US-based electric utility company Entergy Arkansas has started construction on the Ironwood Power Station, a 446 MW natural gas facility at the Lake Catherine site.
The development is intended to increase the state’s power generation capacity and address rising energy demand.
It will be built on 20 acres of existing infrastructure at Lake Catherine.
The facility has been designed as a simple-cycle natural gas combustion turbine plant, incorporating advanced technologies that could result in up to a 40% improvement in fuel efficiency.
Entergy Arkansas has stated that these enhancements are expected to lower fuel costs for its customers and provide greater flexibility in electricity generation.
Ironwood Power Station marks a transition in the local power supply, as it will take over from Lake Catherine Unit 4. The site is scheduled for retirement at the end of 2027 after more than five decades of service to Arkansas customers.
The new facility is a critical element of Entergy Arkansas’ Next Generation Arkansas initiative centred on electric grid modernisation, increased fuel-efficient generation, and maintaining consistent and affordable energy supply.
Entergy Arkansas president and CEO Laura Landreaux said: “Ironwood represents the next chapter of a remarkable legacy of innovation in this region and across Arkansas.
“Today’s groundbreaking is more than the start of construction. It is a renewal of our commitment to keep investing in the people and places that make Arkansas strong and to deliver safe, reliable and affordable energy to the people we serve.”
In July 2026, Entergy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a strategy targeting a 50% reduction in costs. The agreement includes participation from MHI America and Mitsubishi Power Americas.
