Report: LA fails to increase `clean energy' use despite program

LOS ANGELES (AP) Despite efforts to promote renewable energy sources, the city has failed to increase the amount of clean energy it generates by more than half a percentage point and continues to rely almost entirely on coal, natural gas and nuclear power, according to a published report.

The $40 million Green Power program implemented by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in 1999 has produced only a small number of solar panels and a facility that generates a minimal amount of electricity from landfill gas, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. Meanwhile, the agency has spent three times more money on marketing and administration than on buying green power from other utilities, the newspaper said.

``It is disappointing that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has not fulfilled its promise of four years ago,'' said consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who helped kick off the Green Power campaign.

Funded by customers who agree to pay about $3 a month more for their utilities, the program was designed to develop renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal plants and to buy green power from other utilities.

But the DWP has only been able to generate 2.2 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, up from 1.8 percent in 1999, the Times said.

City officials said they hope to eventually generate 20 percent of its power from renewable sources. Utilities statewide generate an average of 12 percent from these ``clean energy'' sources, according to a recent study by CalPIRG, the state's chapter of the national Public Interest Research Group.

DWP General Manager David Wiggs acknowledged shortcomings in the program and said he has formed a committee to boost green power generated by the utility.

Mayor James K. Hahn said he will announce on Monday a $162 million wind-power facility about 12 miles north of Mojave that will provide enough electricity to power 120,000 homes when completed in July 2004.

``LADWP currently buys almost all of its renewable power, but with the completion of Pine Tree project next year, we will go from being a consumer to being a generator,'' Hahn told the Times.

Los Angeles draws 50 percent of its power from coal plants, 25 percent from natural gas and 12 percent from nuclear power.

Councilman Eric Garcetti said the estimated 75,000 customers who are enrolled in the Green Power program deserve more from the DWP.

``The ratepayers who have shown their commitment to the environment by signing up in record numbers need a much bigger payoff from this program where they live,'' Garcetti said.

On the Net:

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, http://www.ladwp.com/

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)