Texas officials approve desalination plant plan with IDE Technologies for billions.

Texas officials are moving ahead with a plan to build a massive seawater desalination plant on the Gulf Coast that would be owned by Israel’s IDE Technologies, a private water‑treatment company. If the project proceeds, the plant could cost billions of dollars and would supply up to 500 million gallons of fresh water a day to a region that has struggled with drought and rapid growth. The proposal was approved by the state’s Public Utility Commission on Tuesday, and the contract would give IDE exclusive rights to operate the facility for at least 30 years.

The push for a desalination plant comes as Texas faces a perfect storm of water stress. A historic drought in 2021‑2022 left reservoirs at record lows and forced farmers to cut irrigation. Population growth in Houston, Corpus Christi and surrounding suburbs has outpaced the capacity of existing water systems. Climate experts say hotter summers and more intense storms will make traditional sources less reliable. State leaders have been looking for large‑scale solutions that can be built quickly, and desalination offers a way to tap the Gulf’s abundant seawater.

IDE Technologies, which built the Carlsbad plant in California, says the Texas project would use reverse‑osmosis membranes to turn seawater into drinking water. The company estimates the plant will cost about $10 billion, with financing coming from a mix of private investors and a $2 billion loan from a U.S. export‑credit agency. Critics in the state legislature have raised concerns about a foreign firm controlling a critical resource and about the plant’s energy use. Environmental groups warn that the intake could harm marine life and that the plant’s carbon footprint could be high unless it runs on renewable power. IDE says it will use energy‑recovery devices and explore solar or wind sources to cut emissions.

The project now faces a series of regulatory hurdles, including permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and a federal review of its impact on coastal ecosystems. If approved, construction could begin in 2026, with water delivery expected by 2030. Lawmakers say the debate will focus on whether Texas should rely on private, foreign‑owned infrastructure for its water future or invest more in public upgrades and conservation. The outcome will shape how the state meets its growing water needs in an era of climate uncertainty.