Celebrating New Power for Texas at TH Wharton Generating Station

Last week, NRG marked an important milestone at its TH Wharton Generating Station in Houston, celebrating the completion of new natural gas-fueled simple-cycle generating units that are now serving the Texas grid. The ribbon cutting brought together state officials, community stakeholders, and project partners to recognize the teams behind the expansion and the role this project will play in supporting reliable power for Texans.

The new units add 456 megawatts of electrical generation to the Texas grid — enough power for more than 100,000 homes during peak times. The project is designed to support peak-demand reliability and fast-start generation when the ERCOT grid needs it most. The units can start up quickly, giving the grid added flexibility during rapidly changing conditions, including hot Texas afternoons and cold winter mornings.

It is a critical time in Texas to reach this important milestone in electricity generation. Electricity demand is rising due to increased electrification, the onshoring of manufacturing, and the growth of AI, making dependable, dispatchable generation increasingly important. As a peaking facility, TH Wharton is built to provide power when demand is highest, helping support Houston and the broader Texas grid during moments of strain.

“Last week was a celebration of the hundreds of employees, contractors, and partners who made this project possible,” said Matthew Pistner, President of NRG Wholesale. “This project adds new generation capacity that will support Texans during periods of peak demand and help meet the needs of a rapidly growing Texas economy.”

The project also reflects the value of public-private collaboration. TH Wharton’s expansion is part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s Texas Energy Fund (TxEF) loan program, which provides low-interest rate loans to power generators to incentivize the construction of power plants across the state to meet rising demand. NRG has already received TxEF loans for its Cedar Bayou and Greens Bayou sites, with the company’s three TxEF projects estimated to bring more than 1.5 GW of new natural gas generation to Texas through 2028.

Beyond adding capacity to the grid, the TH Wharton expansion has delivered meaningful local benefits. The project supported more than 300 construction jobs, created additional permanent jobs, and represents long-term investment in Houston-area infrastructure. It also builds on NRG’s long-standing presence in Texas and the capabilities of the company’s Development, Engineering & Construction team, which has experience delivering large power projects safely, on time and on budget.

For NRG, this ribbon cutting is more than a celebration of new equipment coming online. It is a recognition of the people who made the project possible — from construction workers and technicians to engineers, operators, partners, and public officials — and a reminder of the important role reliable generation plays in supporting Texas homes, businesses, and communities. As demand continues to grow, projects like TH Wharton help ensure Texas has the power it needs when it matters most.