FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Updated March 2026
What is the proposed project?
The Big Hill Energy Project in Matagorda County, TX, includes a centerpiece Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant, with closed cycle supporting water system. The power plant is proposed to contribute to Texas’ growing need for reliable power generation.
What is the project footprint?
The industrial property sits on the site of a former sulfur mine, above a salt dome, and now-ghost town first called Big Hill, then Gulf. The power plant would sit on approximately 50 acres of the site.
What are details of the power plant?
The proposed power plant would be a 1.14 GigaWat (GW) Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant, which for understanding of scale would be enough to power approximately 600,000 average Texas homes for a year. This power plant would supply power directly to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Grid. Power plant technology generates electricity by using Texas-produced natural gas combustion to power two (2) gas turbines, then capturing the hot exhaust gases to generate steam that drives a secondary steam turbine. This combined use of gas and steam cycles significantly improves efficiency and reduces emissions compared to single-cycle power plants. This type of power plant is high efficiency and has lower fuel use per megawatt than other facilities of similar capacity. It includes the best available technology to control emissions of NOx (SCR), CO (oxidation catalyst), and VOC (oxidation catalyst). The electricity generated will also support electrical grid stability.
What is the Water Supply Project/Plan?
The water infrastructure component of this proposed development is essential to enable current and future operations in the region and will position Matagorda County as a strategic contributor to Texas' long-term water resilience. The region and state face increasing challenges related to water scarcity, business expansion, and long-term resource planning. The water supply required for the power plant steam generation and cooling system replenishment is expected be sourced entirely from onsite groundwater resources. This approach ensures there will be no stress on current public water supplies or surface streams, making Big Hill a net provider—not a consumer—of water and power to the region. Big Hill is planning a desalination facility to be developed after the current power plant project. This facility will provide water for local residential and industrial use across South and Central Texas. The power generated by the planned power plant could contribute significantly to the energy required to operate a potential desalination plant, creating an integrated and sustainable water-power infrastructure system. The future water infrastructure project would leverage Gulf Coast Aquifer resources, surface water reservoirs, and desalination capacity to meet growing municipal and industrial demand. Existing site features include Mine Lake and reservoirs, all originally created to support historical mining operations and available for refurbishment to support future project phases.
What are the general proposed project timelines?
The current application for an air quality permit is simply the first step in a long process to getting approvals and ready the site for infrastructure. The initial process for the air quality permit would take 6-18 months, with simultaneous other permitting efforts continuing. Dozens of other permits would be needed in the future. A functional power plant could be built by 2030.
What permits are still required?
Regulatory oversight involves multiple federal agencies (USACE, EPA, FEMA, USFWS) and state/local bodies including TCEQ, Matagorda County, Texas GLO and Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District.  The final site plan and results of ecological studies underway will determine final permit requirements. All efforts will adhere to legislation and mitigate environmental impacts.
What is the history of the site?
The site has a fascinating history documented by many organizations. See here for one: Gulf Information at https://www.usgenwebsites.org/TXMatagorda/gulf_info.htm
Will the water system or power plant be operational first?
It is expected that the power plant will be operational first.
What future projects are possible but not planned for yet?
We are currently focused on the power plant and the infrastructure that will support this operation. In addition, water desalination is in the planning phase. Any future desalination facility would be a separate project, subject to its own environmental review and permits process. Foreseeing economic conditions and demands are not part of the project’s scope currently.
Will mining ever be undertaken on the site?
No
Will this evolve into an ammonia plant?
No
What activity on the property site will be visible?
Site prep work could begin by late 2026 or early 2027 and could be visible from adjacent roads.
How much water is needed for the power plant process and where is it coming from?
Current efforts focus on drilling new wells on-site, tapping the Gulf Coast Aquifer. Hydrogeologic testing and modeling is ongoing to ensure water production is sustainable and does not affect water resources for adjacent properties.
How much power will the power plant produce? And where will it be used: on site, grid, other?
Approximately 1.14 GigaWats will be produced, equal to providing power to 600,000 homes on the ERCOT grid with some electricity potentially used on site.
Are there direct project benefits for local communities, local governments, or organizations?
Wharton County Junior College is collaborating with the Big Hill team to develop a course to certify power plant workers. The hope is full-time employees would be sourced from the immediate communities.
How will this benefit the local economy and how many jobs will this generate?
An estimated 35 –50 full time operations jobs could be created at the power plant, with another 30 -50 support staff including administrative, security and maintenance staff. Up to 3,000 temporary construction jobs could be created. Additionally, hundreds of indirect jobs could be created in the local community, involving supply and maintenance of the power plant and employees. It is expected the plant would create significant local tax revenue. For comparison, a recent 1,350 MegaWat CCGT project in Texas reported approximately 5,200 direct, indirect, and induced construction jobs over 3–4 years. Types of jobs could include: - Skilled trades (pipefitters, electricians, welders, ironworkers) - Civil and mechanical construction crews - Engineers, inspectors, project management - Equipment suppliers, logistics, and local services (indirect) As the project needs evolve, we will engage the industry for potential use of vendors and contractors.
​What site work will happen first?
The first activities on site would include clearing and grading of the power plant area, which could begin in late 2026 or early 2027.
What are the emissions expected?
The power plant emissions would be below requirements established by federal and local agencies. This type of power plant is high efficiency and has lower fuel use per megawatt than other facilities of similar capacity. It includes the best available technology to control emissions of NOx (SCR), CO (oxidation catalyst), and VOC (oxidation catalyst). Safety and warning systems would be in place to ensure continual compliance.
Will there be wastewater discharge? 
There will be no wastewater discharge off site. We are committed to sustainable abstraction to avoid adverse impacts to wetlands, sensitive habitats and community water supplies, and will comply with all requirements set forth by Coastal Plains GCD, TCEQ water quality standards, and federal permitting. Our long-term monitoring and adaptive management strategies will mitigate any associated risks.
Will there be wastewater discharge into the Bay or Intercoastal Waterway?
There will be no wastewater discharge into the Bay or Intercoastal Waterway.
Will this project impact traffic on CO 244 or any other roadway?
Traffic management plans will be developed prior to construction. The public will be notified in advance of any temporary traffic impacts.
Power will be transferred directly to the ERCOT grid for the use of Texans.
How will power be transferred from the plant to the grid?
Who owns the property?
How will natural gas get to the site?
Texas-produced natural gas will be delivered via pipeline.
Is a data center being proposed for the site, and is this what the power is for?
A data center isn’t part of this project.
The property owners will continue to engage stakeholders as this project progresses through regulatory and permitting processes, and then as we begin site preparations and construction.
What community involvement or engagement is planned?
Will there be a need to acquire more properties or land adjacent to the current site?
No additional land will be acquired.
The property currently has been owned for years by COG/Big Hill LLC, local residents who have worked to re-purpose the abandoned former sulfur mine property. Eventually future site owners would further invest the capital and resources to develop the proposed project, while maintaining a local presence.
Will Canal Old Gulf/Big Hill be a part of the proposed project in the future?
As the project advances, ownership and development responsibilities may transition to a future project developer with the financial and technical capacity to develop the facility. Any future owner would assume responsibility for permitting, construction, and operations. COG/Big Hill's future involvement depends on the final future property sale’s transaction structure, which is still being determined. Depending on how discussions with potential capital providers conclude, Big Hill may retain an ownership interest, transition to an advisory role, or exit entirely. We cannot predict with certainty what Big Hill's role will be; however, our focus is ensuring the project advances under strong financial backing.
Reviewed by Dr. Abhishek Bhat, PhD and Chris Benjamin.
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Dr. Abhishek Bhat, PhD is an Air Compliance Team Leader and trusted advisor with over 13 years of environmental consulting experience, specifically in the areas of air permitting and compliance, air dispersion modeling, air monitoring, air toxics risk assessments, and multi-media auditing. He has broad experience assisting facilities with strategic planning for multi-media programs (both federal and state) in a wide variety of industries, including but not limited to power generation, power distribution, carbon capture and sequestration permitting, hyperscale and colocation data centers, primary and secondary aluminum manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, bulk terminal storage and distribution, lime manufacturing, pulp and paper, cement manufacturing, steel plants, railcar manufacturing, and chemical manufacturing. Dr. Bhat has extensive experience with state and federal programs in several states including Texas, Arkansas, Utah, Oregon, Kentucky, Ohio, New Mexico, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Idaho.
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Chris Benjamin is an environmental engineer and Principal in our Houston Office. He has participated in asset management, water planning and management of environmental and social risk (including compliance with WBG and IFC requirements). He is experienced in development of environmental and socio-economic risk assessment frameworks, associated analysis and projections, development of monitoring plans and mitigation measures. His experience covers in depth water, ecological and natural resources studies, providing a strong base from which to assess natural resources socioeconomics. Chris has successfully delivered water and wastewater management projects in both mining and other sectors including water management planning for BHP. He applies experience from high profile global projects to local conditions. Chris has worked on construction environmental management of numerous large scale infrastructure projects including mines, major international airports, oil and gas fields and major ports.