Federal regulators have issued a permit that paves the way for construction of a $500 million power plant in South Texas.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that the greenhouse gas permit was granted for the Tenaska Brownsville Generating Plant in Brownsville. A Tenaska spokeswoman says a few construction permits and approvals related to interconnections are still required.
Omaha, Nebraska-based Tenaska intends to build a gas-fired generating plant as a joint venture with the Brownsville Public Utilities Board.
Officials say the project will create upward of 700 construction jobs. Once online, the plant will employ about 20 people.
The EPA said in a statement that the permit approval requires Tenaska to ensure mitigation measures that protect the air quality at nearby Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Landmark.
