NRG Energy's 3.75% Rally on $216M TEF Loan Pushes Stock to 190th in $550M Trading Volume

On August 4, 2025, NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) rose 3.75% with a trading volume of $550 million, ranking 190th in the market. The stock’s performance followed the company’s announcement of securing a $216 million loan from the Texas Energy Fund (TEF) to develop two new natural gas units at its TH Wharton power plant in Houston. The 456 MW facility is projected to begin operations in Summer 2026, addressing surging electricity demand in the Houston load zone driven by industrial growth, data centers, and urban expansion.

NRG’s TH Wharton project aligns with Texas’ broader energy strategy to enhance grid reliability. The company highlighted the project’s potential to create jobs, stabilize the grid, and support economic development in the region. Executives emphasized the urgency of meeting Texas’ energy needs, with the project expected to supply power to over 1.5 million homes annually by 2028. NRG also noted two additional TEF-backed projects in development at Cedar Bayou and Greens Bayou, further expanding its natural gas capacity in the state.

The TEF loan terms include a 20-year, 3% interest rate covering 60% of the project’s estimated $360 million cost. The facility must meet performance standards set by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). With 15 more TEF applications under review—totaling 8,392 MW of proposed generation—NRG’s involvement in the program underscores its strategic focus on dispatchable energy solutions amid Texas’ rapid electrification.

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