW Appaloosa Solar Project in Washington

LCG, September 4, 2025--Puget Sound Energy (PSE) announced yesterday that phased construction has commenced on its 142-MW Appaloosa Solar Project, a utility-scale solar facility underway in southeastern Washington. The project is being built by Qcells EPC, who will serve as the module manufacturer and the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) solution provider. Construction is scheduled through 2026, and commercial operation is expected at the end of next year.

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Industry News

Rates Up, But Dereg Working, Massachusetts Officials Say

LCG, Jan. 26, 2001Massachusetts electric customers are seeing two bumps in their bills this month that increase the cost of power to the average customer by 15 percent to 20 percent, but state and utility officials say deregulation is working the way it's supposed to.

One of the increases is for sharply higher fuel costs for power plants, which will cost the average householder $6.61, while another $2.00 brings the utilities up to date for fuel costs they were not allowed to pass through to consumers for the first three years of deregulation in Massachusetts.

State officials say that the higher prices are one reason deregulation is working in Massachusetts and not in California.

David O'Connor, head of the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources, said "Everyone is grumpy, but the lights are still on here. We're taking care of our problems as they come up."

The Massachusetts Public Interest Group's Rob Sargent thinks backers of electric deregulation are looking at their handiwork from the wrong angle. "Their yardstick seems to be that it's not as bad as California, therefore it must be working," he said.

But regulators say they would rather have the utilities keep abreast of their costs, rather than be forced into insolvency, as has happened in California. They point out that the fuel costs would have been passed through to ratepayers, deregulation or not.

Also, they point out, Massachusetts is allowing new power plant construction, another sharp difference with California. O'Connor said nine new plants have been built in the past three years and eight more are scheduled to begin operation over the next few years.

"There's almost no way we will continue to see the wholesale prices we're seeing with those plants coming online," he said. "The prices have got to come down."

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