IS CPS the cheapest energy ... as it claims?

NOPE. notice those super high fuel adjustments charges? they are skyrocketing energy cost for residents... and adding BIG profit to CPS's bank account.

Watch the WOAI investigation

Hondo Passes Raises for Workers

After much discussion and heated debate, the Hondo City Council included raises for workers that benefit those earning the least. Southwest Workers Union sees this as an important step towards achieve a Living Wage of $12.21 an hour for City employees. Currently, many workers are earning under $20,000 a year for full-time work, leaving them to make hard choices about how to support their family.

The percentage across-the-board raise received will depend on current annual salary. Those earning below $25,000, which is the majority of the 120 employees, will see a 6.5% increase. Up to $40,000 will earn 3.5% more, up to $55,000 1.5% and administrators, many earning upwards of 80-100,000 dollars, will get a model 0.5% increase. These will go into affect October 1, 2008 as part of the 2008-2009 budget.

In contrast, the City Manager initially proposed only a 2% raise for workers, which he later upped to 3.5%. The support of the community helped secured just raises for workers as families are facing drastically rising prices.

See Express-News Article, Pay Hikes Divide Hondo's Council

Soaring profits for CPS -- Soaring debt for customers

Even without the rate increase yet in place, CPS profits are growing -- at the expense of us, the rate-payer. (see San Antonio Express-News article). Costs for electricity this summer, like gas, are the highest residents have ever seen.

These funds need to be directed to the green economy / sustainability programs the City and CPS were hyping a couple months ago. Funds should be directly reinvested into the community, to increase energy efficiency of homes, purchase solar and wind power and give grants to low-income families to weatherize their house.

We don't need any more billboards. (like the one near I-35 and SW Military telling folks 'thermostats don't bit.' Houses on the south side DON'T HAVE THERMOSTATS... perhaps just a little more thought could go into these plans). It is time for something useful. Create green jobs, decrease pollution, help families save money.

Come on Mayor Hardberger, let's do it right.

Victoria Residents Speaking Up About Nuclear

On August 7, over 400 community members, advocates, professionals and SWU representatives gathered In Victoria, TX to hear the Unities States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conduct a public outreach meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the application planned to be submitted by Exelon for two new nuclear reactors just 12 miles south of downtown Victoria. The NRC is the regulatory body that reviews license applications, performs safety reviews and conducts environmental impact assessments. There was a strong turnout by pro and anti nuclear advocates including Nuclear Energy for Texans (pro-nuclear) and Speak Up Victoria (anti-nuclear). The steering committee for Nuclear Energy for Texans includes Exelon and San Antonio’s very own CPS. Speak Up Victoria is a coalition of citizens with a mission to ask the hard questions around nuclear energy.

The most debated topic that the design proposed for the Victoria plant, an Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR), has not yet been certified by the NRC and will be under review simultaneously while they review the combined license application. Citizens worried about an uncertified reactor being built in their town and did not want to be ‘guinea pigs’ for such a potentially dangerous situation.

Another important question raised was water rights. Nuclear plants require a vast amount of water especially to cool nuclear waste for an unknown period (up to 1,000 of years!). The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority asked residents to curtail their water supply just 2 years ago but are now offering 75,000 acre-feet of water supply to Exelon, leaving citizens uneasy with the proposal.

Nuclear energy is not a quick-fix to our global warming crisis or a necessary part of our energy future. Conservation, efficiency and renewable sources are safe, clean and econoically stimulating options. SWU works alongside South Texas communities that are fighting to stop uranium mining and the hazardous expansion of nuclear reactors.

Good things growing at RoC Garden

The Roots of Change Community Garden has gone through some drastic changes in the past few weeks, changes which will enable more people to have a hand in the growth of our ever-expanding community green space!

A bobcat took the entire first layer off of our former “parking lot” so we could start planting and building new beds. What we discovered, however, was that the ground is not only pure clay, stubborn roots, and rock, but there was also a lot of glass and buried trash that need to be removed. We started struggling with the ground in order to plant our new native plant garden, which involved raking up all the trash and rocks, and then digging with a huge pick in order to break up the ground. Each hole was a struggle to dig, but in about three days, with help from a teen summer camp group, we planted, mulched, and watered all the plants. And so far they seem to be pretty happy! We also laid a path of decomposed granite, which really makes the garden look more like a garden!

Along with this big project, new vegetables were planted into the raised beds, such as chiles, beans, and squash, and we started rows of corn where bamboo had been ripped out of the ground. The new banana trees, which were planted to combat the bamboo looked as if they wouldn’t make it, but they’re slowly regaining their stature and growing more leaves. It looks like a jungle out there!

Next up : operation get a fence.

We could always use some more help. It’s a great place to get to know your neighbors and spend a little time outside!