Alamo Area Council of Governments receives $5 Million from the Texas Military Preparedness Commission

San Antonio, TX – Governor Greg Abbott announced the award of a $5 million grant to the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) to harden the power distribution system across San Antonio and Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), as part of the State’s Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) program. 

“This DEAAG will promote military installation resiliency and bolster an already strong public to public partnership between AACOG and JBSA,” said Diane Rath, AACOG Executive Director. “The grant dollars will support a larger $9 million CPS Energy capital improvement project to physically harden CPS Energy’s electrical substations, which provide power to JBSA. This will provide additional physical protection against vehicles or large rifle projectiles.”

CPS Energy’s President & CEO Paula Gold-Williams added, “We recognize that the infrastructure on our mission-focused, military installations must be kept secure, 24/7/365.  Our investment, aligned with AACOG’s expertise and the prudent Texas grant will improve JBSA’s operational resiliency, which will also enhance our San Antonio, Texas, and national physical security landscapes.”

This grant also funds a project to bury overhead power distribution lines situated in two of JBSA-Randolph airfield clear zones. Burying power lines will mitigate risk posed to military aircrews in case of an accident. Brig. Gen. Laura Lenderman, JBSA and 502d Air Base Wing commander, emphasized the importance of these projects by stating “JBSA is extremely proud to be part of a truly amazing community, and this grant is the result of a collaborative effort between the military, local communities and our public utility, CPS Energy. This is just one of many initiatives in our long-term holistic approach to improving infrastructure resiliency to protect our population and ensure JBSA can continue to support and protect our nation.”

Texas Senator Donna Campbell also expressed her support for this project as soon as she learned about it: “I applaud AACOG’s diligent efforts which have resulted in being awarded a five million dollar grant from the Governor’s Texas Military Preparedness Commission. These funds will enhance the mission readiness of Joint Base San Antonio and prove once more that San Antonio is truly Military City, U.S.A.”

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