HALLSVILLE, Texas — Southwestern Electric Power Company and American Electric Power have completed a major construction milestone at the future Hallsville Natural Gas Plant, marking a significant step forward in development of the new power generation facility.
The companies announced the completion of a large-scale concrete pour for the plant's turbine foundation at the Hallsville site, formerly home to the retired H.W. Pirkey Power Plant.
The concrete pour was completed during a single continuous nine-hour operation that required coordination among construction crews, equipment and suppliers to ensure the foundation's structural integrity and long-term performance.
According to SWEPCO, 89 concrete trucks participated in the operation, making it one of the largest civil construction events at the site to date.
Company officials said the work was completed safely through extensive planning and coordination among construction teams.
The milestone represents a key stage in preparing the site for continued construction of the proposed 450-megawatt natural gas facility. SWEPCO said the project is part of its ongoing investment in infrastructure intended to support customer growth, system reliability and economic development throughout its service area.
The Hallsville Natural Gas Plant will be built on the site of the former H.W. Pirkey Power Plant and is expected to play a role in meeting increasing energy demand across the region.
The project has received regulatory approval in Arkansas and is scheduled to begin commercial operations in December 2027.
SWEPCO noted that the Hallsville facility is the company's first new thermal power plant project since completion of the John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant more than a decade ago.
The company said it continues to expand its long-term strategy to address future energy needs while strengthening reliability throughout its service territory. Recently the company issued an all-source request for proposals (RFP) seeking additional generation capacity to serve customers across its service territory.
