Officials celebrating NRG energy expansion in Chambers County
AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott broke news last week about a new 721-megawatt natural gas power plant that represents an estimated $936 million in capital investment in Texas, located within the borders of Chambers County.
The announcement came on Wednesday, Nov. 12, that the natural gas facility to be located at the NRG Cedar Bayou production complex had officially been designated as a qualified project under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (JETI) program.
“Texas energy and innovation fuels record-setting job growth across diverse industries in our great state,” Abbott said. “This Texas-sized $936 million investment in Chambers County and 721-megawatt investment in our state grid will increase dispatchable electricity generation and further reinforce grid reliability.”
The JETI initiative was announced in 2024 and is a competitive economic incentive tool that will attract new jobs and investments to the state.
“The JETI program is a new, transparent economic development incentive tool to help our communities continue to attract transformational capital investments that will create good-paying jobs for generations to come,” Abbott said at the time.
Chambers County leaders played a role in partnering with other local partners to incentivize the project.
“The addition of NRG’s 721 MW power plant not only strengthens grid stability and reliability, it also enhances the county’s ability to retain and attract a broad cross section of industries,” said County Judge Jimmy Sylvia.
State Rep. Terri Leo Wilson touted Chambers County’s efforts, calling it one of the best places in Texas for industry to grow and thrive.
“This investment by NRG strengthens our local economy, creates new jobs for our families, and supports the reliable energy infrastructure that our state depends on,” Leo Wilson said. “I am proud to welcome this project to our district, and I look forward to working with NRG and our community partners as we build a stronger future for Southeast Texas.”
The energy, which will serve the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), is expected to begin generating power by mid-2028.
“This development of a new, highly efficient unit at our Cedar Bayou power plant will generate significant construction jobs and, once online in 2028 will provide additional permanent jobs, new electricity for Texas, and regional economic growth,” said NRG Executive Vice President and NRG Business and Wholesale Operations President Robert J. Gaudette. “With power demand surging across Texas, it takes public-private partnerships to meet that demand, and NRG is grateful that the Cedar Bayou project is part of Governor Abbott’s innovative JETI program.”