Entergy Texas Completes $100 Million Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project

The Bolivar Peninsula has turned a corner in its energy story. On Wednesday, Entergy Texas CEO Eli Viamontes stood before community members at Crystal Beach Community Church to announce the completion of the long-awaited Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project, a $100 million investment designed to deliver stronger, more reliable electricity and prepare the region for future growth.

A Response to Community Need

Viamontes reflected on the origins of the project, recalling Christmas Day 2022 when residents were struggling through widespread power issues. Just weeks later, in February 2023, Entergy hosted a town hall meeting where community frustrations were voiced loud and clear.

“It was clear that something had to change,” Viamontes said. “We committed to making the grid stronger so that the community could be stronger.”

Entergy pledged more than $100 million in upgrades, promising residents that while construction might bring short-term inconveniences, the long-term benefits would be transformative.

Building Resiliency and Capacity

The reliability project focused on two key outcomes: resilience against coastal storms and an increase in the peninsula’s capacity to serve a growing population.

• Resiliency: New infrastructure has been built to withstand hurricane-force winds up to 150 miles per hour, incorporating composite poles and stainless-steel equipment resistant to saltwater corrosion.
• Capacity: The project more than doubles the peninsula’s load-serving ability, ensuring that when the summer crowds arrive or new development expands, the electrical system can meet demand.

Technical improvements include:

• A new Palms Substation equipped with two large transformers, matching the capacity of the Bluewater Substation and providing redundancy in service.
• A new Port Bolivar Substation, positioned to accommodate future growth at the western end of the peninsula.
• Upgrades at High Island, where a new 50 MVA transformer doubles capacity and allows maintenance without customer outages.
• A second 34.5 kV feeder line, built along the north side of Highway 87, giving the peninsula a backup circuit for the first time in its history.

As Entergy engineers explained, the addition of a “self-healing network” now allows the system to detect faults, isolate them, and reroute power automatically—often restoring service within seconds.

Community Collaboration

The two-year project was not only a construction milestone but also a testament to communication between Entergy and the Bolivar community. Residents praised the company for providing updates, listening to concerns, and taking visible action.

“You came in, you saw there was a problem, you told us you’d fix it—and you did,” one community member said during the event.

Looking to the Future

Viamontes also addressed broader questions about Texas’ energy landscape. He highlighted Entergy’s Southeast Texas Energy Plan, which includes new natural gas power stations and transmission projects to stay ahead of statewide growth in demand. While Entergy is investing in renewables where practical, he emphasized the importance of dispatchable, 24/7 power sources to serve both residents and industrial customers.

Unlike much of Texas, Bolivar and the 27 counties Entergy serves are not part of ERCOT but rather the MISO grid. Viamontes noted this structure allows Entergy to manage generation, transmission, and customer service under one integrated system—keeping rates below state and national averages.

A Stronger Peninsula

For Bolivar residents, the message was clear: the peninsula now has a stronger, more resilient electrical backbone than ever before.

“This is more than just poles and wires,” Viamontes said. “It shows what we’re capable of when we come together. The benefits are immediate, and they’ll pay dividends for decades to come.”

With hurricane season always a reality on the Gulf Coast and new growth expected in the years ahead, the completion of the Bolivar Peninsula Reliability Project marks a milestone worth celebrating.

Following the presentation, a Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held at the Port Bolivar Substation

Tom

Tom Osten is carrying on the legacy of CrystalBeach.com to promote this very special and unique community. He is living the dream in Crystal Beach with sweetheart Georgia and furry friend, Maezy.

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