Between the Trinity and Neches rivers, NextEra plans one of the largest gas plants in the country: 5.2 gigawatts on about 1,700 acres, built to serve data centers. It is part of a U.S.-Japan trade deal, which puts it under federal control and leaves the county with little say.
Compiled by Grail Systems from news reports and public records. Checked Oct 31, 2026. Corrections welcome.
NextEra Energy Resources will build and operate the plant, jointly owned by Japan and the U.S. government under a $550B trade deal, with gas from Comstock Resources. It can serve up to 5 GW of large loads such as data centers, and the U.S. Commerce Department says a data center will follow. NextEra says the plant will be air-cooled and it is exploring recycled water instead of fresh groundwater. Groundbreaking is expected in 2027, with the first phase running in 2028 and construction through 2032.
Part of 10 GW of NextEra gas plants in Texas and Pennsylvania tied to the U.S.-Japan deal.
Residents asked about water, noise and fire protection. A volunteer fire chief who lives three miles away said it would ruin a quiet county.
At least 100 full-time jobs after construction, plus hundreds of construction jobs.
A gas hub built for large loads is an invitation to data centers. Watch for the data center that follows.
A state representative claimed 3,000 long-term jobs; the city's own page says at least 100. Ask for the number in writing.
Counties keep some tools, such as noise rules and road agreements, and volunteer fire departments must be ready for a plant this size.
Air cooling and recycled water are promises today. Ask the Trinity River Authority and the groundwater district what has been requested.
Utility Dive (Mar 24, 2026); Data Center Dynamics; Texas Scorecard (Mar 26, 2026); KETK (Apr 2026); City of Palestine (May 2026); The Center Square.