Los Angeles Issues Renewable Energy RFPs

Los Angeles Issues Renewable Energy RFPs

"This is an investment Angelinos appreciate, and by the year 2017, they will be able to say their City is leading the way in environmental protection."

- Tony Cardenas, Chairman of the Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Los Angeles, California - July 8, 2004 [SolarAccess.com] Clean, renewable energy power generation gains a major boost when states like California, Texas, New York, and others make a commitment to sourcing a certain percentage of their power from renewable energy technologies. The same holds true to for large cities. The city of Los Angeles is the latest to call for more renewable energy use - a move that will likely spur new projects in the area.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the nation's largest municipal utility, has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for renewable energy projects. LADWP is seeking to acquire up to 1,320,000 MW-hours per year of renewable energy by the end of 2010.

"This RFP marks a significant step forward towards reaching our goal of producing 20 percent of our energy from renewable resources by 2017," said Mayor Hahn. "Next week, the Mayor's Green Ribbon Commission will begin meeting to further develop a plan for Los Angeles by year's end."

Under the direction of Mayor Jim Hahn, the City Council and the Board of Water and Power Commissions, LADWP is developing a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to increase its share of power generation through renewable energy sources -- such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass -- to 13 percent of its energy by 2010 and 20 percent by 2017.

"By investing in renewable energy, the City of Los Angeles will create new jobs and provide much-needed goods and services with our international trading partners," said Council President Alex Padilla.

A City Council motion recently passed, co-authored by Padilla and Councilmember Tony Cardenas, to ensure that the LADWP will obtain 20% of its energy portfolio from renewable energy sources by the year 2017.

Cardenas, who is the chairman of the Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, applauded the City and LADWP for "taking real action in making sure future generations breathe cleaner air...this is an investment Angelinos appreciate, and by the year 2017, they will be able to say their City is leading the way in environmental protection."

As described in the RFP, the Department plans to acquire new renewable energy resources through development and ownership of projects, and through mid- to long-term power purchase agreements. LADWP expects to meet the RPS goals through multiple projects over the next several years.

"The renewable energy RFP is a broad-based solicitation for hydro, wind, biomass, solar, geothermal, and other renewable energy projects," said Frank Salas, acting general manager. "We are seeking to attract high-quality proposals that will lay the foundation for expanding our capabilities to provide clean, sustainable, and cost-effective power for years to come."

The RFP offers criteria for new renewable energy projects that support the goals of the new Renewable Portfolio Standard and fit within the framework of LADWP's 2000 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) -- a 10-year blueprint for meeting future energy load growth, improving system reliability, maintaining the lowest possible rates, and demonstrating environmental leadership.

Since adopting the IRP, LADWP has moved forward with a number of projects that will produce renewable energy, reduce emissions, and increase energy efficiency.

These include the 120-megawatt Pine Tree Wind project and an agreement to purchase 40 megawatts of power annually from a proposed BioConverter green waste digestion facility. In addition, LADWP has increased energy efficiency and decreased emissions in Los Angeles by "repowering" its aging, in-basin natural gas powered generating units with combined cycle generators and state-of-the-art emissions technology, resulting in over 75% emissions reductions.

Moreover, LADWP is administering a $150 million program to install rooftop solar photovoltaic systems throughout Los Angeles. The Department is also modernizing its hydroelectric facility in San Francisquito Canyon, and installed 50 microturbines at Lopez Canyon Landfill that convert methane gas into energy.

LADWP will conduct a pre-proposal conference for the renewable energy RFP on July 13, at 1 p.m. at its John Ferraro Building headquarters, A-Level Auditorium, 111 N. Hope St., Los Angeles. Proposals are due August 13. The RFP can be downloaded from the LADWP website at the following link.

For Further Information:

• LADWP Renewables RFP

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