Vistra Energy Racks Up Solar, BESS Projects as Coal Plants Close

May 9, 2022--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Vistra Energy Corporation (NYSE:VST) (Irving, Texas) is joining the wave of U.S.-based power-generation companies to aim for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Following improved year-over-year results for first-quarter 2022, executives at Vistra said the company already has 2.9 gigawatts (GW) of zero-carbon generation online, and expects to have 7.3 GW online by 2026. Much of this growth is attributed to a swath of solar and battery energy-storage system (BESS) projects.

Executives said in a quarterly earnings-related press release that Vistra is continuing toward its goal of a zero-carbon growth pipeline. The company expects to retire about 8 gigawatts of fossil-fueled power plants by 2027. Vistra's capital expenditures for full-year 2022 are expected to total $1.81 billion, according to guidance in the company's earnings-related press release for the first quarter.

Industrial Info is tracking about $4.8 billion worth of active projects from Vistra, including two solar projects in northeastern Texas; a series of proposed solar projects across Illinois that would include BESS construction; and a series of closures of coal-fired facilities and their ash ponds.

Other companies featured: First Solar Incorporated (NASDAQ:FSLR)