LA Clean Energy Investments, 3/15/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2010

Contact:
David Graham-Caso
(213) 387-6528 x214

New Day for Clean Energy Investments in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Environmental Organizations Unite to Support Concept of Mayor’s Proposal to Fund Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects

(Los Angeles, CA)— Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today launched an initiative intended to help end Los Angeles’ unhealthy addiction to power from fossil fuels like coal. The initiative responds to the financial needs of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) and calls for increased clarity and accountability as DWP makes necessary investments in the clean energy projects that will create local jobs, stimulate local economic development and help Los Angeles work toward a coal-free future. A coalition of environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, Clean Power Campaign, Coalition for Clean Air, Global Green USA, and Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) expressed support for the concept of the Mayor’s proposal, though the organizations reserved official support for the specific initiative until they have the opportunity to read the text of the initiative.

“As representatives of the environmental community in Los Angeles, we strongly support this plan in concept,” said Bill Gallegos, Executive Director of CBE. “This is a complex and important policy decision and we want to be sure the text of the initiative demonstrates a clear path leading to our shared goals before we officially support the plan. The environmental community in Los Angeles is, however, enthusiastically supportive of the concept of the Mayor’s proposal.”

The environmental and financial necessity for a policy like the one introduced by the Mayor today was highlighted by environmental leaders in the City. “Dirty and dangerous fuels like coal are responsible for well more than half of the recent necessary DWP utility rate increase,” said Rhonda Mills, Southern California Program Director for the Clean Power Campaign. “By making an upfront investment in clean energy, DWP could save rate-payers drastic and avoidable cost increases in the future.”

Environmental leaders also sought to ensure that the initiative announced today seizes the opportunity to involve an open and public process that will allow DWP to earn the trust of its customers. The money this initiative designates for investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency should be subjected to a rigorous public planning
process to ensure it is spent wisely. Additionally, the clean energy investment fund must be carefully overseen in order to ensure the accountability and transparency necessary to facilitate trust.

“It is absolutely essential that DWP customers are able to trust that these investments are made in a responsible way,” said Mary Luevano, Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs for Global Green USA. “The process for planning and oversight laid out in this initiative should take this opportunity to reform the DWP process in a way that we have not seen in a long time.”

Importantly, the Mayor’s initiative will help move Los Angeles toward an important goal- the end of dirty and dangerous coal-fired power in Los Angeles.

“Los Angeles gets a disappointingly high 44% of its power from coal-fired power plants located iin Arizona and Utah, which are among the worst stationary sources of pollution in the United States,” said Bill Corcoran, Southwest Region Director for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “Coal-fired power plants are poisoning the people that live near them by polluting the air and water. Pollution from coal-fired power plants is also a major contributor to the catastrophic climate change which causes disasters (including wildfires and drought) that directly affect families in Los Angeles. It is unconscionable that Los Angeles would continue to export dangerous pollution and send our money to out of state coal corporations when we have bountiful renewable energy resources available throughout Southern California.”

In addition to the moral imperative presented by Los Angeles’ current energy portfolio, there are significant financial risks to continued investments in dirty fuels.

“DWP’s energy costs are rising, and dirty and dangerous fuel sources like coal subject DWP customers to big price increases in the future,” said Martin Schlageter, Executive Director of the Coalition for Clean Air. “Now is the time for Los Angeles to invest in clean energy solutions to get us off costly fossil fuels. Coal prices and the cost of coal pollution are rising enormously and natural gas prices are historically volatile.”

The Sierra Club, Clean Power Campaign, Coalition for Clean Air, Global Green USA and CBE make up a coalition of environmental organizations that have come together to achieve the important and ambitious environmental goals in Los Angeles.

“Thousands of green-collar jobs can be created by making smart investments in clean energy,” added Gallegos. “We are very pleased to see this positive progress and are looking forward to working with the Mayor, DWP and members of the Los Angeles City Council to create jobs, improve clarity and transparency in DWP’s clean energy investments and ultimately pull the plug on dirty coal.”

###

 Download the press release - 272.94 Kb