San Antonio’s ditching its oil roots for a greener future, and they’re not messing around. CPS Energy just doubled its wind capacity with a massive 159MW boost in 2024. The city’s also dropping $30 million on solar projects—the largest on-site solar initiative in Texas. They’re targeting carbon neutrality by 2050, zero net energy by 2040. Imagine that in oil country! The numbers behind this transformation tell an even more impressive story.
While Texas has long been synonymous with oil and gas, San Antonio is flipping the script with a massive green energy transformation. CPS Energy just doubled its wind power capacity with a whopping 159MW boost in 2024. Not content to just blow hot air about sustainability, the city is putting real money where its mouth is.
The city launched a $30 million solar initiative that’s bringing 13.1 MW of solar power across 42 city-owned facilities and parking lots. It’s the largest on-site solar project at city properties in Texas. Yeah, everything really is bigger in Texas—even the solar panels.
San Antonio isn’t just dabbling in green energy; they’re going all in. The SA Climate Ready plan aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, with city operations hitting zero net energy by 2040. Ambitious? Sure. Impossible? We’ll see.
San Antonio’s climate game isn’t small-time—they’re betting big on green with deadlines that make fossil fuel diehards sweat.
The solar installations aren’t just slapped onto rooftops. They’ve partnered with Big Sun Solar for installation and maintenance, with many arrays doubling as parking canopies. Two birds, one stone—clean energy and shaded parking. Genius. This local initiative follows the global renewable trend that saw an unprecedented 507 gigawatts of new renewable capacity added worldwide in 2023.
Behind the scenes, procurement teams from CPS Energy, technical advisors from RMI, and various city departments are working together to make this happen. The project will generate an impressive 18.4 million kWh annually, significantly reducing municipal carbon emissions. The initiative is expected to reduce carbon dioxide by 12,855 metric tons, equivalent to taking 3,060 gas-powered cars off the road annually. They’re using bulk purchasing to slash costs. Smart move.
The city even snagged a $2.5 million low-interest loan from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office to fund the solar expansion. These projects are creating local green jobs and making the city more resilient. The public can track progress site-by-site, keeping the city accountable to its lofty goals.
Beyond solar and wind, San Antonio is retrofitting buildings with energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. Even their contractors have to mulch instead of sending waste to landfills.
For a state that once ran on oil, San Antonio’s green transformation is nothing short of remarkable. Old-school energy execs might be clutching their pearls, but the city’s future is looking decidedly greener.
