WattBridge Energy announced the Brotman Generating Station in Brazoria County, Texas is now commercially online.
Powered by six PROENERGY LM6000 gas-turbine packages, the 288 MW Brotman station will support renewable development with peaking ability.
The independent power producer has quickly grown its footprint in Texas. Brotman becomes the fifth new power project in WattBridge’s fleet in the last three years. Wattbridge, which once had six LM6000 units in its fleet in January 2021, now has 38 units today.
WattBridge plans to develop at least 4,000 MW of dispatchable power in Texas, but those plans may be forced to change due to developing changes with the market structure, according to WattBridge President, Mike Alvarado.
Earlier this year the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC) adopted a Performance Credit Mechanism (PCM) designed to incentivize new generation. Essentially, power producers will sell credits to retail energy providers in Texas. The credits offer assurance to the providers that power will be available to them during times of scarcity, which under the old system would trigger higher prices.
“We’ve been proud to contribute to the Texas Miracle of affordable energy security with 2,400 MW operational or under construction and at least a further 1,600 MW in advanced development that could be online by 2026,” said Alvarado.
“Our business requires the [Performance Credit Mechanism] as adopted by the PUCT (Public Utilities Commission of Texas) to support new development and retain existing dispatchable generation,” he continued. “Without the regulatory certainty that allows us to invest in a 30-year asset, we simply cannot move forward.”
Critics of the PCM have said it doesn’t offer assurance that new power plants will indeed be built but instead simply gives more money to power producers.
This post appeared first on Power Engineering.
