Electric utility Xcel Energy plans to build more than 5.5 gigawatts (GW) of power for customers in Texas and New Mexico, the company announced July 21.
The region’s electrical demand is expected to grow by more than 40% by 2030, thanks to population growth, industrial expansion and electrification.
Several oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin have expressed concerns over insufficient electricity to power their operations.
Xcel plans to build 17 new power projects that will generate 5.17 GW in the area. The company will use wind, solar, battery and gas-fired sources of power in the expansion. The remainder of the power will come from existing facilities.