CPS Energy has become the first utility in the nation to help mid-sized manufacturers implement an energy-efficiency program that makes business and operational practices more cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Four local companies have completed the Lean, Clean Energy program, which helps manufacturers make energy-efficiency improvements, implement-pollution prevention strategies and apply lean manufacturing principles.  In addition, two more companies are scheduled to complete the program in August.

“We’re proud to be recognized as the first utility in the nation to implement an energy-efficiency program like Lean, Clean Energy that gives manufacturers a competitive edge by reducing energy costs,” said CPS Energy CEO Milton Lee.  “This is at the heart of our Strategic Energy Plan – provide cost-competitive electricity and increase energy efficiency and conservation efforts.  Initiatives like Lean, Clean Energy can help attract more businesses to Greater San Antonio and build a sustainable future for our community.”

CPS Energy partnered with the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to provide training, resources and tools to help manufacturers implement energy-efficiency changes.

“The program helps businesses build their own strategic energy plans and provides incentives through CPS Energy commercial energy-efficiency rebates,” Lee said.  “This partnership with Southwest Research has created a win-win situation for businesses that enroll in the program.”

Southern Folger, the first manufacturer to go through the program, is expected to receive over $10,000 in CPS Energy commercial rebates for implementing energy-efficiency strategies.  The company also has earned a $61,000 CPS Energy rebate for a lighting retrofit project.

Southern Folger was nominated for the program because of the company’s size and energy history.  TMAC manufacturing specialists Carl Allsup and Carson Miller analyzed energy bills, conducted an assessment of the manufacturing plant and facilitated training on key energy-using systems.  Based on the findings, TMAC and Southern Folger employees worked together to implement strategies that could save the company energy and money.

Joe Chavez, director of operations for Southern Folger, said one of the improvements that made the most difference came from repairing air leaks from a compressor that used a significant amount of electricity. Altogether, fixing the leaks saved more than 11,000 kilowatt-hours within the first few months of the project.

“We’re quite proud of bringing in TMAC and CPS Energy,” Chavez said.  “When we brought additional eyes to look at our process, we started to see that we had not reached a certain level of efficiency.  Our energy costs were out the roof   To be competitive in this industry, especially with the economy like it is, keeping utility costs low is important.  The utility savings have been huge.”

Lean, Clean Energy, which is part of CPS Energy’s Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan (STEP) initiative, has a goal of reducing 9 megawatts (MW) of electrical demand from local manufacturing sources by 2020.  STEP’s overall goal is to reduce growth in demand by 771 MW – the equivalent of a large electrical generating unit – by 2020.

The uniqueness of Lean, Clean Energy has garnered interest and support from the U. S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"EPA applauds the lean, clean and energy-saving collaboration that is helping San Antonio's manufacturers grow and become more profitable, while strengthening environmental performance and improving energy efficiency,” said Jim Jones, principal deputy assistant administrator for the EPA Office of Pollution Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “The public and private sectors in San Antonio have proven that collaborations to lean and clean manufacturing processes are successful and enhance local businesses."