The potential reuse of the old Mission Road Power Plant (MRPP) facility has been a topic of interest with nearby neighbors, elected officials, design professionals and CPS Energy personnel for a number of years. Located at the edge of an urban residential area, the MRPP is right in the path of exciting new enhancements of landscaping and hike and bike trails that are part of the San Antonio River Improvements project. In addition, the adjacent Roosevelt Park has just undergone renovations that increase the desirability of this scenic site.

Since the power plant’s turbines went silent in the year 2003, CPS Energy has completed environmental testing and remediation that will allow the site to be a candidate for other uses, including residential. We have removed some elements and are continuing our preparations for the facility’s new life and purpose.

We are aware that as technological advances and increasing demands for power production cause older plants to be shut down, other utility companies have turned their outdated facilities into community assets -- museums, shopping centers, and mixed-use developments. The sturdy buildings that served communities in other eras for power production are inspiring to architects and urban planners because of their usual location near water and their classic architecture.

A Mission Road Power Plant feasibility study began with CPS Energy internal staff meetings emphasizing the need for good stewardship of the public utility’s resources, careful background discussions with residents near the plant, interviews with community leaders, tours of the plant, and polling of business chambers of commerce and nearby neighbors for preferences of possible new uses.