CALPIRG Report Shows 20% of L.A.’s Power Could Come From Renewables

Coalition Calls on City to Increase Clean Power at LADWP

source: press release CalPIRG 2002.11.14

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles can generate at least 20% of its
energy from clean, renewable resources by 2012, according to a
new report by the California Public Interest Research Group
(CALPIRG), a statewide public interest advocacy organization.

CALPIRG’s report, Clean Energy at the Crossroads: Charting the
Potential for Renewable Energy in Los Angeles, examines the
current make up of Los Angeles’ electrical generation, and its
projected growth in demand and maps how Los Angeles could
significantly increases its development of renewable energy
resources over the next ten years.

"Our research shows that Los Angeles no longer needs to rely on
dirty, unreliable energy sources such as coal and nuclear power,"
said Eli Richlin, CALPIRG Energy Associate and report
co-author. "Renewable energy resources such as wind, solar and
geothermal are widely available to Los Angeles today."

Currently, Los Angeles generates less than 2% of its energy from
renewable sources while the statewide average is 12%. Los
Angeles generates 1,000 tons of smog-forming pollution in the
Los Angeles air basin and 18 million tons of global warming
gases each year as a result of its heavy dependence on fossil
fuels. Recent legislation, signed into law by Governor Gray Davis,
requiring all investor owned utilities in California to meet a 20%
renewable energy goal by 2017 exempts the Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power (DWP).

A coalition of environmental and clean energy groups called for
the City of Los Angeles City to ramp up its investments in
renewable energy over the next ten years while testifying before
the City Council Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources
committee.

"One of LA’s dirty little secrets is that our electricity is extremely
polluting," said Martin Schlageter from the Coalition for Clean Air,
a Los Angeles based public health organization. "By investing in
renewable energy, Mayor Hahn and the Council can protect
public health and make Los Angeles a worldwide energy leader."

Several municipalities and state governments have recently
adopted similar renewable energy strategies. San Francisco, for
example, is installing 90 MW of new, renewable energy capacity.

CALPIRG’s research shows Los Angeles could generate 12.2%
of its projected 2010 energy load from wind farms in California,
6.4% from geothermal plants, and over 2% from solar
technologies. In contrast, the City currently generates over 85%
of its energy from coal, natural gas and nuclear power plants.

CALPIRG is a statewide public interest organization with over
70,000 members statewide.