A major new natural gas power project in east Houston just cleared another state milestone, pushing a planned 455-megawatt plant closer to reality as Texas races to add generation amid rising demand.
What this means
Gov. Greg Abbott announced the new unit planned at the existing Greens Bayou facility has been designated a qualified project under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation program, according to a Feb. 17 news release. The plant represents $617 million in capital investment and is expected to start producing electricity for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas region in 2028, according to the governor’s office.
The project is intended to strengthen grid reliability and create jobs, crediting state leaders and local partners for helping move the plan ahead, per the release.
How we got here
The project first surfaced publicly in late 2025 when state officials announced a Texas Energy Fund loan agreement between the company and the Public Utility Commission of Texas—a financing step tied to Texas’ broader push for new, dispatchable power generation, according to the release.
Community Impact previously reported the Greens Bayou plant was selected for that loan, outlining the project’s $617 million price tag, 455-megawatt capacity and 2028 target to come online.
What’s next
According to the release, with the JETI designation now in place, the focus shifts to the buildout and timeline leading up to the planned 2028 start date—when the additional capacity is expected to begin feeding electricity into the ERCOT grid.
Local stakeholders, including Galena Park ISD, have pointed to potential economic ripple effects tied to the investment, per the release.
“Projects like this support local economic development while helping ensure long-term stability for public education,” GPISD Superintendent John Moore said.