TEXAS – Governor Greg Abbott celebrated expanding Texas’ access to affordable, reliable energy following the groundbreaking in Maxwell for two new peaking power plants from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).
According to the Texas government, the two new plants will add hundreds of megawatts of power to the state’s electric grid.
Abbott said that to keep Texas’ economy booming, affordable and reliable power must continue to be built.
“That’s why plants like these here in the growing Central Texas region are so important. Texas has already added more than 3 thousand megawatts of dispatchable power to the grid in the last 12 months, and with the addition of two new power facilities, we will continue on our mission to create more energy for Texans. When demand on the grid is at its peak, production plants like this one can supply it quickly to ensure the grid stays strong, even as we break new demand records each summer. These plants will provide Texans with the power they need for their homes and businesses and help ensure we have the resources we need to power a bigger and better Texas,” the governor said.
Addressing a crowd of business and energy leaders, Abbott highlighted the critical role the two new power plants will play in the Texas grid, adding a total of 380 megawatts of power and bringing more than 300 good-paying jobs to Texans in the San Marcos area.
The first of the two plants is currently under construction and is expected to be operational by 2025. The governor also emphasized the need for more power sources throughout the state due to the record growth of the Texas economy.
Joining the governor at the groundbreaking ceremony were Senator Judith Zaffirini, Representative Stan Gerdes, LCRA Board Chairman Tim Timmerman, LCRA CEO Phil Wilson and other energy industry leaders.