In San Antonio the municipal electric utility, CPS Energy, has proposed spending $5.2 billion on two new nuclear reactors.  They claim to need the power for San Antonio’s growing energy demand, but they have failed to engage the public and have a meaningful conversation with city officials about what this would mean.

ReEnergize Texas has joined the coalition Energia Mia to oppose this plant and instead back the vision of

Mission Verde.  Julio Lopez is an activist who has joined us through our partnership with the Esperanza Center.  Here is his first story:

On Tuesday September 15, I attended a CPS sponsored Neighbor Night in district 4. Here residents were able to see yet again a presentation clearly drafted to entangle people in numbers and words only those with a strong background on the subject could understand.

CPS claimed to have made an honest effort to provide residents with clear and comprehensive information readily made available upon request. They said there were books of information on the proposal for anyone seeking further knowledge on this issue to be found at every public library in San Antonio. So on Wednesday I decided to visit a local library to take a look at these public information books.

When introduced to these books at the district 4 meeting, one got the impression that the information would be found in basic format that anyone could understand. I arrived at the library, approached the front desk and asked,” I was told CPS delivered some books providing information on the upcoming nuclear proposal…” the librarian politely responded, “ Umm… let me see… usually we would have something like that here [pointing to an information area ]… hold on, let me ask.” Once everything was sorted out and she started to hand me the books one by one, she says, “Maybe you should wait for the movie.” I stood there starring at a stack of paper about a foot high.

I’m really impressed with CPS’s efforts to inform the public. We’re less than a month away from a decision, and only two weeks ago these volumes became available. Three years worth of information, and we’re supposed to read and understand all the legal terminology in a few weeks. Thanks, CPS.