Vistra to add up to 2,000 MW of gas-fueled dispatchable power in ERCOT

Vistra intends to add up to 2,000 MW of dispatchable, natural-gas-fueled power capacity in West, Central, and North Texas. Vistra’s plan includes: new gas plants – Vistra intends to build up to 860 MW of advanced simple-cycle peaker plants to be located in West Texas to support the increasing power needs of the region, including the state’s growing oil and gas industry. Repowering a retired coal plant – Vistra’s coal-fueled Coleto Creek Power Plant near Goliad is set to retire in 2027 to comply with EPA rules. The company intends to repower it as a gas-fueled plant, enabling up to 600 MW of additional capacity after the coal facility retires. Upgrades of existing gas plants – Vistra will complete several projects at its existing gas plants that will add more than 500 MW of summer capacity and 100 MW of winter capacity. These quick-start gas units help to back up the grid when renewable resources are not available and the battery storage limits have been reached. Vistra is planning to file on May 31, a Notice of Intent to apply for the Texas Energy Fund for these new peakers. Vistra currently operates approximately 11,300 MW of natural gas power plants across Texas. Nearly half of this capacity will come online this summer with the remainder coming by summer 2025. In addition to ERCOT market design reforms, Vistra’s decision to move forward with these projects is contingent upon other various factors, including state and federal environmental regulations and long-term wholesale trends that continue to support gas generation.