20-08-01 The Public Utility Commission of Texas has encouraged the construction of power generation additions for the past several years to maintain adequate power supplies. This year will set a new record for power plant start-ups in Texas. Already 14 power plants have completed construction totalling 5,134 MW of electricity with an additional 13 plants currently in construction totalling 4,024 MW scheduled for completion by year's end.
The completion of these power plants will represent more electric capacity to come online in Texas than the last six years combined. The majority of these power projects are merchant owned natural gas fired combined-cycle generating plants utilizing the latest technologies to generate reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly energy.

The new capacity is expected to meet the projected increases in energy demand caused by sustained economic growth, increasing population, and hotter than normal temperatures. Power equipment at these sites will include 41 naturalgas fired combustion turbines producing 6,309 MW and 16 waste heat and supplementary natural gas fired steam turbine generators totalling 2,211 MW.
The remaining 630+MW of new generation are from four wind power projects adding 297 wind turbine generators. "This new capacity should help electricity prices stay reasonable and meet the projected growth of a strong Texas economy," quoted Shane Mullins, Senior Power Research Manager with Industrialinfo.com.