|
Photo Credit: David Martin Davies (TPR)
|
|
After weeks of a public campaign discussing need for greater nuclear energy for San Antonio’s future, the CPS Energy Board voted Tuesday to seek expansion of the South Texas Nuclear Project. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies has the story.
October 14, 2009 ·
In a unanimous vote the five CPS Energy board members – including Mayor Julian Cástro – gave their approval for the STP expansion, but at a lower percentage of involvement.
They are now looking at a 20 to 25 percent stake in the project rather than the 40 percent that was originally proposed.
But that compromise was not seen as good news by opponents to nuclear power – like Genevieve Rodriguez of Energia Mia.
“Right now currently less than 10 percent of their budget is solar – and we live in a desert. CPS uses only 10 to 20 percent of their wind capability – so why are we not trying to harness the rest of that – that’s where money should be going and energy efficiency,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez especially faulted Mayor Castro for his vote.
“I am very disappointed he ran his election on the backs of the working class people in this city. And I feel he has forgotten and he has turned his back on what is really effecting the working class people of this city,” said Rodriguez.
Castro took pains to explain his reasons for the vote, which he clearly understood was unpopular with some of his constituents.
“The idea of investing in nuclear energy is to create a low cost source of power for decades to come. That’s what nuclear energy achieves when its done right,” he said.
Castro said wind and solar power are not yet technologically ready for a city to rely on and that nuclear is needed for the city’s future growth and to keep rates low in the future.
“We’re investing heavily in initiatives that are aimed at making sure seniors and folks who are low income can take advantage of discounts. There is a low income rate structure as well as programs like REAP that specifically will help folks who are having a tough time paying their energy bill,” said Castro.
However, CPS energy customers are going to be seeing rate increases in the future, but Castro said there will be a program to help the most impoverished homes keep the lights on.
Former city council member and opponent of nuclear power Maria Berriozabal said the program is more for appearances and the better solution would be keep energy costs low by avoiding the expense of nuclear power.
“Some deals are being cut – so that some low income people and that’s the very very bottom low income people will qualify for some kind of rebate – that is not enough,” she said.
The next step for CPS energy is the City Council – they are expected to vote on the measure on Oct. 29. |
