Entergy Texas’ Orange County Advanced Power Station achieves ‘first fire’ milestone

ORANGE, TX -- The Orange County Advanced Power Station is one step closer to delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to support Southeast Texas’ growing needs.

The plant has successfully completed its “first fire,” a major milestone toward commercial operation. The phase marks the first-time fuel is introduced into the system and ignited, allowing crews to evaluate equipment performance and ensure all systems operate safely and in coordination.

Under the guidance of partners at Mitsubishi, Sargent & Lundy, and The Industrial Company (TIC), Entergy Texas CEO Eliecer Viamontes pressed the “on” button, bringing the plant to life for the first time.

“It was an honor to take part in this moment, but I know my role was the easiest part,” Viamontes said. “All the credit belongs to the thousands of employees and vendor partners who have dedicated their skill, determination and hundreds of thousands of hours to bring us to this point. Their work and commitment are what made this possible. This project is helping to build stronger communities by supporting economic growth and creating jobs across Southeast Texas.”

Once fully operational, OCAPS, located in Orange, Texas, will generate about 1,215 megawatts of electricity — capable of powering more than 230,000 homes. The facility is designed to support continued economic growth across Southeast Texas while reducing emissions through modern, efficient technology. Its fuel efficiency is expected to generate more than $1 billion in customer savings over its lifetime.

With first fire complete, teams will advance into additional testing as part of the commissioning process. OCAPS is scheduled to begin serving customers in late summer 2026.

Learn more about OCAPS’ progress at entergytexas.com/powerstexas.

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