November 26, 2007
Contact: Joe Ramallo, (213) 367-1394
Carol Tucker, (213) 367-1815
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPROVES NEW WIND POWER PURCHASE
Agreement Will Provide Renewable Energy for 32,100 L.A. Homes
LOS ANGELES – As part of its commitment to supply 20 percent of its retail energy from renewable energy sources by 2010, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Board of Water and Power Commissioners has approved a long-term purchase agreement to buy about 69 megawatts of wind power. That amount will add approximately 0.8 percent toward the City’s renewable energy goal. The agreement was approved by the Board on November 20 and must be affirmed by the Los Angeles City Council.
“This agreement marks another significant step in achieving Mayor Villaraigosa’s goal of providing 20 percent of our power through clean, renewable energy by 2010 and 35 percent by 2020,” said LADWP Board President Nick Patsaouras. “Wind power and other renewable energy generation benefit the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with global warming by replacing traditional fossil fuel power such as coal.”
The agreement, developed between the Southern California Public Power Agency (SCPPA), of which LADWP is the largest member, and Pebble Springs Wind, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of PPM Energy, is one of 12 proposals received through a request for proposals issued by SCPPA in 2006. SCPPA member agencies, including LADWP and the cities of Burbank and Glendale, will receive the entire energy output of a new 98.7 megawatt wind power generating facility to be built in Gilliam County, Oregon. LADWP will receive 68.7 megawatts, and the cities of Burbank and Glendale will be entitled to 20 megawatts and 10 megawatts respectively, with an opportunity for SCPPA to purchase the facility at the end of the 18-year contract.
The project is expected to produce close to 276,000 megawatt-hours annually, of which LADWP will receive 193,000 megawatt-hours–enough wind energy to serve more than 32,100 homes, said Robert Rozanski, LADWP acting general manager. “Another bonus is that we will be able to utilize existing transmission, making this a very economical and attractive project.” The wind energy will be delivered to the Northern Oregon border hub of the Pacific HVDC Transmission Line that feeds directly into LADWP’s Sylmar Converter Station. At Sylmar, it will be converted from DC to AC power to distribute to our customers, Rozanski said.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation’s largest municipal utility, provides reliable, low-cost water and power services to the City’s 3.9 million residents in an environmentally responsible manner. For more information, visit http://www.ladwp.com/.
PPM Energy (http://www.ppmenergy.com/), part of the IBERDROLA group of companies, has more than 1,981 megawatts (MW) of wind energy in operation (including 606 MW provided under power purchase agreements from third parties). PPM Energy balances its supply portfolio with sales to wholesale customers, placing almost all of its output in long-term contracts.
