Remember the last time you turned on a light? That power might have once come from right here at the J T Deely Power Plant. This plant stands as a testament to San Antonio’s energy history. It also shows its transition toward cleaner energy sources.
The J T Deely Power Plant was part of the Calaveras Power Station complex. It included the O.W. Sommers Power Plant and the J.K. Spruce Power Plant. All three plants were operated by CPS Energy.
Let’s step back to the 1970s. There was a time when natural gas was unreliable and expensive. CPS Energy decided coal was the answer. So, the J T Deely Power Plant was born. Construction costs totaled 236 million dollars. Unit 1 went online in 1977. Unit 2 followed in 1978. The plant got its name from former CPS General Manager J. T. Deely.
The J T Deely Power Plant generated 871 megawatts of power. Coal arrived by train. Conveyor belts carried it to a massive pile. Crushers then pulverized the coal into a fine powder. Boilers burned this powder to create steam. The steam turned turbines that powered generators. These generators produced electricity for San Antonio.
Look up. Imagine a 700-foot smokestack dominating the skyline. That was Deely’s signature. In 2009, CPS Energy upgraded Unit 2. They installed a selective catalytic reduction system. This replaced an older electrostatic precipitator.
But times change. In 2011, CPS Energy announced the J T Deely Power Plant would close. Federal regulations were becoming stricter. Upgrading the plant to meet these rules would cost billions. It simply wasn’t worth it. Even with changes under the Trump administration, the decision stood.
December 31, 2018, marked the end. The J T Deely Power Plant ceased operations. The plant’s closure meant less pollution. It eliminated millions of tons of greenhouse gases. Also, it reduced nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides.
The Sierra Club celebrated the closure. They had long pushed for cleaner energy. The “Dirty Deely” was no more.
Even though J T Deely Power Plant is now closed, its legacy continues. CPS Energy is considering repurposing the site. It could become a natural gas plant. The existing infrastructure is valuable. There’s transmission access, cooling water, and natural gas pipelines. The J T Deely Power Plant site could power San Antonio in a new way.
The J T Deely Power Plant is a reminder of our energy past. It is also a symbol of our future. It is a story of how San Antonio is transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy.