Texas coal plant to transition to solar and battery with federal aid
A South Texas coal-fired power plant will be converted into a solar and battery facility with $1.4 billion in federal funding, reducing pollution and supporting local jobs.
Juan Salinas II reports for The Texas Tribune.
In short:
- The San Miguel Electric Cooperative plant in Atascosa County will transition to a renewable energy facility with U.S. Department of Agriculture funding.
- The move will cut 1.8 million tons of annual climate pollution and leave 14 coal-fired plants in Texas.
- Environmentalists and local officials welcome the change, citing hopes for cleaner water and better land remediation.
Key quote:
“For years, folks in my county have been worried about water contamination from San Miguel’s lignite mine, so with this announcement, we are hopeful that McMullen County’s water will be clean long into the future.”
— McMullen County Judge James Teal
Why this matters:
The shift from coal to renewables aligns with broader efforts to combat climate change while addressing environmental justice concerns. Cleaning up pollution and protecting water resources could improve health and economic outcomes in rural South Texas.
Related: US wind and solar could surpass coal for the first time in 2024
