NRG looking to develop new quick-start natural gas plants in Texas
NRG Energy is one step closer to being the developer of new natural gas power generation plants in Texas.
This week, it submitted the first of three loan applications to the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) to develop new new quick-start natural gas power generation plants.
This first application is for a new 721 MW natural gas combined cycle unit at NRG’s Cedar Bayou plant in Baytown.
In the coming weeks, the company plans to submit applications for two quick-start natural gas peaking projects near Houston — the 455 MW project at TH Wharton and the 456 MW unit at Greens Bayou.
“Texas is projected to have the fastest growing electricity sector of any market in the United States,” Larry Coben, NRG chair, interim president and CEO, said. “The state expects electricity consumption to grow by 65 gigawatts (65,000MW), or nearly 77 percent through 2030. NRG urges advancement of any truly shovel-ready projects to meet the demands of the state’s growing and electrified economy. Our three shovel-ready projects have been in development for five years and are among the select few projects positioned to bring much needed flexible and dispatchable generation to the state this decade.”
NRG anticipates that these three projects will be capable of supplying power to customers in under 30 minutes. Completion of these projects is contingent upon loan approvals from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), which administers the TEF.
Following approval, NRG would begin construction on two of the three facilities as early as October of this year. These plants are expected to create lasting economic and community benefits through permanent positions and hundreds of construction jobs.
