Lower Colorado River Authority Picks Location in Texas for New Peaker Plant

March 19, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
March 19, 2023

The Lower Colorado River Authority announced on March 17 that its new peaker power plant will be built in Caldwell County, Texas.

The new plant, which will provide about 190 megawatts of dispatchable power to the Texas power grid, will be built on a 51-acre-site in the Maxwell area.

Preliminary work has begun, with construction expected to begin this summer. The plant is expected to be operational in 2025.

The new natural gas-fueled peaker plant will be able to ramp up and shut down in minutes when the need for power approaches or exceeds what is available from renewable and other thermal generation.

The plant will include 10 Wartsila reciprocating engines, with each engine able to provide about 19 megawatts of power.