Ladwp Plans To Eliminate Coal-Fired Power Generation To Reduce Gas Emissions

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) intends to replace the power generation by coal with power from cleaner renewable energy sources by 2020, reported Reuters, quoting Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

The customers of the US utility, LADWP with 1.45 million customers, would receive high power bills in a move to reduce the coal-fired power generation for environmental safety.

California, the major contributor of greenhouse gas pollution, does not generate power through coal-fired power plants. But the LADWP generates 40% of its power from coal plants outside the state.

Villaraigosa, said: LADWP will deliver 40% renewable power, with the remainder coming from natural gas, nuclear, and large hydroelectric.

Villaraigosa continued that LADWP supplies 75% of power from Coal and natural gas-fired power plants. The utility intends to reduce its carbon emissions up to 60% by 2020 from 1990 levels. The LADWP is expected to reach its goal of generating 20% of its power from renewables by 2010.

David Freeman, Deputy Mayor, says that LADWP also plans to reduce the power usage for the next 10 years by 1% per annum. The utility, till 2019, would use 21.2% of the power generation output from 2,250MW Navajo Generating coal-fired Station in Arizona.

LADWP negotiations have not yet started, as to how and when it would leave the contract with the owner of the 1,800MW coal-fired Intermountain plant in Utah. The utility would use 44.6% of the power generated from Intermountain on a contract which is expected to stretch till 2026.

All together the utility can supply approximately 1,280MW of power to Los Angeles.

Villaraigosa and Freeman informed that higher power rates would be a result of elimination of coal-fired power.

Customers of LADWP, on an average, pay around 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. Freeman said, on an average, Southern California Edison customer would have to pay 15.5 cents per Kilowatt/hour (kwh). The Navajo plant and the Intermountain plant can deliver electricity at a rate of 3 cents per kwh, and between 4 to 5 cents per kwh respectively.