DWP Snuffs Power Plant Plans, Pivoting To Greener Options

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Department of Water and Power official announced Tuesday that the utility will re-evaluate a plan to spend $2.2 billion to rebuild some natural gas power plants while staff members study clean energy alternatives.

Reiko Kerr, a senior assistant general manager with LADWP, made the announcement during a presentation to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners. The plan to rebuild the plants is scheduled to start in 2018.

Utility spokeswoman Amanda Parsons told City News Service, "We just want to study all of our options at hand so that we make sure we have the best data that we possibly can have and the best information before moving forward."

LADWP will undertake a system-wide study as part of the re-evaluation that will analyze the need for the rebuilt plants and possible green alternatives. The targeted deadline for the study to be completed is early 2018.

"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," said Graciela Geyer, a Sierra Club My Generation campaign representative.

The Los Angeles Times reported in February that the state has an oversupply of energy but keeps building new power plants, and that the state is on pace to produce at least 21 percent more electricity than is needed by 2020.

City News Service; Photo: Pubic Domain