Renewable Resources

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is a source of energy that is replenished by natural phenomena, such as wood or the water held behind by a dam used for hydroelectrical purposes. By 2020, ETEC’s renewable resource projects will generate 10 percent of the power it distributes to its members.

At ETEC, we are committed to developing projects that use renewable energy. Through low interest loans from the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds program, ETEC has received $105 million to help fund renewable energy projects at Lake Livingston and Woodville, Texas.

$50 million of the total approved funds will be used toward the construction of a hydroelectric power generation facility located on the Polk County side of the Lake Livingston Dam along the Trinity River. Developed in cooperation with the Trinity River Authority of Texas and the City of Houston, the new 24-megawatt plant will produce enough electricity to power 12,000 homes. We expect to begin delivering power generated by the Lake Livingston hydroelectric plant, now known as the R.C. Thomas Hydroelectric Project in 2020.

In November 2014, ETEC and Northeast Texas Electric Cooperative signed Renewable Energy Purchase Agreements for wind generation from Apex Clean Energy subsidiary Grant Wind, LLC to bring renewable wind energy to our member-owned cooperatives in East Texas. The project came online in 2016 and will produce enough energy to help power over 56,000 homes.

We are proud to be developing power sources that will be fueled with clean renewable energy, enabling ETEC to better serve our members throughout East Texas. ETEC is committed to providing reliable and affordable electricity to its members for years to come.