Union County, Arkansas, 500kV Transmission Line

Entergy Arkansas transmission facilities

Tubular steel H-frame (left) and guyed lattice structure (right)

Entergy Arkansas is planning for a new 500kV transmission line to meet the needs of our customers and to support regional load growth. The proposed transmission line would traverse approximately 26 to 30 miles in Union County crossing the state line into Louisiana, complementing reliability efforts and supporting economic growth in the region.

As part of Entergy Arkansas’ Next Generation Arkansas vision, Better Power will be a key point that we plan to address to ensure long term reliability and resiliency in the state. We deliver affordable, efficient and dependable power solutions to industrial, commercial, agricultural and residential clients, addressing current electricity requirements while strategically planning for future needs. With the addition of this 500kV line, we’ll build upon our well-established power delivery system to provide reliable electricity for our customers.

Proposed transmission line benefits

Entergy Arkansas is required to construct the proposed transmission line by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation in order to maintain reliability. Although required for reliability, the proposed transmission line will enhance the robustness of the regional transmission system, provide operational flexibility and enable interconnection for future power generation resources and support future load growth.

Transmission line construction

Entergy Arkansas plans to construct the Arkansas portion of a new 500 kV transmission line connecting the El Dorado EHV 500kV substation to the Smalling, Louisiana 500kV substation. The company will be using highly efficient and reliable technology to construct the transmission line and related switching equipment which includes a high-voltage circuit breaker, tubular steel H-frame, and guyed lattice structures.

Proposed location

A significant portion of Route A is parallel to existing Entergy Arkansas transmission lines. Roads crossed by the project include Crain City Road, Moro Bay Highway, Liberty Road, Champagnolle Road, Lockner Road, Lawson Road, Oakland Road, Union County Road 155, Armer Road, Lovett Rd, Aurelle Road, Strong Highway, Nick Springs Road, Caney Creek Road, Country Road, and Pine Tree Road.

Route B trends east from Route A near Nick Springs Road and trends southeast for approximately 2.75 miles crossing Pine Tree Road and Liberty Road. The alternative route then turns south for approximately 2.75 miles. At this point, the Alternate Route rejoins Route A.

Route C splits away from Routes A and B approximately 3 miles southeast of the El Dorado EHV substation and trends east of the Strong community and down to the Arkansas-Louisiana state line near Highway 275. This route intersects Armer Road, Camp Road, Champagnolle Road, CR 22, CR 33, CR 44, Country Road, Crain City Road, Huttig Highway, Jones Lake Cutoff, Moro Bay Highway, Moro Bay Road, New London Road, Norsworthy Road, Old Highway 15, Pigeon Hill Road, State Highway 129, State Highway 275, Strong Highway, Union Road 199, US Highway 63, US Highway 82, and Winchester Road.

All three potential routes are shown in the map below.

Schedule overview

First quarter 2026 – First quarter 2028

Development activities, including resource assessment, environmental studies, interconnection studies, engineering, long-lead equipment reservation, Arkansas Public Service Commission regulatory review and permitting

Second quarter 2028 – Fourth quarter 2030

Site construction

Fourth quarter 2030

El Dorado to Smalling 500kV line is operational

Project considerations

The Arkansas Public Service Commission requires Entergy Arkansas to file an application for approval of a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need to construct the proposed 500kV transmission line. The Arkansas Public Service Commission may conduct a public hearing in connection with Entergy Arkansas’s application. The purpose of the hearing is for the Commission to hear evidence of the general economic and environmental impact of the project and to determine the reasonability of the Preferred Route for the transmission line, as opposed to individual objections to the presence of the facilities, and to approve a route that minimizes generally adverse economic and environmental consequences.

Transmission line and right-of-way considerations

Entergy Arkansas intends to make these improvements in collaboration with community members and key leaders. All final decisions regarding these new transmission line facilities will be made only after considering public input through the following sources:

Customer feedback – Input from our customers, area landowners, residents and community leaders are essential in developing an effective and efficient project plan. Entergy Arkansas welcomes any comments that you may have. Entergy Arkansas developed this webpage for the public to review the proposed project requirements. Members of the community can offer comments or send in questions to [email protected]. You may also call 501-213-0706 to leave a detailed message. Your call will be returned by one of our subject matter experts as soon as possible.
Public open house – Entergy Arkansas will be hosting a public open house at the El Dorado Conference Center on Tuesday, May 12, at 311 S West Ave. from 4 to 7 p.m. Representatives will be available to discuss the project and answer any questions you may have.
Notice to landowners – All landowners of record on or near the proposed project area will be notified by mail.

Several factors must be considered when embarking on a project of this scale, including:

Construction costs – Construction costs are a major consideration in the design and approval of the project. A large regional industrial customer will fully fund 100% of the upfront construction costs through a Contribution-In-Aid-of-Construction.
Transmission line and facilities – Entergy Arkansas will design its transmission line and facilities using existing standards for 500 kV right-of-way, which will be 225 feet wide based on utilization of tubular steel H-frame and guyed lattice structures. Additional right-of-way and/or substation terminal facilities may be required above the 225-feet range to accommodate guy wires, angle structures, terminating facilities and for clearing risk trees.
Aesthetic considerations and other environmental factors – The 500 kV transmission line will be designed and built by Entergy Arkansas. The transmission line will be configured to avoid impacts on natural and human resources, as well as other obstacles or constraints. Land use in the vicinity is predominantly undeveloped. A significant portion of routes A & B parallel existing Entergy Arkansas transmission lines.
Health and safety – Safety is the highest priority for Entergy Arkansas. In accordance with the requirements set forth in the National Electrical Safety Code, Entergy Arkansas plans to construct and operate the proposed electrical facilities at its standard voltage design and observe reasonable safety precautions to ensure public safety. Construction methods and activities in the field must meet U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Organization requirements. In addition, Entergy Arkansas maintains and follows its own safety policies and procedures as part of the Entergy Enterprise Safety Standards.
Regulatory and permitting – Entergy Arkansas will request a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the 500kV transmission line from the Arkansas Public Service Commission. The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment – Division of Environmental Quality, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well as other federal and state agencies, requires Entergy Arkansas to file for approval of various permits for construction of the proposed 500kV transmission line. Entergy Arkansas will apply for all necessary certifications and permits for the proposed transmission facility.

Next steps

Customer contact and site access – Landowners will be contacted for assistance in developing plans to temporarily access new right-of-way prior to construction. These plans may include ground surveys, soil testing and test borings. Entergy Arkansas may initiate contact directly or through contractors.

Construction phase – The proposed transmission electrical facilities will be designed and constructed by Entergy Arkansas or under its supervision. Vegetation management, electrical construction and final testing will be performed by pre-qualified electrical contractors under the supervision of Entergy Arkansas personnel in a sequential operation of surveying, clearing, structure erection, conductor installation, testing and clean-up. The first operation is to survey the transmission route to establish the centerline, edge of right-of-way and profile of the transmission line. Centerline staking and profiling may require cutting some trees and undergrowth. Right-of-way clearing, if necessary, will also be performed by contracted crews under the supervision of Entergy Arkansas personnel. Trees outside of the right-of-way that endanger the safe and reliable operation of the transmission line will be cut to provide necessary clearance.

Structure installation takes place in three phases: transporting, assembling and erecting. Once the structure is assembled, installing conductor is the next critical step. Many vehicles and items of equipment are required to install the conductor. As with vehicles and equipment associated with other construction phases, crews will exercise care to minimize damage to the terrain and landowner premises.

Frequently asked questions

What experience does Entergy Arkansas have building, operating and maintaining transmission lines?

Entergy Arkansas has extensive experience building and operating a vast transmission network. Entergy Arkansas owns and operates approximately 939 circuit miles of extra high voltage transmission lines of 345 kV or greater; 199 circuit miles of transmission lines of 230 kV; 3,927 circuit miles of transmission lines of 161 kV and lower; and 151 transmission substations providing regional electrical service.

What is the timeline for construction of the Arkansas portion of the 500 kV transmission line?

Construction is anticipated to begin in the 2nd quarter of 2028 and be completed in the 4th quarter of 2030.

What safety measures does Entergy Arkansas employ?

Entergy Arkansas’s top priority is to have a safe, accident-free environment for our employees and those that live in the communities we serve. Safety measures meet the specific needs of the project, community and impacted areas. In addition, dust suppression activities such as watering roads and construction areas to minimize dust is a standard practice for Entergy Arkansas.

Is the public expected to experience disruption from the project?

Predominant land use along the proposed route(s) is undeveloped. A significant portion of routes A & B parallel an existing Entergy Arkansas transmission line. Little to no impact is anticipated for the public.

How big is the footprint of the transmission project?

The proposed 500kV transmission line would be approximately 26 to 30 miles in length with an associated 225-foot right-of-way, totaling approximately 700 to 820 acres.

How can I provide feedback about this project?

If you have any questions about the project, please email [email protected] or call 501-213-0706 and leave a detailed message.