San Antonio takes next step towards carbon neutrality
Published: Tue, 01/24/23
San Antonio takes next step towards carbon neutrality
CPS energy survey
News4SA
by Matt Roy
SAN ANTONIO - The CPS energy board of trustees held a special meeting and passed a plan that shapes San Antonio's energy future - saying it improves reliability and affordability.
With a 4-1 vote, the murky picture of San Antonio's energy future is getting a little clearer.
And, for some, Monday was a celebration.
"I am very excited," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.
And others, not so much.
"We are, unfortunately, disappointed," Emma Pabst of the Sierra Club said.
The CPS energy board of trustees passed a plan called portfolio 2, which will end San Antonio's use of coal power by 2028 and help them meet their 2030 emissions goal.
"We're moving away from two old and inefficient gas units, we're shutting down our coal units, we're adding natural gas but its at a much lower level in terms of mega watts produced than the coal and natural gas that we have today is," CPS CEO and President Rudy Garza said.
The results of a survey used by the trustees shows that ratepayers want two key things: Reliability, because of the 2021 freeze, and affordability.
Officials say this plan accomplishes those goals.
"Anytime we can reduce our exposure to things outside of our control, mainly through ERCOT, we improve the reliability that we can expect," the mayor said.
The plan will not meet the 2040 emission goal as it sits and it allows Spruce two coal plant, which will convert to burn frack gas until 2065.
"One of the really big reasons that we pushed to close the Spruce coal plant is currently it is the 6th worst polluter in the state," Pabst said.
"We know that there are resources out there like wind, solar, battery storage, energy efficiency, that can help to replace that coal plant versus us continuing to burn fossil fuels," DeeDee Belmares, climate justice organizer for the Public Citizen, said.
Officials say, no matter what, the ultimate goal is carbon neutrality by 2050, whether they are still using Spruce two or not.