Texas Advances NRG Energy’s 721-MW Gas Plant to Add Dispatchable Generation

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Nov. 12 announced the designation of a new NRG Energy natural gas facility in Chambers County as a qualified development under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation program. The designation places the project within a priority track aimed at supporting new firm generation across the state to reinforce grid reliability.

NRG Energy plans to develop a 721-megawatt unit at the existing Cedar Bayou power complex. The project carries an estimated cost of $936 million. State officials expect the facility to begin producing electricity for the Texas grid by mid-2028, adding new dispatchable supply for the region served by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.

The action follows an earlier loan agreement between NRG Energy and the Public Utility Commission of Texas through the Texas Energy Fund. The regulator established the program to expand access to financing for new power plants that can strengthen reliability as electricity use rises across industrial and residential hubs. The Cedar Bayou location provides existing infrastructure and established transmission access, which supports shorter development timelines.

The JETI program was created to attract long term energy investments that support job creation and economic growth. The selection of the Cedar Bayou project highlights the state’s focus on reinforcing generation that can perform during periods of stress on the power system.

The new facility is positioned as a significant addition to Texas’s resource mix and is expected to support construction activity and broader economic growth across Chambers County while contributing to a more stable grid.