LOS ANGELES -- Today, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), the largest publicly owned utility in the country, announced that it will pause a $2.2 billion investment in gas plants until it can do a clean energy analysis. This is a critical change in course from the DWP's recent energy plan, which details how the utility will power the nation’s second largest city for the next 20 years. This is a clear signal that the DWP sees clean energy and energy efficiency as a strong competitor to gas. This hold comes after a year of the community advocating at the utility for greater investments in clean energy and energy efficiency.
Combined with shifting away from coal generation, Los Angeles is in the process of overhauling 70% of its generation mix and this decision to press pause on building gas plants is a sign that the utility is getting serious about eliminating dirty gas from the energy mix. Letting these power plants move ahead would have blown a irreparable hole in City and the State’s hopes to achieve 100% generation.
Graciela Geyer, Sierra Club My Generation Campaign Representative, issued the following response:
“We applaud LADWP for putting these gas plant projects on hold and conducting a review of clean energy alternatives. Given the rapid pace of innovation in clean energy solutions like energy storage and rooftop solar, new dirty and expensive gas plants are very hard to justify. For over a year now, Angelenos have been showing up at meetings, signing petitions, and writing letters to tell LADWP to let clean energy compete. This is a great first step toward smart energy investments that save customers money, ensure the lights stay on, and protect our health and the environment. We look forward to continuing to work with the utility and urge them to conduct the review transparently.”
Angela Johnson Meszaros, Attorney at EarthJustice, issued the following response:
"As our city struggles with the worst smog we’ve seen in years, we appreciate that LADWP is taking some much-needed time to reassess its plans to build fossil fuel power plants. We look forward to the day that LADWP announces that we are going to power our city with 100% clean energy.”
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