For Immediate Release December 11, 2007
Community issues CPS a report card
Utility gets failing grade over nukes and public accountability
Tuesday December 11, 2007 – 5:15PM
CPS Energy Open House
McAuliffe Jr. High
9390 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, Texas
Ratepayers descend on CPS’s public meeting today to deliver a failing grade to the utility for its pursuit of nuclear reactor construction despite concern over the financial risks and environmental impacts. Protestors will deliver a large mounted report card to CPS and reject CPS’s four public forums as lip service towards public participation.
At the October 29th vote to invest $206 million into two additional nuclear reactors, CPS Board Trustees ignored requests for a delay to allow the ratepayers who will finance the project a role in the decision. All unforeseen construction costs can be passed on to families in the form of rate increases. CPS’s cost estimates range from $6.6-8.6 billion, while independent estimates based on Wall Street projections suggest a price tag as high as $16.2 billion.
In issuing a poor progress report, Southwest Workers Union considered the lack of commitment towards local renewable power development and the scant investment into efficiency and conservation programs, to which CPS has committed only $96 million. With households that consume more energy than those in any other major city in Texas, aggressive weatherization programs have huge potential to reduce San Antonio’s energy needs. Conservation programs also reduce CPS’s environmental impact while helping families save on energy bills and creating jobs in San Antonio.
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