Local clean energy partnership celebrates three years of keeping San Antonio moving

July 1, 2025, San Antonio, TX – Key local project stakeholders – Republic Services, EDL, CPS Energy and VIA Metropolitan Transit – today celebrated a third year of partnership providing sustainable solutions for San Antonio public buses, at EDL’s state-of-the-art Tessman Road Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) facility. 

Since commencing operations in 2022, the partners have worked together to support San Antonio’s transition to a low-carbon future – transforming methane-rich landfill gas into home-grown RNG for Texans and helping power VIA’s fleet of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. 

Republic Services Tessman Road Landfill, which employs close to 50 people, sends 5,700 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) of gas to the RNG facility, captured from a network of 265 gas recovery wells.

“Our vision is to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world now and for future generations,” said Republic Services General Manager Bill Rich. “Through partnerships like these, we are converting the community’s waste into a lower-carbon fuel source that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and brings us closer to our goal of beneficially reusing 50 percent more of our biogas by 2030.”

Gas generated by decomposing organic materials is captured from the landfill and processed into RNG by EDL. The quantities of RNG produced at Tessman Road are enough to displace about seven million gallons of diesel each year when used in transport.

“RNG is playing a key role in generating clean, home-grown energy for San Antonio,” said Anthony Falbo, EDL North America CEO. “We’re proud to see the success of partnerships like this, where EDL works closely with our customers to achieve reliability and sustainability goals, while making a positive impact on local communities and residents.”

The RNG produced at the facility is added to CPS Energy’s existing pipeline network for delivery to end users. 

“This first-of-its-kind RNG project for CPS Energy highlights our strategy to think globally and act locally to bring innovative solutions to our community,” said Rudy Garza, President & CEO, CPS Energy. “Integrating this RNG gas delivery system is key to reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions in the Greater San Antonio area and is making a positive impact in our city. Thanks to this collaboration with Republic Services, EDL and VIA, we are making a very important step in supporting San Antonio’s commitment to reducing emissions through innovation and technology.” 

A portion of the RNG generated from this site is integrated into the existing pipeline that fuels VIA Metropolitan Transit’s fleet of more than 400 CNG buses. VIA began its transition to CNG buses in 2017 and successfully completed the conversion in 2021. 

“Public transit is essential to our community, and we know that our customers rely on VIA to get them where they need to go,” said Jon Gary Herrera, President & CEO. “We are proud to be part of this local partnership with CPS Energy, EDL and Republic Services, with renewable natural gas produced from this site supplying more than half of the fuel used by our fleet over the past year. By using local renewable resources to power our buses, we not only enhance mobility for our customers but also support economic growth and environmental sustainability.”

This partnership reinforces VIA’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and providing cleaner, more efficient public transportation.

In 2024, VIA provided more than 30 million trips, connecting San Antonians to work, school, health care and the things that matter most in their lives.

Pictured below (L-R): VIA Metropolitan Transit President and CEO Jon Gary Herrera, CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy D. Garza, EDL CEO – North America Anthony Falbo and Republic Services General Manager Bill Rich.

Pictured above (left): Marking three years of a joint partnership project that turns trash into transit and keeps San Antonio moving with renewable natural gas. Pictured above (right): EDL CEO – North America Anthony Falbo, CPS Energy President and CEO Rudy D. Garza, VIA Metropolitan Transit President and CEO Jon Gary Herrera and Republic Services General Manager Bill Rich.