CPS Energy tapped by Corpus Christi to explore using a power plant to head off a water emergency
CPS Energy is being tapped by Corpus Christi in its efforts to head off a water emergency as one of its main reservoirs falls to historic lows
The Corpus Christi City Council authorized city staff to work with the San Antonio-owned utility to explore developing a seawater desalination project at the Barney Davis power plant.
“CPS Energy values its strong collaborative relationships with the communities in which we operate,” the utility said in a statement. “We welcome the opportunity to engage with local leaders and remain committed to working together in a productive manner.” It didn’t provide any further information about working with Corpus Christi.
The power plant has been evaluated multiple times as a potential desalination site since it’s already authorized to use Laguna Madre seawater for industrial purposes. Proposals were submitted in 2018, 2023 and 2025 but were sidelined because of concerns tied to costs, permitting issues, timelines and environmental concerns.
CPS Energy acquired the power plant in 2024 from Talen Energy, marking the utility’s first acquisition of gas-fired plants in more than a decade. The 897-megawatt power plant is located on the Laguna Madre and already uses seawater from the lagoon for cooling.
READ MORE: ‘Dire predicament’: Corpus Christi could be close to running out of water
Corpus Christi city staff met with CPS representatives last month to discuss the potential development of the site.
During this week’s City Council meeting, residents raised their concerns during the two-hour public comment period about how desalination efforts would affect the lagoon and the communities who rely on it.
Without significant rainfall in the near months, Corpus Christi faces a water emergency that could result in a total depletion of the system by next year. As of March 5, one of the city’s main reservoirs, Lake Corpus Christi, was below 10%.
RELATED: Greg Abbott says Texas may have to ‘micromanage’ Corpus Christi due to major water crisis
The water crisis, spurred by a historic five-year drought, would have a ripple effect on the Port of Corpus Christi, one of the nation’s largest petroleum ports, affecting access to jet fuel needed by Texas airports and to oil exports.
The region is populated by large industrial users – refineries, liquefied natural gas facilities and petrochemical plants – who deplete most of the region’s water. Despite their extensive use of water resources, the industries are exempt from emergency curtailment measures.
The city of Corpus Christi said in a statement that it is investing nearly $1 billion into water efforts, including groundwater projects, to rejuvenate the city’s needs. But Gov. Greg Abbott has been outspoken about his concern for the city’s ability to address the crisis, accusing the city of mishandling $700 million of state-supported funds.
“We can only give them a little time more before the state of Texas has to take over and micromanage that city and run that city to make sure that every resident who goes to the water tap and turns it on, they’re going to be getting water out of their faucet,” Abbott said Tuesday at a campaign rally. “Not because of what local leaders are doing, but because of what the state of Texas will do.”
This article originally published at CPS Energy tapped by Corpus Christi to explore using a power plant to head off a water emergency.
