NRG Energy brought unit 6162 online at its TH Wharton Generating Station in Tomball, Texas, adding 456 megawatts of new natural gas capacity to the state's grid. The company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
The new simple-cycle units add dispatchable natural gas power to the Texas grid and can supply enough electricity for more than 100,000 homes. NRG financed the project with a loan from the state-administered Texas Energy Fund, and construction was completed within an 18- to 24-month window. More than 300 employees and contractor partners worked on site at the peak of construction.
NRG Wholesale President Matthew Pistner said the unit came online on budget and on schedule, with "zero serious injuries" during construction. Pistner said planning for the project began seven years ago, to have "shovel-ready" sites ready as Texas grew.
"Demand for electricity is going up as people and industries move to the state," Pistner said. "When demand goes up, generation needs to match it to maintain reliability."
The Tomball ribbon-cutting is the first phase of a larger NRG buildout in Texas. The company is also constructing two more Texas Energy Fund-backed gas plants, at Cedar Bayou and Greens Bayou, and is targeting more than 1.5 gigawatts of new dispatchable capacity for the state by 2028.
