UTSA, Southwest Research Institute and CPS Energy form Energy Research Alliance of San Antonio

United in a common interest to explore new and innovative energy solutions, The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and CPS Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding to form the Energy Research Alliance of San Antonio.

Although UTSA, SwRI and CPS Energy have a long-standing tradition of collaboration in a variety of areas, the memo is the first formal agreement on the topic of energy between the three organizations. Specifically, it calls for the trio to:

• Prioritize energy-related initiatives for collaboration, including energy workshops
  
• Define a strategic regional roadmap for emerging energy technology
  
• Collaborate on energy grant applications and publications
  
• Organize joint research, academic and scientific activities, such as research projects, demonstration projects, courses, conferences, seminars, symposia or lectures
  
• Promote the exchange of researchers, teaching personnel and students
  
• Exchange publications and other materials of common interest
  
• Jointly work to raise public awareness and education on energy topics

"The energy issues we face today are exceedingly complex, and their solutions require a broad spectrum of research skills," said Robert Gracy, UTSA's vice president for research. "At UTSA, we are particularly pleased with the partnership because it brings together the full range of research capabilities of all three organizations. This synergy will undoubtedly provide energy solutions that each individual component could not accomplish by working on its own."

"We welcome the opportunity for Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to join with UTSA and CPS Energy in this important area," said Danny Deffenbaugh, vice president of the Mechanical and Materials Engineering Division at SwRI. "This collaborative effort will address one of the most critical challenges we face today: providing energy to support our way of life, while minimizing climate change," Deffenbaugh said.

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."

The five-year agreement was formally executed by James Casey, director of the Office of Contracts and Industrial Agreements at UTSA; Walter Downing, executive vice president of SwRI; and CPS Energy's Eugster.

No additional funding is required to begin this initiative.

Source: University of Texas at San Antonio