November 2, 2009 — Dedicated to exploring new and innovative energy solutions, San Antonio Water System (SAWS) announced today it has joined the Energy Research Alliance of San Antonio established in June by The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) and CPS Energy.
As the Energy Research Alliance's newest member, SAWS will collaborate with UTSA, SwRI and CPS Energy to define and implement new and alternative strategies for the development of energy technology.
Steve Clouse, chief operating officer for SAWS, said "Working together to find new synergies in solutions to essential issues like water and energy is essential to the well-being of San Antonians. Our ratepayers depend on groups like this working together to find the most economical, efficient methods. We welcome the opportunity."
"The energy challenges that our world faces today and will be facing in the future must be addressed now by dedicated researchers with a broad array of skills and specialties," said Robert Gracy, UTSA's vice president for research. "We are excited to join Southwest Research Institute and CPS Energy in developing the Energy Research Alliance of San Antonio. The addition of San Antonio Water System to the partnership will certainly catalyze our progress. Together, we will be able to develop energy solutions that each individual organization could not accomplish by working on its own."
"We welcome SAWS as a new partner in the Energy Research Alliance of San Antonio,"
said Danny Deffenbaugh, vice president of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division at Southwest Research Institute. "Adding our local water supplier to the Alliance reflects the critical relationship between water and energy."
Cris Eugster, executive vice president and chief sustainability officer of CPS Energy added, "San Antonio has the opportunity to be a leader in clean energy technologies and their practical applications, and the Energy Research Alliance of San Antonio will be a key catalyst in this endeavor."
No additional funding is required to support the joint initiative.
For more information, contact Maria Stothoff at (210) 522-3305, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, P.O. Drawer 28510, San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510.