BEAUMONT, Texas — Entergy Texas is moving forward with a $1 billion plan to build 49 miles of upgraded transmission lines from Hardin County to Jefferson County, a project aimed at bringing more energy to Southeast Texas and improving reliability during severe weather.

The company says the new lines are designed to support the region’s growing population while withstanding increasingly powerful storms.

“Build back better as often as we can is what we try to do, just because it seems like the storms are getting stronger and stronger as the years go on,” said Paul Blackburn, customer service manager for the Beaumont Entergy Network.

For longtime residents like Mr. and Mrs. Buccard of Port Acres, who have lived in their home for 61 years, the upgrade comes after hard lessons learned during

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