Renewable Energy

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released a list Tuesday of 244 proposed projects for generating renewable energy in California, a set of options to help wean the nation?s most populous state off of carbon-based power sources. Schwarzenegger and lawmakers have pushed to establish a mandate that a third of all power used in California come from renewable sources by 2020. Although the target is aggressive and many of the logistics meant to help facilitate a fast transition to green energy solutions have yet to be developed, the list of proposals vying to increase the state?

NORTHRIDGE — Democratic Assemblyman Paul Krekorian fired back Wednesday at Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other critics of his legislation that would force utilities to produce a third of their energy from in-state renewable sources by 2020. Krekorian argued that the details of his bill, along with a package of other related bills, have been clouded with misinformation and would address the concerns of the governor and apprehensive power companies. Utilities, including Glendale Water & Power and Burbank Water and Power, have worried that the bill would not allow them to count power used from green plants in other states toward the quotas, instead requiring them to invest in developing plants within California.

At the urging of Assemblyman Paul Krekorian, the California Assembly Joint Legislative Audit Committee agreed to look into ways in the state can streamline its effort to meet established renewable energy goals. In 2002, the state set an initial renewable energy target of 20% by 2017. The target was accelerated in 2005, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger approved endorsed a California Energy Commission proposal that the state meet the 20% target by 2010. "There's a big effort by the state to try to increase the percentage of power generated by solar, wind and other renewable energy sources, but to do that in a large way, what we really need is to have really large renewable energy generating facilities," said Krekorian, whose district includes Glendale and Burbank.

NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be seeing some of the economic stimulus funds coming its way to help in Earth science research, according to Congressman Adam Schiff. NASA is expected to get $1 billion, with an unspecified amount of that funding going to the local lab. Schiff hosted a round table discussion on the new economic stimulus package Feb. 20 at Caltech. The purpose of the meeting was to answer some of the questions and to get feedback from local citizens about the package.

GLENDALE — Local water and power officials are slated to publicly express their discontent in front of the City Council on Tuesday about a Nov. 4 ballot measure that opponents say will raise user rates and hurt electrical operations in the city. In publicly opposing Proposition 7, the solar and clean energy initiative, Glendale Water & Power joins utility companies, energy groups and both major political parties in saying the measure is an unnecessary and costly ruse to achieve energy-efficiency.

GLENDALE — Beginning in mid-2007, Glendale Community College will receive 390,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy a year — enough to power about 125 homes — following the City Council's approval of a contract for the construction of a photovoltaic system to serve the campus Tuesday. The system will consist of a carport-like roof, made up of several solar panels, that will be placed above the college's new parking structure. It will channel energy collected from the sun into the college.

Joshua Pelzer The city is casting part of its electrical needs to the wind. Glendale will join Anaheim, Pasadena, Azusa, Colton, Banning and Vernon in an agreement with Portland (Ore.)-based PacifiCorp Power Marketing Inc. to purchase wind-powered electrical energy from a facility being built in Solano County. The city will purchase nine megawatts a year for 25 years beginning July 1. Glendale will pay 5.35 cents per kilowatt hour, which is slightly less than what it pays for natural gas. The city will pay $1.4 million annually and has the option to withdraw after 20 years.

CITY HALL — The governor’s expected veto of pending legislation that would force utilities to use in-state resources to cut emissions 33% by 2020 would not only give officials pause for relief, but ratepayers as well, according to a report Monday to the Glendale Water & Power Commission. State legislators recently approved a pair of bills that would require renewable energy — such as solar, wind and geothermal energy — to make up a third of a city’s power portfolio by 2020.

Glendale Water & Power has reached the halfway mark of installing high-tech smart meters — which officials say puts the utility on track to be the first in the nation to have a fully operational “smart grid” system. Full-scale installation of the 120,000 electric and water meters, which will allow two-way communication with the utility and let customers track real-time water and electric usage, began in December and is expected to be completed by summer. “We are 50% of the way to a smart-grid system foundation that will provide many benefits to our customers and our utility,” General Manager Glenn Steiger said in a statement.