El Paso Electric's new power station eases grid strain
EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso Electric said on Friday that its Newman Power Station, which opened in 2024 in northeast El Paso, is successfully alleviating pressure on the local power grid.
EP Electric officials on Friday confirmed that the station has been effective in meeting its intended goals.
David Rodriguez, Vice President of Energy Supply and Distribution Operations at EP Electric, emphasized the station’s benefits on Friday, stating that while the summer heat brings a challenge, the Newman unit helps provide flexibility in providing coverage to customers.
“The reality is it’s a different type of demand right, so after the summer run we go through the outage season and we need the generation to be able to supplement whatever we have online and to provide. It’s a different challenge, but it still allows us to make sure we have enough resources for our customers. I think the best thing about these units is reliability, resiliency, and flexibility. The fact that they are complementary to reliable resources and making sure that they’re available when we need them,” Rodriguez said.
The $210 million facility was designed to serve up to 120,000 homes and address peak summer demand.
According to EP Electric, the new station is a 228-megawatt natural gas replacement unit that is set to respond quickly during increased energy usage periods, like in the hot months.
Previously speaking to KFOX14/CBS4, the President and CEO of EP Electric, Kelly Tomblin, said that 2023’s summer months had put a strain on the utility company, but that this new Newman Unit will help alleviate that strain.
The power station operates using a combination of solar, battery, and gas-generated power, according to EP Electric.
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