The Grand River Dam Authority on Sept. 9 formally dedicated Unit 4 at its Grand River Energy Center, celebrating the completion of its new $525 million advanced-class natural gas project, developed in collaboration with engineering, procurement support and construction lead Black & Veatch and combustion turbine generator OEM Mitsubishi Power.
GREC Unit 4 includes a 426-megawatt, fast-start J-class Mitsubishi Power combustion turbine operating in simple cycle, the first M501JAC unit of its kind to operate in simple cycle configuration in the United States.
The hydrogen-capable turbine is designed to give GRDA the operational flexibility and fast start-up times needed to serve its customers in the wind-heavy Southwest Power Pool region.
The project builds on a long-running collaboration between GRDA, Black & Veatch and Mitsubishi Power.
Black & Veatch served as owner’s engineer for GREC Unit 3, a combined-cycle unit completed in 2017 and recognized as the first of its kind deployed in the Western Hemisphere.
GRDA and Black & Veatch held a signing ceremony for Unit 4 on October 2, 2023, followed by a groundbreaking on May 16, 2024, ahead of the unit reaching commercial operation in 2026.
GREC Unit 4 has also 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.
“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.”
“GREC Unit 4 is a powerful example of what can be achieved through a shared commitment to innovation, reliability and long-term partnership,” said Bill Newsom, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Power Americas. “We are proud to celebrate this milestone alongside our partners. This project showcases how advanced-class gas turbine technology can deliver the flexibility and performance required today, while supporting GRDA’s future energy needs.”
GRDA, Oklahoma’s largest public power electric utility, is fully funded through electric and water sales rather than taxes.
