Under a proposed 25-year solar contact, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would pay record-cheap prices for 400 megawatts of power. But the utility declined to approve the deal after a utility workers' union raised concerns.
"Under the 25-year contract with developer 8minute Solar Energy, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would pay less than 2 cents per kilowatt-hour — a number city officials and independent experts say would be the lowest price ever paid for solar power in the United States," Sammy Roth writes. In addition to 400 megawatts of solar capacity, the project would also include at least 200 megawatts of lithium-ion battery storage capacity so it can continue powering the grid after dark.
But LADWP's Board of Commissioners voted not to send the contract forward to the L.A. City Council after concerns were raised by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 18, a utility employees' union. The exact nature of the union's objection was hard to pin down. The union has opposed parts of L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti's Green New Deal initiative, including the retirement of three gas power plants that employed over 400 LADWP staff.
"LADWP staff struggled to explain to the Board of Commissioners Tuesday why Local 18 had objected to the Eland project," Roth writes. According to a spokesperson for the union, LADWP "has not complied with its contractual obligations for this deal." LADWP will reconsider the contract again at a September 10 board meeting.
FULL STORY: Los Angeles has lined up record-cheap solar power. But there’s a problem
City of Vacaville Launches Instant Solar Permitting
A new state law requires cities to take steps to speed up the permitting process for solar energy systems.
A Plan to Transform the Hoover Dam into Energy Storage
A proposal by the nation's largest utility could be a model to deal with the most formidable problem presented by intermittent renewable electricity sources.
California Leads in Solar Rooftops
A combination of state and local incentives and building code mandates has helped California far outpace other states in residential rooftop solar permits.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research