Members of the new Green Ribbon Commission on Renewable Energy gathered outside City Hall to proclaim their support for incorporating more solar, biomass and wind energy into the Department of Water and Power's energy portfolio.

The DWP currently gets less than 5 percent of its energy from renewable sources. Increasing that proportion to 20 percent would cost the average ratepayer an estimated $3.50 a month.

The goal is worthwhile, commission members said, because renewable energy reduces the pollution associated with coal, natural gas and other sources that comprise the bulk of the DWP's energy generation.

"Our environment is probably our most valuable resource and yet it's the one we take for granted the most," said Porter Ranch resident Jim Alger, who will serve on the panel. "With this commission, we can start to turn this around."

Appointee Matt Peterson of the environmental group Global Green said tapping new sources of energy will create jobs, particularly in the northeastern San Fernando Valley.

"We need to not send dirty jobs to Utah," he said. "We need to bring clean jobs to Los Angeles."

The Green Ribbon Commission will be chaired by City Councilman Tony Cardenas and Henry Martinez, the DWP's assistant general manager for power. The panel is expected to report early next year on how the DWP can meet the goal of 20 percent renewable energy by 2017 without compromising the reliability of the power system or driving up rates to an unreasonable level.

DWP Commissioner Silvia Saucedo said she wasn't sure what surcharge would be reasonable, but said she would be reluctant to support any rate increase that would burden low-income residents.