Sharyland Utilities, L.P. announced that a ceremonial commissioning event was held at the Sharyland Plantation in Mission, Texas, for its new $40 million, 150 MW High Voltage Direct Current Tie (DC Tie) project.

The 150 MW DC Tie is located along the Rio Grande border near Mission, Texas, and links the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid with the Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) grid of Mexico. This allows for the first commercial bidirectional electricity trade between the U.S. and Mexico.

"This DC Tie is an energy bridge between our two great nations, and we hope it is one of many to come," said Hunter Hunt, President of Sharyland Utilities, L.P. "Sharyland Utilities is strongly committed to the border and to the utility industry, and today's ceremony marks a milestone in our continued efforts to provide needed infrastructure and innovative solutions not just for the border region, but for the Texas grid as a whole."

This cross-border tie is the first of its kind to support both emergency power and commercial business activity in Texas and Mexico. Its technology will allow the two-way flow of electricity between both grids, thereby allowing each grid to rely on the other in times of peak demand. Not only will this strengthen the stability of both grids, it has the potential to foster an international wholesale market that could bring together power generators and commercial customers on both sides of the border.

"At a time when both Mexico and the United States are struggling to meet the energy demands of our growing economies, this project represents a joint effort by our two countries to come together and provide an innovative solution, " said Mark Caskey, General Manager of Sharyland Utilities. "It was a pleasure to work with CFE on this project, and I look forward to other opportunities to work with them in the future."

Special guests at the ceremony included Hunter Hunt, President of Sharyland Utilities, L.P.; Mark Caskey, General Manager of Sharyland Utilities, L.P.; John Cornyn, United States Senator; Julie Parsley, Commissioner, Public Utility Commission of Texas; Helena Escalante, Director of Texas Border and Mexican Affairs Division; and special guests from the Comision Federal de Electricidad in Mexico.

"Meeting the energy needs of the rapidly growing Rio Grande Valley is a challenge that demands innovative solutions. It is encouraging that this project will help meet peak energy demand and help boost economic growth in Texas," said John Cornyn, U.S. Senator.