“Today’s groundbreaking ceremony is an exciting moment for our local economy and the people of East Texas,” said Rep. Brian Babin. “The Lake Livingston Hydroelectric Power Plant will provide our area with a new source of reliable and renewable energy. I’m thrilled to welcome this important development and I look forward to monitoring its progress.”
Upon its expected completion in 2018, the new 24-megawatt hydroelectric power plant will produce enough electricity to power 12,000 homes in East Texas. It is being developed in cooperation with TRA, which owns and operates the dam and reservoir, and the city of Houston, which funded construction of the existing facilities in the 1960s and owns water rights to 70 percent of the lake’s storage.
Edd Hargett, General Manager of ETEC, said, “Our thanks go to Congressman Babin and our local elected officials and guests for joining us in celebrating the start of construction of this new hydroelectric plant. This new plant will allow ETEC to further diversify its power mix and continue to offer affordable and reliable electric power to its members across East Texas.”
“Our partnership with ETEC on this project will provide power resources that aid community growth and sustainability and help further enrich areas along the Trinity River basin,” said TRA’s General Manager Kevin Ward.
The plant will use water that TRA would otherwise release through the dam’s spillway gates to meet water demands downstream and to maintain a relatively constant reservoir level. Hydropower operations will not change the net amount, or timing, of water released into the river below the dam.
