Dino Barajas Comments on CPS Energy’s “New Energy Economy”

Contact:
The American Public Power Association’s Public Power Daily has quoted Akin Gump cross-border transactions partner Dino Barajas on a decision by CPS Energy, San Antonio’s municipal electric utility, to launch a public-private partnership program in 2011.
The article notes that CPS recently released a white paper explaining how the initiative came about and how the public-private partnership might serve as a model for other similar partnerships around the country. The white paper describes a decision by CPS to pursue local economic development aggressively. By the end of last year, according to the white paper cited in the article, CPS Energy had partnered with 11 clean energy companies, four of which had moved their headquarters to San Antonio.
With regard to renewable energy, Barajas said “leveraging the public dollar like this is a unique way to bring long-term investment to your jurisdiction.” He added, “The approach taken by CPS Energy is quite innovative. Water utilities should take a look.”