San Antonio is committed to being a leader in investment and training in the green economy. In fact, Mayor Julián Castro has formed the Green Jobs Leadership Council, a committee of high-level individuals to recommend public policy that will help create jobs in the new green economy, which according to the New York Times is the new "green collar economy."

San Antonio is home to CPS Energy, the country's largest municipally-owned gas and electric utility company and strategic partner to the city's efforts to grow the renewable energy sector. San Antonio is also a national leader in green research technology and is home to long-established research entities, including the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute at the University of Texas at San Antonio. San Antonio's location is conductive to year-round solar energy and wind power, making it an ideal place to pioneer and lead the alternative energy industry. In addition, the City and Bexar County join forces with each other – and with the state – to offer your business a variety of incentives.

Mission Verde

San Antonio's plan to lead in this new green economy is Mission Verde -  an initiative that brings unique and innovative approaches to green infrastructure, green retrofitting, green jobs programs, and green venture capital. It aims to position San Antonio successfully in a 21st century global economy and transform the city from the inside out. Mission Verde's principles are: Saving energy saves money; Renewable energy creates economic self-reliance; A green infrastructure, powered by green technology, creates jobs. To learn more about Mission Verde, click here.

A Pro-Business Government That's Also Pro-Green

The city, county and state have joined forces to encourage the growth of green industry, including such incentives as the following.

Tax Abatement up to 100% on real and / or personal property on improvement values for up to 10 years, depending on the project's geographic location within the city.

State Enterprise Zone Project Designation (EZ) allows state sales tax rebates when your qualifying business locates, expands or retains jobs in economically distressed areas.

Economic Development Incentive Fund (EDIF) provides grants and / or loans if your company fits into certain targeted industries, such as the green industry sector.

Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) status allows you to import / export foreign goods or materials and place them in the zone for assembly or distribution – without formal U.S. Customs entry or payment of formal duties or government excise taxes until the product enters the United States market.

Freeport Exemption on personal property tax if your company deals with goods-in-transit or inventories used in the manufacturing process.

Development Financing Programs to acquire land and construct industrial or manufacturing facilities (under $10 million) via taxable and tax exempt bonds issued by Industrial Development Authority (IDA) through the City of San Antonio.

Green Briefing Team to serve as a direct, immediate line to key decision makers in the development and permitting process of your new project.

Customized Workforce Training through the Alamo Colleges when you expand your operations into San Antonio.

The State of Texas offers several significant incentives tied to renewable energy business. A franchise tax exemption is extended to manufacturers, sellers, or installers of solar energy devices. Additionally, the state allows for a corporate deduction from the state's franchise tax for renewable energy sources. Business owners can deduct the total cost of the system from the company's taxable capital or take 10 percent of the system's cost off the company's income. The state also offers a 100 percent property tax exemption on the appraised value of an on-site solar, wind or biomass power-generating device.

CPS Energy

CPS Energy is San Antonio's community-owned, not-for-profit energy utility provider. Their 1,566-square-mile service area includes Bexar County and portions of Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Guadalupe, Medina, Wilson and Kendall Counties. CPS Energy is an integral part of San Antonio's environmental efforts. In 2010, the utility increased renewable resources to 20 percent and by 2020 plans to have 65 percent of its resources classified as either low or non-carbon emitting.

CPS Energy is strategically positioned as one of the most progressive utility companies in the nation, with leadership committed to transitioning from traditional coal plants to cleaner sources of electricity. CPS Energy has also committed to incorporate the academic community into the movement by pledging $50 million over the next decade for the creation of the University of Texas at San Antonio's Sustainable Energy Research Institute, which will pursue advances in solar integration, energy efficiency and carbon management.

The CPS Energy Difference

• Affordable energy – bills typically rank among the lowest of the nation's 20 largest cities.
• Reliable energy – thanks to a diverse mix of fuels and compact distribution systems.
• Access to and support for renewable energy– CPS Energy is currently:
  • the largest municipally-owned purchaser of renewable energy
  • ranked #1 nationally in wind energy capacity
  • the exclusive purchaser of power from the Blue Wing Solar Project (Texas' largest photovoltaic solar farm)
  • on track to acquire another 80 MW of utility scale solar power over the next nine years
• Incentives & rebates for conservation – a commitment of millions of dollars for clean technology to reduce electricity demand by 771 MW by 2020 (Save for Tomorrow Energy Plan).
• A catalyst for additional green business growth – for local and new firms who provide equipment and installation for rebate programs, plus incentives for new green manufacturers.

CPS Energy's incentives to green business include:

• Sustainable Energy Programs such as Solartricity, a market-based initiative to attract mid-sized solar energy-generating projects (25 to 500 kilowatts) that will sign a 20-year agreement to sell their solar output to CPS Energy at a defined cost.
• Commercial and Industrial Rebates, designed to help make business customer operations more energy efficient, include: Heating & Cooling Equipment, Reflective Roof Products, Commercial Lighting, Commercial Kitchen, Premium Efficiency Motors, Innovative Technologies, Solar Photovoltaic, Incentives for New Commercial Construction and Demand Response.

For more information about CPS Energy, visit http://cpsenergy.com