CPS Energy Finally Releases Plan Outlining Options to Phase Out Coal

SAN ANTONIO — Today at a Special Meeting of CPS Energy Board of Trustees, CPS Energy voted to release the January 2021 Flexible Path Resource Plan (Plan) that outlines two potential scenarios to phase out coal from San Antonio’s energy mix before 2030. This development comes after the CPS Energy Board voted to withhold the public report at the last regularly scheduled Board meeting on January 25, 2021. Since then community advocates and even San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg all called for the rapid release of the report. 

During today’s Special Meeting, CPS invited public comment but no members of the public had access to the Plan at that time. However, it is clear from earlier presentations to the Board that concrete evaluations of coal retirement scenarios are detailed in the Plan. Several climate justice advocates provided oral comments, including San Antonio-based Sierra Club organizer Greg Harman, whose full remarks are available here. After the Board met in an executive session, which began immediately after public comment, they voted to release the report; Mayor Nirenberg reaffirmed the need for transparency in his comments; and the CPS Board ended the meeting without letting the public know how or when the report will become available. Later in the day, the Plan appeared on CPS Energy’s website. 

In response to today’s vote by the CPS Energy Board of Trustees, San Antonio-based Sierra Club Organizer Greg Harman released the following statement:

 “Much has been made of the recent breakdown in communications between CPS Energy and the broader environmental justice community. The reason for this is simple: In 10 years we could never get this utility to have a fully transparent dialogue about their coal plant. Now that the Board of Trustees finally has a report in hand to begin answering many of our questions, it was disappointing to watch them feud over the public’s right to view it.

“I hope this report represents the next important step in a community-centered process to the inevitable transition away from coal. CPS Energy has a real opportunity to rekindle better relations with the community and move this conversation forward by recognizing the depth of our shared climate crisis and their responsibility to work closely with the community as partners in this project, not adversaries. Only then can we begin to imagine and create the better future we all long for and deserve. We are currently reviewing the Plan and expect to work with community partners and CPS Energy to chart out a clean energy future together.”