Environment California Calls for LADWP’s Next General Manager to Commit to 20% Local Solar Power by 2020

Los Angeles – Last week, Ron Nichols resigned as General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Environment California’s clean energy associate Emily Kirkland released the following statement in response:

“As Mayor Eric Garcetti searches for a new general manager for the Department of Water and Power, he should keep in mind the visionary clean energy goals that he put forth on the campaign trail. One year ago, Mayor Garcetti promised to bring 1,200 MW of local solar power to Los Angeles by 2020, enough to meet 20 percent of the city’s electricity needs. Mayor Garcetti should appoint a new general manager who is eager to make this pledge a reality.

The Department of Water and Power is at a critical crossroads, and the new general manager will need to lead the way to a clean energy future. Over the next 10 to 15 years, LADWP will have to replace 70 percent of its current electricity supply. If the new general manager chooses to invest in new fossil fuel plants to meet that need, Angelenos will be locked into decades of continued dependence on dirty power. By choosing to invest in renewables instead, and by achieving 20 percent local solar power by 2020, the new general manager can set an example for the rest of the country and the world.

 Achieving 20 percent local solar power would reduce global warming pollution by more than1 million tons a year, reduce smog-forming pollution by approximately 730,000 pounds a year, and create an estimated 32,000 job-years of employment. More than 90 elected officials, businesses, and community groups across the city have endorsed the 20 percent local solar by 2020 goal, including State Senator Ted Lieu, State Senator Kevin de León, Assemblymember Mike Gatto, and Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez.  

It’s time for Los Angeles to take its place in the sun as a world leader on solar power, and it can only happen with strong leadership from Mayor Garcetti and the next general manager of LADWP.”

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Environment California is a statewide, nonprofit, environmental advocacy organization working to protect California’s air, water and open spaces. More information can be found at www.EnvironmentCalifornia.org