CPS Energy Takes a Small Step Forward, and Several Back, in Latest ‘Dirty Truth’ Report
SAN ANTONIO – CPS Energy’s score in this year’s Dirty Truth report shows that San Antonio’s energy utility has a lot of work to do to meet its promises to the community even as it takes marginal steps to rid itself of coal, Public Citizen said today.
The largest municipally owned electric and gas utility in the country received a “C” score from Sierra Club, which released its annual Dirty Truth report today. Public Citizen advised Sierra Club on its report, which analyzes utilities across the country and grades them on their progress toward eliminating coal, reducing reliance on gas, and adopting renewable resources.
“CPS Energy rated well for reducing its dependence on coal, but that came after years of community pressure to shutter its remaining coal-burning power plant,” said DeeDee Belmares, a clean energy advocate in the Texas office of Public Citizen, and member of the CPS Energy Rate Advisory Committee. “The utility’s recent investments in gas plants and plans for more will again burden ratepayers for years to come. Instead, CPS Energy should invest further in strategies that incentivize customers to reduce their energy use during peak times and speed up the clean energy transition.
“Texans are struggling with high energy prices, in part because of volatility in other parts of the world. Renewable sources are cheaper and proven to be reliable, and CPS Energy can protect its ratepayers by moving away from dirty, more expensive energy sources.”
CPS Energy also received a “C” rating last year. By keeping and expanding its reliance on gas, Belmares added, it is nearly impossible for CPS Energy to honor its pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 41% by 2030 or achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
CPS Energy aims to rid itself of coal by 2028, with units at its J.K. Spruce Power Plant either being shuttered or converted to fracked gas. At the same time, the utility has also added gas-burning power plants to its portfolio, including last year’s nearly $1.4 billion purchase of peaker units in Brazoria and Galveston counties. As the report points out, existing power plants are only marginally better for public health and the climate than building new ones.