Los Angeles has made progress to clean up the electricity powering homes, schools, and businesses in recent years, including adopting commitments to phase out coal-fired power. Now City Council members are calling for even greater action.
Los Angeles City Council voted last week to approve a motion authored by Council members Paul Krekorian and Mike Bonin calling for the LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to chart a path to 100% clean energy in the city.
The vote makes LA the largest city in the country to explore a 100% clean energy mandate. The Krekorian-Bonin legislation instructs LADWP to form a research collaborative with energy experts, local universities, and other stakeholders to identify the specific steps necessary to generating all of the electricity LA needs from clean, safe, and renewable resources.
“Much of the gorgeous coastline of the district I represent will literally be underwater within decades if we do not take dramatic action to stop using harmful and climate-polluting fossil fuels,” said Bonin. “Los Angeles can lead the way and show cities around the country — and around the world — that clean energy is here and ready to power thriving economies. This legislation will make sure that our transition to 100% clean energy happens as quickly and as strategically as possible and serves as a roadmap for other cities that want to join the clean energy future.”
Under the leadership of LADWP, the research collaborative will focus on identifying the roadblocks that stand in the way of a completely clean energy portfolio, and will make policy recommendations to the City Council as obstacles to clean energy are revealed. The research collaborative’s work will be a multi-year process, and the collaborative’s progress will be incorporated into LADWP’s Integrated Resource Plan and other strategic planning efforts.
“This is an enormous step forward that will help preserve our environment and lead us to a more sustainable future,” said Krekorian. “For the third year running, Los Angeles was ranked as the most polluted city in the country, which is unacceptable and unhealthy for our families and neighborhoods. Today’s vote puts Los Angeles on a path 100% clean energy, which will reduce greenhouse emissions, cut pollution and lead the city toward greater energy efficiency.”
As a next step in the process, LADWP will report back to the Council in 90 days with a structure of the group and timeline for the collaborative’s work.
Filed Under: News, Policy
