LCRA began providing electricity for Central Texans in the 1930s, using the renewable water resource of the Colorado River to produce hydroelectric power. Eventually, LCRA created a series of six dams to make that power available to many rural Texans who did not have access to the benefits of urban electric systems.
Over the past 70 years, LCRA has continued its leadership in renewable energy.
LCRA in 1995 played a key role in the development of the first wind power project in Texas — the Texas Wind Power Project in Culberson County. LCRA purchased 35 megawatts (MW) from this wind farm and 30 MW from the nearby Delaware Mountain Wind Farm until their closure in May 2014. LCRA continues to purchase 51 MW from the Indian Mesa Wind Energy Center in Pecos County.
In December 2009, LCRA signed an 18-year agreement to buy 200 MW of wind power from the second phase of the Papalote Creek Wind Farm in San Patricio County near the Texas Gulf Coast. LCRA began receiving power from the facility in summer 2010, and the project was completed in November 2010.
LCRA has joined other transmission service providers in a proposal to build the infrastructure that will bring more wind power from West Texas to more densely populated areas of the state through
Competitive Renewable Energy Zones.
Here is a summary of LCRA’s leadership in providing clean, renewable power to the people of Texas:
- LCRA played a critical role in building the state's first commercial wind power plant in 1995.
- LCRA purchases a total of 251 MW of wind capacity from wind power providers in West Texas and near the Texas Gulf Coast.
- LCRA owns and operates units at the six Highland Lakes dams that can generate about 295 MW of hydroelectric power.
- LCRA played a key role in supporting the startup of the first large-scale commercial biogas facility in Texas. While LCRA no longer purchases fuel from the facility, LCRA did purchase all of the renewable natural gas generated at the facility during its first years of operation for use in its natural gas-fueled plants.
- LCRA’s wastewater treatment plant in Lometa began running on solar power in October 2010. A grant from the Texas Department of Rural Affairs and in-kind services from LCRA enabled 100 kilowatts of solar panels to be installed at the plant. The solar installation — one of the largest in Texas — is expected to meet most of the plant’s energy needs.
- LCRA has a 21.6-kilowatt solar energy system on its Environmental Laboratory in Austin, one of the largest projects in Austin Energy’s Solar Rebate Program.
- LCRA in 2009 installed a residential-sized wind turbine at its McKinney Roughs Nature Park near Bastrop as part of a demonstration project to educate park visitors about renewable energy.
LCRA continues to evaluate additional renewable energy options that complement its existing generation portfolio.
Providing clean power
In addition to operating its electric generating facilities efficiently and in an environmentally responsible manner, LCRA has committed millions of dollars to further improve emissions of its power plants.
All LCRA's fossil fuel-fired electric generation facilities maintain better air quality standards than required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
