East Point Energy Completes Texas Citrus Flatts Energy Storage Project
East Point Energy, an Equinor company, has announced the completion of Citrus Flatts, a 100-megawatt (MW) / 200-megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage facility in Harlingen, Texas. The project represents an important addition to the region’s electricity infrastructure and marks East Point Energy’s second operational energy storage project in Texas.
Designed to provide up to 100 MW of power for two hours, Citrus Flatts can deliver enough electricity at peak output to support tens of thousands of homes. The facility is expected to strengthen grid reliability as electricity demand continues to increase across Texas, while also contributing to the local economy through ongoing tax revenues.
The completion of Citrus Flatts comes at a time when Texas is experiencing significant growth in electricity consumption. Population growth, industrial expansion, electrification and the rapid development of large-scale computing and data center facilities are all contributing to rising demand for power. Against this backdrop, battery energy storage is becoming an increasingly important component of the state’s electricity system.
Energy storage facilities can help balance supply and demand by storing electricity when it is available and releasing it when demand rises. This flexibility can support grid stability during periods of high consumption and help reduce pressure on the electricity system. For communities such as Harlingen, the addition of projects like Citrus Flatts can provide another resource for managing changing electricity demand.
“As energy demand surges across Texas, the project will bolster the electrical grid and help keep energy costs affordable for families and businesses throughout Harlingen and the surrounding area. Additionally, we’re proud that our project will provide millions in tax revenue to help fund local priorities,” said Andrew Foukal, CEO of East Point Energy.
Supporting Harlingen Through Local Investment
Beyond its role as an energy infrastructure project, Citrus Flatts is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Harlingen. East Point Energy said the facility will provide millions of dollars in tax revenue over time, creating a long-term source of funding for local priorities and public services.
The project’s contribution to the community also extends beyond tax payments. As part of its commitment to Harlingen, East Point Energy recently donated $175,000 toward improvements at the Harlingen Soccer Complex. The investment is intended to support enhancements to a recreational facility that serves residents and local athletes.
The company is also incorporating a visual element that reflects the character of the community. The front wall of the Citrus Flatts facility will feature a locally inspired mural created by a Harlingen artist. The mural is intended to provide a connection between the infrastructure project and the community where it operates.
Orlando Campos, CEO of the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation, highlighted the importance of the project’s long-term economic contribution and the relationship established between East Point Energy and the city.
“This project is an important driver of consistent tax revenue for our community. The company and city have worked hard to ensure that the project is safe and reliable, and that the project owner is committed to continued engagement with the local community. East Point Energy has been a consistent and reliable partner in all of the above,” Campos said.
The ongoing tax contribution is particularly significant because energy infrastructure projects can provide communities with revenue streams that extend well beyond the initial construction phase. For Harlingen, the Citrus Flatts project is therefore positioned not only as an electricity asset but also as a long-term economic development opportunity.
Focus on Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Safety has been another major component of the Citrus Flatts development. East Point Energy worked closely with the Harlingen Fire Department during the project’s development to help local emergency responders understand the facility and prepare for potential incidents.
The collaboration included extensive training and facility site visits. These activities were designed to give first responders greater familiarity with the energy storage system, its operating environment and emergency response considerations.
East Point Energy said training and engagement with local first responders will continue on a regular basis. Maintaining an ongoing relationship with emergency services is intended to ensure that local authorities remain familiar with the facility throughout its operational life.
Harlingen Fire Chief Rafael Balderas described the relationship between the company and the fire department as an important element of the project.
“East Point Energy has been a reliable and transparent partner throughout the development of the Citrus Flatts project. They have shown a real commitment to project safety and continuous engagement with the Harlingen Fire Department as well as the community overall,” Balderas said. “We look forward to developing a long-term partnership focused on our mutual commitment to public safety.”
The approach reflects the growing importance of coordination between battery energy storage developers, municipal authorities and emergency response organizations. As battery storage deployment expands across the United States, project developers are increasingly working with local communities and first responders to establish appropriate safety procedures and emergency preparedness plans.
Strengthening the Texas Grid
Citrus Flatts adds 100 MW of power capacity and 200 MWh of energy storage capacity to the Texas electricity system. The facility’s two-hour duration allows it to discharge at its maximum power output for two hours, giving the grid an additional resource during periods when electricity demand is elevated.
Battery storage can provide several grid-support functions. It can absorb electricity during periods when supply is plentiful and subsequently discharge that stored energy when demand increases. Storage can also help reduce the impact of fluctuations in electricity supply and demand, improving the flexibility of the broader power system.
For Texas, that flexibility is increasingly important as the state’s electricity needs continue to grow. Demand from residential customers is being accompanied by expanding commercial and industrial consumption, while large new loads such as data centers are placing additional pressure on power infrastructure.
State Representative Janie Lopez said the Citrus Flatts development demonstrates how energy infrastructure can combine grid benefits with local economic value.
“I am proud to represent a community that takes its local governing responsibility so seriously. The City of Harlingen has worked for many years with East Point Energy to develop a safe project with significant and consistent local tax benefits and a long-term commitment to community engagement,” Lopez said.
She added that Texas should encourage additional projects of this type as electricity demand rises.
“As our state deals with rising prices and demand for electricity, driven in large part by data centers, we should be encouraging more of these types of projects,” Lopez said.
East Point Energy Expands Texas Presence
The completion of Citrus Flatts further establishes East Point Energy’s presence in the Texas energy storage market. As the company’s second operational project in the state, the facility adds to its portfolio of infrastructure designed to support the evolving electricity system.
East Point Energy’s development strategy reflects a broader industry trend in which battery storage is being deployed alongside other forms of electricity generation and infrastructure. Storage can provide flexibility to power systems while helping utilities, grid operators and communities respond to changes in electricity demand.
The Citrus Flatts project also illustrates the broader community considerations that increasingly accompany major energy developments. In addition to constructing and operating the facility, East Point Energy has emphasized local tax contributions, community investment, engagement with city officials and cooperation with emergency responders.
For Harlingen, these elements create benefits that extend beyond the project’s electricity capacity. The facility is expected to deliver long-term tax revenue while supporting local priorities and contributing to the reliability of the regional electricity system.
With Citrus Flatts now operational, East Point Energy has completed another step in expanding energy storage infrastructure in Texas. The 100 MW / 200 MWh facility provides the Harlingen area with additional power-system flexibility at a time of growing electricity demand, while the company’s community initiatives and ongoing safety collaboration establish a foundation for a longer-term relationship with local stakeholders.
As Texas continues to attract new industries and large electricity users, projects capable of storing and dispatching electricity will play an increasingly important role in meeting demand. Citrus Flatts adds another large-scale storage resource to that expanding network and underscores the growing role of battery energy storage in supporting the state’s future power needs.
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