What you need to know
The power plant will be located within the 100-acre mixed-used business park at 1 Circle Drive, close to Hwy. 6 and Sugar Land Regional Airport. Officials with the Sugar Land Office of Economic Development and Tourism, who are facilitating the project, said the plant would be built out by late 2027 or early 2028.
This project is an effort to prevent the devastating impacts of weather disasters, such as Winter Storm Uri in 2021, Sugar Land Mayor Joe Zimmerman said in the release.
"We are committed to building a resilient and dependable power infrastructure here in Sugar Land," Zimmerman said in a statement. "This initiative not only ensures a critical resource for our community, but it will also make it easier for us to attract premier business partners, fostering long-term economic growth.”
Upon completion, the power plant is expected to bring various economic benefits, including new jobs and increased revenues for the city, according to the release.
How it works
The plant will use natural gas to provide sustainable power to the Texas grid, per the release. In the event of a grid failure, weather-resistant engines will be able to restore power within five minutes. The plant will provide electricity without relying on external grids, even during a complete blackout.
“We plan to construct the plant with highly efficient engines that are capable of producing power independently, even during extremely low or high temperatures,” SLOEDT Assistant Director Alba Penate-Johnson said in a statement. “These aspects align with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas goals, which operates Texas' electrical grid.”
The range of coverage for the updated system has yet to be determined, officials with the SLOEDT said.
