HALLSVILLE, Tx, (June 8) – Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) and American Electric Power (AEP) recently marked a major construction milestone at the Hallsville plant site, formerly home to the H.W. Pirkey Power Plant, with the completion of a large-scale concrete pour for the new turbine foundation. The pour was completed in a single continuous operation, requiring precise coordination across crews, equipment, and timing to ensure structural integrity and long-term performance of the compact, high-efficiency foundation design. The work was completed safely, thanks to careful planning and the dedication of crews committed to protecting one another on the job.
This milestone marks a critical step in preparing the site for new construction, as SWEPCO continues investing in infrastructure to support long-term customer growth, system reliability, and economic development across the region.
A total of eighty-nine concrete trucks supported the nine-hour operation, making it one of the most significant civil construction events at the location to date. It also represents SWEPCO’s first new thermal power plant since the John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant was completed more than a decade ago.
The Hallsville Natural Gas Plant represents a transformative next chapter at the site of the retired H.W. Pirkey Power Plant. The proposed 450-megawatt facility has received regulatory approval in Arkansas. It is expected to begin commercial operations in December 2027. Once complete, the plant will help meet growing energy demand and strengthen long-term reliability across SWEPCO’s service area.
As part of this forward-looking approach, SWEPCO is also expanding its strategy to meet future needs. Recently the company issued an all-source request for proposals (RFP) seeking additional generation capacity to serve customers across its service territory.