Electricity is already being produced by a massive new $525 million power generation project dedicated this week at the Grand Driver Dam Authority’s Grand River Energy Center in Choteau.
Officials gathered to celebrate the opening of the new natural gas unit that will add about 500 megawatts of power.
John Wiscaver, vice president of GRDA said the agency spent six years of planning and work is underway to keep an older unit running, reported News on 6 in Tulsa.
The need for energy is increasing across Oklahoma, especially as data centers and major companies that use a lot of electricity continue to grow.
“This allows to keep that unit generating for several more years, which adds additional 500MW to that over grid overall grid. The more that we’re able to provide reliable, affordable energy to our customers of today, all our customers benefit by keeping those rates affordable and having good, reliable options.”
“Unit 4 represents exactly the kind of investment GRDA is committed to making for our
customers — reliable, efficient power that keeps pace with a changing grid,” said Dan
Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer of GRDA. “This project reflects years of
planning and partnership, and we’re proud to bring it online and mark this milestone
with the community.”
“As power continues to evolve, generators need assets that can respond quickly,
operate efficiently and support long-term growth. GREC Unit 4 delivers those
capabilities while meeting increasing energy demands across the region,” said Todd
Edsall, president of Power Providers for Black & Veatch. “The dedication of GREC Unit
4 represents another important milestone in Black & Veatch’s long-standing work with
GRDA and our shared commitment to delivering reliable, resilient energy infrastructure
for Oklahoma.”
GRDA Extending Life of Coal-Fired Unit
The agency recently received a $28.5 million federal grant to extend the life of a coal-fired unit. Assistant Secretary Catherine Jereza with the U.S. Department of Energy toured the facility this summer.
Looking Ahead to Future Energy Needs
Unit Four is just one part of GRDA’s overall power mix. According to Wiscaver, battery storage is next as the agency also uses hydro and wind generation.
“And we’re always looking at the future on what those needs are going to be. And we anticipate they’re not going to get less. So we are going to be continuing in a growth mode, investing in what we need to meet our customer needs.”
“The Grand River Energy Center is home to our coal Unit 2, our combined cycle Unit 3 – we have a very complex nomenclature here – and (now) our simple cycle Unit 4,” GRDA CEO and former state representative Dan Sullivan said during a Sept. 9 press conference outside the now-operating facility, according to KJRH TV news.
GREC Unit 4 — Quick Facts
Grand River Energy Center | Dedication of Unit 4
THE PROJECT
❖ GREC Unit 4 is a 426-megawatt, fast-start J-class Mitsubishi Power combustion
turbine operating in simple cycle.
❖ It is the first Mitsubishi Power M501JAC unit of its kind to operate in simple cycle
configuration in the United States.
❖ The turbine is hydrogen-capable, giving GRDA flexibility for future fuel options.
❖ Unit 4 gives GRDA the operational flexibility and fast start-up times needed to serve
customers in the wind-heavy Southwest Power Pool (SPP) region.
THE INVESTMENT
❖ Unit 4 represents a $525 million investment in Oklahoma’s energy infrastructure.
❖ The project was developed in collaboration with Black & Veatch (engineering,
procurement support, and construction lead) and Mitsubishi Power (combustion
turbine generator OEM).
THE TIMELINE
❖ October 2, 2023 — GRDA and Mitsubishi held a signing ceremony for the Unit 4
project.
❖ May 16, 2024 — Groundbreaking held in Chouteau, OK.
❖ September 16, 2026 — Unit 4 reaches commercial operation.
RECOGNITION
GREC Unit 4 received an Award of Merit in the Energy/Industrial category of
Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) 2026 Texas & Louisiana Best Projects Awards,
recognizing the project team’s work on Grand River Energy Center | Unit 4 Mechanical.
ABOUT GRDA
GRDA, Oklahoma’s largest public power electric utility, is fully funded through electric
and water sales rather than taxes. Guided by its commitment to the 5 E’s—electricity,
economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency—GRDA
continues to strive as an “Oklahoma agency of excellence.”
