FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General Questions

Peaker plants are power generation facilities designed to operate during periods of high electricity demand. Unlike baseload plants that run continuously, peakers provide power when the grid needs additional capacity, typically during hot summer afternoons and extreme weather events.

The existing Bastrop Energy Center site was selected to minimize community impact while maximizing grid benefits. The location has existing transmission infrastructure, appropriate zoning, and strategic positioning to serve the regional grid efficiently. The site perimeter, access roads, and water supply will not need to be expanded to accommodate the expansion. Construction activity will use the existing plant access road off of TX-71. As such, we do not anticipate traffic impact to local residents.

Our comprehensive air quality analysis demonstrates that with the project online, local community air will continue to be better than National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the health of vulnerable groups including people with asthma, elderly people, and children. We use the high-efficiency combustion technology from GE to minimize emissions, including low-NOx burners and advanced combustion controls.

Additionally, our ozone analysis shows the project impact to local ozone concentration to be below the Significant Impact Level (SIL) set by the EPA, meaning the impact to the surrounding area’s ozone concentration is considered small and not meaningful by the EPA and TCEQ.

We use modern natural gas turbines with advanced emission controls, resulting in a design that passes TCEQ’s Best Available Control Technology (BACT) evaluation. This technology also allows the plant to start and stop quickly to only operate during peak demand periods, unlike many other power plants which have to run for extended periods of time to make sure they can be available for peak demand resulting in higher emissions. Some other plants also have to run on coal or diesel, which have higher emissions than natural gas.

As a “peaker” facility, it will operate primarily during high-demand periods (examples: hot August days, cold January days), meaning lower overall emissions compared to baseload plants. The facility will be permitted to operate a maximum of 40% of the year, then turns back off when not needed, minimizing environmental impact while providing critical grid reliability.

Milepost Power Holdings (MPH) is an experienced owner and operator of power plants across the US with over 30 years of experience in the power sector. We maintain a strong environmental compliance and safety record, currently owning and operating approximately 3,600 MW of natural gas power plants throughout the United States. In Texas, we operate two natural gas power plants providing flexible, dependable power: the 617 MW Bastrop Energy Center in Cedar Creek and the 266 MW Paris Energy Center in Paris. Our existing Bastrop facility has received the best possible environmental compliance rating from TCEQ and has had no lost time safety incidents for almost 20 years.

Electricity Generation Need Questions

Texas is experiencing unprecedented electricity demand growth. ERCOT, the Texas grid operator, projects that electrical demand could grow by 74% from 2024 to 2030 – faster growth than has ever been seen before. This growth is driven by:

  • New industrial and manufacturing facilities
  • Data centers requiring massive amounts of power
  • Rapid population growth as people move to Texas
  • Economic expansion making Texas “the economic engine of America”

Without additional power plants, significant demand growth makes future blackouts more likely and can prevent the buildout of new businesses in Texas. The Winter Storm Uri tragedy in February 2021 caused statewide blackouts, 246 deaths, and $195 billion in damage, highlighting the critical need for reliable, dispatchable power generation.

Renewables alone cannot provide the on-demand reliability required for a stable grid, especially during extreme weather events. Natural gas peakers complement renewable energy by providing reliable backup power when solar and wind generation is limited.

Unlike renewables and batteries, natural gas plants can turn on any time, in any weather, for as long as needed. This partnership enables greater renewable energy integration while maintaining grid reliability. The Bastrop Peaking Center is answering the call of Texans, legislators, and Gov. Greg Abbott for more dispatchable power plants to fuel Texas’ growth.

The facility will serve the local Bastrop community, and the broader Texas grid as needed, supporting reliability across the state. Local communities will benefit from job creation, increased tax revenue, and enhanced energy security.

Environmental Impact Questions

The project operates under strict TCEQ permits with continuous monitoring, regular inspections, and mandatory reporting. Our design passes TCEQ’s Best Available Control Technology (BACT) evaluation and we undergo rigorous environmental review processes.

We use GE’s latest DLN2.6e technology, clean pipeline-grade natural gas (the same that fuels your kitchen stove), and good combustion practices to minimize emissions. Our design passes TCEQ’s Best Available Control Technology (BACT) evaluation, ensuring that emissions have been controlled to the maximum extent practical and reasonable. All units include Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) that monitor emissions at all times to ensure compliance with air permits. Real-time data is reported back to regulators and is available to the public on EPA’s website, with CEMS systems calibrated by third-party companies to ensure accuracy.

The Bastrop Peaking Center will use minimal water, which is especially important for drought-prone areas like Bastrop. Minimal water is needed during summer for cooling and is not needed during winter operation. This efficient design helps preserve local water resources while providing essential electricity generation.

Construction Timeline & Impact Questions

Construction will begin once TCEQ approves the submitted permit application, which is currently under review. The construction phase is expected to take approximately 15 months to complete. The TCEQ permit application was submitted on December 13, 2024. All construction timelines are projected and subject to change based on permit approval and regulatory processes.

We do not anticipate utility interruptions to the local community during construction. The project is designed to integrate additional equipment into the existing facility without disrupting current operations or local utility services.

Construction traffic will utilize the existing plant access road off of TX-71, avoiding residential neighborhoods. The site has existing infrastructure including access roads, which means we do not anticipate traffic impact to local residents. We will coordinate with local authorities to ensure proper traffic management and will address any construction-related concerns promptly through our established communication channels.

The Bastrop Peaking Center is designed to minimize visual impact by utilizing the existing Bastrop Energy Center site footprint without expanding the site’s perimeter, located behind a dense tree line. The gas turbines will be integrated within the existing facility boundaries, maintaining buffer zones that reduce visual impact to the local community. The project builds upon the existing infrastructure, which helps preserve the current visual landscape.

While specific mitigation measures are still being finalized, we are committed to minimizing construction impacts on the local community. We will coordinate with local authorities to ensure compliance with all applicable ordinances and environmental regulations.

Construction noise levels will vary depending on the phase of construction and specific activities being performed. We will work to minimize noise impact through proper equipment selection and scheduling of more impactful activities during daytime hours, where feasible.

The gas turbines will be integrated into the existing facility, which already operates with established noise levels. The turbines are designed with modern noise control technology. As a peaking facility operating only during high-demand periods (maximum 40% of the year), noise impacts will be intermittent rather than continuous.

The facility will operate in compliance with all applicable local noise ordinances and regulations. While peaking plants must be available to respond to grid demands regardless of time of day, we are committed to being good neighbors and will work within regulatory frameworks to minimize community impact.

Economic Impact Questions

Construction will create approximately 500 temporary jobs during the build phase. Permanent operations will employ 27 full-time positions at the site with competitive wages and benefits. The project also enables major new business development in Bastrop, including Samsung Semiconductor Factory, Tesla Gigafactory, and LS Electric Facility, enabling thousands of additional indirect jobs.

The project provides substantial economic benefits to Bastrop County. Our existing power plant already pays almost $2 million per year in property taxes, and the new Bastrop Peaking Center will pay additional property taxes on top of this amount. These tax dollars help fund schools, roads, emergency services, public parks, and other community buildings and services. Beyond direct employment, the project supports local business growth during construction and operations and enables major new industries to locate in Bastrop.

We encourage community engagement through public comment periods, information sessions, and ongoing communication channels.

Contact us at info@bastroppeakingcenter.com for more information. 

Site tours available upon request.

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