CPS ENERGY COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY
San Antonio, TX, July 20, 2018 – CPS Energy reaffirms its commitment to helping improve the environment. This is particularly relevant in light of Bexar County’s recent designation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a “marginal nonattainment” area.
“We recognize that improving our air quality is a challenge for our entire community,” said Paula Gold-Williams, President & CEO of CPS Energy. “As your local energy utility experts who are also your neighbors, we will diligently continue to help develop constructive air quality improvement solutions. Along with an appropriate focus on impacts from energy, working together as a community, we will also broadly assess other emission pillars such as significant projected increases in population growth and transportation / traffic.”
Relative to energy and over the past decade, CPS Energy has been making climate improvements where most beneficial. Major accomplishments include the following:
- Save for Tomorrow Energy Program (STEP): They implemented and are continuing their successful management of San Antonio’s energy efficiency and conservation program.
- Deely / Older Coal Unit Deactivations: Over five years ago, CPS Energy announced its commitment to close these units. They are on track to close by December 31, 2018. Through these closures, there will be another 30 percent reduction of CPS Energy’s emissions from 2014 levels.
- Renewables: More than 1,500 megawatts of wind and solar power has been added to CPS Energy’s generation portfolio. San Antonio is number one in the state and number six in the nation for solar production and number one for wind production in Texas.
- NOx Emissions: CPS Energy has achieved a 75% reduction in NOx emissions since 1997.
- Greener Vehicle Fleet: The addition of 34 electric hybrid trucks have begun to “green-up” CPS Energy’s fleet, contributing to a reduction of 7.75 tons in NOx emissions and 58.7 tons of CO2 emissions.
- “Smart Sniffer” Vehicle: This revolutionary technology detects gas leaks and because it is a mobile detection device, it can cover more ground throughout our growing city.
- Electric Vehicles: As a baseline, San Antonio has 43 electric vehicle charging locations with 138 charging stations and 151 charging ports. These numbers will continue to grow!
- Flexible Path: Under this newly developed strategy, more renewable energy and other zero emissions energy resources such as energy storage will be prudently incorporated into our long-term path forward.
- Community Collaboration: To demonstrate the commitment to collaborative partnerships, in 2017 when the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) lost state funding for its air monitoring efforts, CPS Energy partnered with AACOG to make sure their work could go on. CPS Energy is also an active participant in the City of San Antonio’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). The initial Greenhouse Gas Inventory, which is currently being validated, will serve as a baseline for planning and goals.
CPS Energy will continue to help the San Antonio metropolitan community convert climate challenges into new environmental improvement opportunities that will enhance everyone’s quality of life by supporting new population and business growth.
About CPS Energy
Established in 1860, CPS Energy is the nation’s largest public power, natural gas and electric company, providing safe, reliable, and competitively-priced service to 804,000 electric and 343,000 natural gas customers in San Antonio and portions of seven adjoining counties. Our customers’ combined energy bills rank among the lowest of the nation’s 20 largest cities – while generating $7 billion in revenue for the City of San Antonio for more than seven decades. As a trusted and strong Community partner, we continuously focus on job creation, economic development and educational investment. True to our People First philosophy, we are powered by our skilled workforce, whose commitment to the community is demonstrated through our employees’ volunteerism in giving back to our city and programs aimed at bringing value to our customers. CPS Energy is among the top public power wind energy buyers in the nation and number one in Texas for solar generation. For more information, visit cpsenergy.com.