Renewable Energy

GLENDALE — Of the 12 ballot measures slated for California’s Nov. 4 election, voters will be asked to consider two energy measures that could precipitously affect local utility bills, including ones in Glendale. One of those, Proposition 7, would require all electric utilities in California, such as Glendale Water & Power, to acquire 40% of their electricity from solar and clean-energy facilities by 2020 and half of its power from renewable energy by 2025. Under current law, utilities are asked to procure 20% of its power from renewable resources by 2010.

Glendale and Burbank utilities are looking for new renewable energy sources following a decision last month by a Los Angeles utility to cancel plans for shared transmission lines for a geothermal project. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power abandoned its plans for a Green Path transmission line to the Salton Sea. The line would have been capable of carrying up to 500,000 volts of power from an area that utility officials say has great potential for geothermal power generation.

RENEWABLE ENERGY PLAN Council members received a report on the progress Glendale Water & Power officials have made toward increasing the city’s proportion of renewable energy in its power portfolio. Since the City Council adopted a Renewables Portfolio Standard in 2003 — in which they set a goal of 20% renewable energy by 2017 — power officials have been steadily procuring new power sources. For fiscal year 2006-07, 16.3% of Glendale’s energy came from renewable sources.

With the groundbreaking of Glendale Unified's new aquatic center still a year away, school officials have hired a firm to explore adding renewable energy sources to the pool's design to save on future operating costs. The outdoor pool will be built at Glendale High School, but will serve the entire district. The $9.4 million project is still in the design phase. School officials have estimated the pool will cost Glendale Unified $200,000 to $300,000 per year to heat, maintain pumps and purchase chemicals.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — The city’s largest solar energy project was officially unveiled Monday atop the new Glendale Community College parking structure, one week after the $2.9-million system started delivering direct electricity to the campus. Glendale Water & Power’s photovoltaic system is expected to generate an average 390,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, or about 10% of the college’s annual energy consumption. Electricity generated from the 872 solar panels is fed directly to the campus, bypassing the city’s power grid.

Do we really need to spend $60 million on smart meters to tell us what most of us already know (Smart meters don't count as 'renewable', Oct. 2)? Or do we need to spend that much money to inform people that it is better to use electric appliances in off peak hours, such as in the evening or at night? The utility has been telling us that for years. Seems like a waste of money to me. Proponents contend that a smarter grid allows customers to take better advantage of renewable energy, and thus take part in “a cleaner, more efficient and more reliable future.” What does that mean?

GLENDALE — The city's water and power department has entered an agreement to purchase wind-powered electricity from a generating plant in Wyoming — a move officials said will provide enough energy to power 3,000 homes for 16 years. The Power Purchase Agreement, made with PPM Energy Inc., will transfer 10 megawatt shares of electricity generated by wind turbines from Wyoming to Glendale, officials said. The agreement also brings Glendale Water & Power closer to meeting a goal of 20% of power sales being made up of renewable energy by 2017, Power Management Administrator Ned Bassin said.

Amber Willard LA CRESCENTA -- Two girls are being rewarded for their artistic energy. The girls, an eighth-grader at Rosemont Junior Middle School and a third-grader from Elite Art Day School, had their designs chosen from 1,300 entries to be in California's Energy 2001 Calendar. The calendar, with a different energy-saving design for each month, has been produced for several years by the state's Energy Commission. "Who better to inspire us than children?

UNIT APPROVED TO INVESTIGATE HARASSMENT WHAT HAPPENED The City Council approved a motion to authorize the implementation of a centralized administrative investigation unit within the Internal Audit division. WHAT IT MEANS The city will form a centralized investigation unit to handle employee complaints about harassment. The unit will be designed to be independent and objective, so employees can communicate any problems without fear of retaliation.