Renewable energy

LCRA began providing electricity for Central Texans in the 1930s, using water from the Colorado River to produce hydroelectric power. Over the next few years, LCRA created a series of six dams to make that power available to many rural Texans who did not have access to the benefits of urban electric systems. Today, LCRA continues to own and operate hydroelectric generating units at the six Highland Lakes dams. Together, the units can generate about 295 megawatts of power.

LCRA played a key role in helping launch the state’s first commercial wind power plant in 1995 by purchasing power from the Texas Wind Power Project in Culberson County.

To support the development of renewable energy in Texas, beginning in 2009 LCRA joined other transmission service providers in building infrastructure that brought wind power from West Texas to more densely populated areas of the state through Competitive Renewable Energy Zones.

LCRA recently has increased its purchase of renewable energy, adding 141 MW from the Juno Solar project in Borden County in 2021. This project is in addition to the 10 MW LCRA began purchasing from the Mars solar project in south Texas in 2019,

​LCRA continually seeks opportunities to purchase wind and solar power, and energy storage for its customers at competitive market rates.​

Providing clean power

In addition to operating its electric generating facilities efficiently and in an environmentally responsible manner, LCRA has committed millions of dollars to further improve emissions of its power plants.

All LCRA’s fossil fuel-fired electric generation facilities meet air quality standards required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.