To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

Nearby residents could see plumes of steam as plant operators cleaned out the pipe system of the 900 megawatt plant. Then suddenly, on Oct. 17, all of the testing seemed to have stopped.

Project owners and builders have not commented on what happened. Project partner Brazos Electric Cooperative briefed YNN on the incident, but declined a recorded interview.

They say that during the commissioning of the boiler, some components overheated and were damaged. There was no fire, no explosion and no one was injured, but numerous parts will have to be replaced and the plant won't be ready until spring 2013.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, was counting on the Sandy Creek project to provide the extra capacity required to meet peak statewide demand called the "reserve margin."

Without Sandy Creek, ERCOT would fall short of their 13.75 percent target which is the amount of electricity available above demand.

Late last year, a court ruling in an unrelated case allowed two coal plants in North Texas to keep operating.

"With those two units still in the mix, we have a reserve margin above 13.75 -- just barely, though," ERCOT Planning and Operations Vice President Kent Saathoff said. "We feel a little better, but we're certainly not breathing easy right now."

Until Sandy Creek is operational, Texas electric users will likely push the limits this summer.

"We're cautious, like I said. If we have another extreme summer like last year, we will be very close to the margin,” Saathoff said. “And could have some days where we'll have shortages."

An investigation is underway into the cause of the power plant incident, but it's unclear if the findings will be made public.

While it's too soon to know if this summer will be anything like last year, ERCOT wants to remind us that conserving energy is important year-round.