Client: Arkansas Electric Energy Consumers, Inc. (AEEC)
Authors: Liz Stanton, PhD
September 2025
On behalf of Arkansas Electric Energy Consumers, Inc. (AEEC), Principal Economist Elizabeth A. Stanton, PhD submitted direct testimony before the Arkansas Public Service Commission to assess Entergy Arkansas, LLC’s request for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need (“CECPN”) and a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (“CCN”) in Docket No. 25-047-U. In this case, the Company requests approval for the construction and operation of Jefferson Power Station, a 754-megawatt gas-fired combined cycle combustion turbine (“CCCT”) at its existing White Bluff site. In her testimony, Dr. Stanton reviews the Company’s need for additional generation resources, its evaluation of alternative supply-side resource options, and the adequacy of its recent request for proposal (“RFP”) process.
Dr. Stanton recommends that the Commission reject the application for a CECPN as incomplete and require Entergy Arkansas to: reapply with all the information necessary to provide clear evidence that it requires additional capacity and/or generation at this time, and that the Jefferson Power Station represents the least-cost option; provide supplemental materials supporting the need for the project; conduct an all-resource RFP and make its results available to stakeholders; present cost and feasibility comparisons of resources not sited at White Bluff and resources other than natural gas-fired combined cycle combustion turbines. She also recommends that the Commission request that the Arkansas State Legislature reconsider its imposition of a six-month timeframe for CECPN cases.