In 2016, Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian authored a landmark motion, co-presented with Councilmember Mike Bonin, calling on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to develop and implement a plan to switch to 100 percent renewable energy. The Councils approval of the motion represented one of the strongest, most comprehensive efforts of any municipal government to combat local air pollution and the catastrophic effects of climate change. After years of effort by the LADWP and an inclusive and wide-ranging task force of stakeholders, the historic plan initiated by that motion will get its first hearing before a Council Committee this week. On Thursday, February 18, at 10 a.m., the Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River Committee, chaired by Councilmember Mitch OFarrell, will hear a report detailing the agencys work in developing the clean energy initiative, known as LA 100, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
More than four years ago, the LADWP took up my challenge to begin developing a specific roadmap to achieving a 100% clean energy future, Krekorian said. It is not enough to set wishful goals for reducing climate change and hope they come true -- we must urgently get to work and take thoughtful, effective and workable action. Because of the extensive efforts that we initiated in 2016, the largest municipal utility in the United States is now poised to lead the country with a genuine plan to provide 100% carbon-free electricity to its millions of customers. As it has been in so many other things, Los Angeles will be the model that the country will follow in freeing itself from fossil fuels.
Our collective work to put Los Angeles on a pathway to 100 percent renewable energy begins with the LA100 Energy Study. This roadmap will help guide us to reduce our carbon footprint, and establish a data driven approach to cleaning the environment while creating thousands of new jobs and an economy focused on equity," said Councilmember O'Farrell, Chair of the Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice and River Committee. "I applaud Councilmember Krekorian for his leadership on this environmental initiative that continues to place Los Angeles as a leader and champion of the national movement toward a renewable future."
I am grateful to the Committees new chairman, Councilmember Mitch OFarrell, for taking up this report as one of his first committee priorities, Krekorian said. Councilmember OFarrell is deeply and personally committed to a clean energy future for Los Angeles, and his bold leadership in the Committee and in the Council will be vital to the success of LA 100.
The audio for this meeting, which begins at 10 a.m., is broadcast live on the internet at www.lacity.org/government/follow-meetings/council-committee-meetings. The live audio can also be heard at: (213) 621-CITY (Metro), (818) 904-9450 (Valley), (310) 471-CITY (Westside) and (310) 547-CITY (San Pedro Area).