{"id":8836,"date":"2014-11-21T11:06:49","date_gmt":"2014-11-21T17:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=8836"},"modified":"2026-04-02T16:13:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T20:13:56","slug":"clean-energy-and-job-creation-go-hand-in-hand-in-san-antonio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2014\/11\/21\/clean-energy-and-job-creation-go-hand-in-hand-in-san-antonio\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean Energy and Job Creation Go Hand-in-Hand in San Antonio"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Source:<\/a>
Source: CPS Energy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While many are prophesizing the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Clean Power Plan (CPP) as doomsday for the electricity sector, Texas utilities are telling a different story. The CPP will limit \u2013 for the first time ever \u2013 carbon emissions from existing power plants. One utility in particular, CPS Energy in San Antonio, \u201chas already embraced<\/a> a low-carbon strategy that anticipates this rule,\u201d making it the most well-positioned utility in the state, if not country.<\/p>\n

Homegrown energy, literally<\/strong><\/p>\n

CPS Energy has excelled<\/a> using its commitment to create local, clean energy jobs. In its Request for Proposal (RFP) for a 400 megawatt (MW) solar energy plant, the utility included a specification for the creation of local solar jobs. And it worked. Most recently, the utility announced the launch of the Mission Solar Energy Plant \u2013 a 240,000 square foot manufacturing plant that will employ upwards of 400 San Antonians. To assist with future expansions, CPS also helped create a program at Alamo Colleges to train its future workforce for clean energy jobs and, admirably, almost one out of every five<\/a> employees is a veteran<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[Tweet “#Cleanenergy and job creation go hand-in-hand in San Antonio from @JimMarston http:\/\/ow.ly\/EFC2j @CPSEnergy “]<\/p>\n

Follow the jobs<\/strong><\/p>\n

CPS Energy is a national leader in its ability to recruit cleantech companies to San Antonio by tying the RFP to manufacturing. When the utility requests proposals for clean energy projects, it gives preference to companies willing to relocate offices to Texas \u2013 much like OCI Solar Power, the solar developer for the 400 MW Alamo solar plant. When CPS Energy selected OCI Solar Power to install the solar panels in San Antonio, the company moved its headquarters to San Antonio, bringing 800 permanent jobs<\/a> and investing at least $115 million locally.<\/p>\n

OCI Solar Power is not an outlier either. Consert Inc., a smart home energy management company, moved to San Antonio (and pledged to create 150 jobs) after CPS Energy selected the company to help reduce San Antonians\u2019 electricity bills \u2013 by as much as 250 megawatts over the next four years, or enough energy to power 50,000 homes<\/a>. So far CPS has recruited cleantech companies OCI Solar Power, KACO, Sun Action Trackers, Consert, and Greenstar for a total of 957 new jobs through its resource procurement process.<\/p>\n

Not only is CPS Energy bringing more jobs that can\u2019t be outsourced to the city, it is also saving money for residents and businesses. This is a win-win for everyone.<\/p>\n

Time to take the bull by the horns <\/strong><\/p>\n

EPA\u2019s Clean Power Plan presents an opportunity to grow and sustain Texas\u2019 economy through clean energy. Much like CPS Energy has trail-blazed a new business model that serves its community in several ways, Texas needs to take the bull by the horns and create a plan that serves Texans and local industry. This is not rocket science and it\u2019s not end-of-the-world superstition. The CPP is a smart policy<\/a> well within Texas\u2019 reach. All we have to do is amplify current trends \u2013 rely on more West Texas wind, take advantage of the state\u2019s abundant natural gas supply, widen the use of Texas\u2019 largely untapped solar potential<\/a>, and use electricity more efficiently. We can start by looking at San Antonio and other progressive utilities in El Paso<\/a>, Austin<\/a>, and elsewhere, as well as by coupling Texas ingenuity with clean energy to give us more jobs and clean air. Let\u2019s seize this opportunity, lest we lose economic growth to other states embracing the clean energy future.<\/p>\n

This post originally appeared on our Texas Clean Air Matters blog<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While many are prophesizing the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Clean Power Plan (CPP) as doomsday for the electricity sector, Texas utilities are telling a different story. The CPP will limit \u2013 for the first time ever \u2013 carbon emissions from existing power plants. 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