Environment, Climate & Sustainability

SA CLIMATE READY

The final approved report of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) is available here.  The CAAP Board Public Input Session from February 18, 2019 is available here.

SA Climate Ready is a project to develop a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan for the City of San Antonio. The project will explore both mitigation strategies, aiming to reduce or prevent the emission of GHGs, and adaptation strategies aiming to prepare the community, municipal government operations, and other key sectors for the unavoidable impacts of climate change.

We are proud to be a part of SA Climate Ready, working with the City of San Antonio, UTSA, and Navigant.  The SA Climate Ready kick-off event was held on Dec. 7, 2017. Please check out the video links: Part One and Part Two

USING THE SUN AND WIND TO POWER OUR CITY

We now provide nearly 500 megawatts (MW) of waterless, emissions-free solar power. Adding more sun power means we can use our baseload generation of coal and natural gas less.

Our commitment to provide you clean energy can now be seen at solar farms across Greater San Antonio and in West Texas, along with 1,066 MW of wind power also out west and spread across the Gulf Coast.

With your support, we crossed the threshold of a major milestone last year. We met our Vision 2020 goal of 20 percent renewable energy three years before the year 2020. It’s an accomplishment in which we all can take pride. 

KEEPING THE AIR CLEAN

In 2017, when the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) lost State funding for its air monitoring efforts, we partnered with AACOG to make sure their work could go on. We’re now monitoring our area’s air quality. Knowledge is power. With continued awareness of air quality issues, AACOG can talk to our community about the steps we can all take to reduce air emissions.

STAYING GREEN ON THE ROAD

Lowering vehicle emissions protects the air we all breathe. 100 Best Fleets recognizes our work in this area, ranking us 28th nationally in Green Fleet and 24^th in the 100 Best Fleets. The awards recognize organizations who drive employee engagement, safety, efficiencies, use of alternative fuel vehicles and cost savings.

In April 2018, we purchased 34 XLP Plug-In Hybrid Electric Ford F-150 pickup trucks – the largest purchase of Plug-In F-150s of any utility or private company to date and the first in Texas to use the vehicles.

CONSERVING WATER

After a devastating drought in the 1950s, our company leaders of the time created Calaveras and Braunig lakes. Recycled water goes into the lakes and is used to cool our plants instead of drinking water. As a result, the lakes have saved enough drinking water in in one year to take care of the needs of 76,000 families for an entire year.

REDUCING, REUSING, RECYCLING

Just like you, we are dedicated to keeping recyclables out of landfills. In 2017, we recycled 300,000-500,000 tons of material, reusing 91 to 95 percent of all our materials.

Totals:

• 2017 – 355,791 tons recycled  89% Reused (Tuttle landfilled tons of brick)
• 2018 - 295,323 Recycled – 91% Reused
• 2019 – 409,419 Recycled – 97% Reused (largest change in single stream material i.e. plastics, paper, etc.)

Taking care of today’s resources so our children and future generations have what they need to survive and thrive is a job for all of us. Whether recycling paper or plastic or something much larger, we are on a daily mission with you to do what’s right for people, animals and our environment.