Panda Energy Receives Air Permit for Power Plant in Texas

US-based Panda Energy International has announced that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has granted the air permit for the company’s planned 1,000MW combined-cycle power plant in Temple, Texas.

According to the company, the power generating station will be fueled with natural gas from the Texas Barnett Shale and will be able to supply the power needs of approximately 750,000 homes in the central and north Texas regions.

At peak construction, an estimated 400-500 personnel will be employed to construct the Temple power plant. During operations, the generating station will create an estimated 35 direct jobs to run the facility and 45 indirect jobs to support it.

Panda Energy previously announced its plans to build, own and operate a 500MW natural gas-fueled, combined-cycle power plant in Sherman, Texas. The plant is expected to supply the power needs of approximately 400,000 homes in north Texas and should bring more than $248 million to the area’s economy in its first 10 years of operation.

Todd Carter, president of Panda Energy International, said: “The approval of the air permit is a major step toward construction of this project. We are excited about the potential the Temple project has to both strengthen the local economy and to support the region’s future growth for decades to come.”