From Chron: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/power-texas-coal-solar-battery-20005666.php
While coal and natural gas remain king in Texas, both solar and battery power are making headways. The latest proof is that, thanks to a $1.4 billion investment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a coal-fired power plant in South Texas will transition into a solar and battery facility.
The USDA announced Dec. 19 that San Miguel Electric Cooperative Inc. in Christine—about 63 miles south of San Antonio in Atascosa County—will change to an operation producing 600 megawatts (MW) of energy through solar panels and a battery energy storage system (BESS). The project, said the USDA, will aim to reduce climate pollution by around 1.8 tons annually.
San Miguel was one of 10 rural electric cooperatives that received investments from the USDA to prioritize greenhouse gas reductions during the round of funding. In all, the USDA awarded $4.37 billion in loans and grants to the cooperatives.
“USDA is committed to enhancing the quality of life and improving air and water in our rural communities,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in the announcement. “The Inflation Reduction Act’s historic investments enable USDA to partner with rural electric cooperatives to strengthen America’s energy security and lower electricity bills for hardworking families, farmers and small business owners.”
San Miguel, which currently produces 391 MW of electricity through a contract with South Texas Electric Cooperative (STEC), will convert its operations to a 400 MW solar generation facility and 200 MW battery storage facility. It expects to finish the transition by 2027.
“The USDA funding represents a new era for the San Miguel Electric Cooperative, which has long been the backbone of electric generation for generations of South Texans,” said San Miguel General Manager and CEO Craig Courter. “New ERA program funding will allow us to virtually eliminate our greenhouse gas emissions, while continuing to provide affordable and reliable power to rural South Texans.”
Texas has become a leader in both solar and battery storage nationwide. The Lone Star State is neck-and-neck with California in the solar capacity race, while it has about 4,800 MW of battery systems statewide, as of September.