Baxter Wilson power plant to be shut down by Entergy next year

Entergy plans to deactivate the Baxter Wilson power plant on Kemp Bottom Road by the end of May, 2022.

The shutdown marks one of the steps in Entergy’s plan to replace some of the aging natural gas plants with renewable energy sources such as solar.

Last week, Entergy issued a press release which states shutdowns of some aging natural gas power generating plants will be shut down over the next five years and replaced with 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy.  The two-fold strategy is called EDGE, or Economic Development with Green Energy.

“The EDGE plan will provide major benefits to the customers and communities we serve,” said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO. “Having significant renewable power is as important to large companies as a state’s tax and incentive structure, site availability and labor force.

“Adding more renewable energy will put Mississippi communities in a better position for industrial recruitment, while also diversifying our power generation portfolio at a time of rising natural gas prices,” he added. “Along with the nuclear power provided by Grand Gulf, this would give our customers diverse, sustainable, reliable, clean and affordable power for years to come

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves believes the plan will help the state to grow energy independent and provide more energy options to customers.

Entergy Mississippi, under the EDGE plan, would add 500 MW of renewable power by 2025 and another 500 MW by 2027, increasing the company’s total renewable power portfolio from 1% to 17%. Natural gas makes up a majority of the company’s current power generation portfolio.