The Texas Public Utility Commission has ruled that Southwestern Public Service Company (SPS) can proceed with closing its Tolk coal plant near Lubbock. The decision, reported by CleanTechnica, also allows SPS to construct renewable energy and battery storage to provide reliable, clean electricity in place of the coal-fired generation.
According to the source, the replacement mix is intended to maintain grid reliability while cutting the water consumption associated with the coal plant. The PUC's greenlight means the utility can move forward with a transition that is projected to save millions of gallons of water annually.
The source does not provide additional details on project costs, timelines, or any opposition to the plan. It focuses solely on the regulatory approval and the dual benefits of water savings and continued electricity reliability.