The background
According to a March 13 news release, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, allocated $10.6 million in new federal appropriations to support 13 San Antonio community projects, including $1 million to further grow CPS Energy’s Casa Verde initiative.
The program assists eligible, limited-income San Antonio homeowners and renters by including an average of $4,500 in free home weatherization improvements, which help those customers to save money by reducing energy loss.
This new funding is part of the Community Development Block Grant and will support home repairs for 500 homes, making them eligible for weatherization, the release states.
According to officials with the city of San Antonio-owned utility, CPS Energy have denied 47% of Casa Verde applications due to ratepayers’ homes needing additional repairs, such as electrical, plumbing, foundation and roof leaks, which go beyond the scope of the current program.
The Casa Verde program presently covers upgrades such as attic insulation, wall insulation, installation of solar screens, air-sealing, replacement of incandescent light bulbs with LEDs and duct sealing in addition to some health and safety measures.
But with newer investments, such as the $1 million secured by Castro, CPS Energy officials said they plan to invest $82.5 million in Casa Verde to weatherize up to 16,000 homes this year. In 2023, the Casa Verde program supported weatherization of 30,000 homes throughout the San Antonio community, the release states.
What they’re saying
CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy Garza said the Casa Verde program has improved the quality of life of countless utility customers, especially in coping with hot summers and especially cold wintry snaps.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all of the elected officials at the local, state and federal levels who have worked with us to grow these community initiatives,” Garza said in a statement.
Castro said the Casa Verde program is an example of how smart infrastructure investments can protect the environment and strengthen San Antonio families.
“Every year, I’m glad to nominate community projects from across San Antonio for well-deserved federal funding to expand their work. The Casa Verde program has a great track record of helping families save on their energy bills while improving energy efficiency, and I was glad to work with CPS Energy to get $1 million in this year’s appropriations package to serve more homeowners across our city,” Castro said in a statement.
