More electricity is being generated in the Lubbock area with the completion of an Xcel Energy plant unit.

The Jones Generating Station, located southeast of Lubbock, is now capable of producing close to 850 megawatts of electricity, following the completion of the new Unit No. 4.

The Jones Generating Station now produces enough electricity to power, on average, more than 637,000 homes.

A ceremony to celebrate the completion of Unit No. 4 was held Friday.

Jones Unit No. 4 is considered an emergency and peaking unit, meaning it will be brought on line only after electricity demand nears its peak. It will primarily operate during the summer months when air conditioning and irrigation loads rise.

“The region’s electricity demand has risen sharply over the past decade, and we need this resource to help us meet our reserve requirements and to bolster our power supply with a clean, reliable source of locally produced energy,” said Alan Davidson, director of regional capital projects for Xcel Energy.

According to Xcel, the project was completed about a month ahead of schedule and at a cost of approximately $82 million, well under the $103.7 million initial price tag.

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