White House Veteran and Former L.A. Deputy Mayor Nancy Sutley Appointed LADWP’s New Chief Sustainability and Economic Development Officer

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) General Manager Marcie Edwards announced today that Nancy Sutley has been appointed Chief Sustainability and Economic Development Officer of the nation’s largest municipal utility.  Sutley begins her appointment today and will work directly with the Water and Power systems, as well as the Chief Sustainability Officer in the Mayor’s Office, on energy efficiency, water conservation, economic development, and electrification of the transportation network, among other key issues. 

Ms. Sutley is the immediate past Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality where she served from 2009 – 2014, and previously served as Los Angeles Deputy Mayor for Energy and Environment, Board member of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the California State Water Resources Control Board, energy advisor to Governor Gray Davis and Deputy Secretary for Policy and Intergovernmental Relations for the California Environmental Protection Agency. 

“Nancy Sutley comes to LADWP with extensive experience in environment, sustainability, energy, and water policies at all governmental levels,” said Ms. Edwards. “Her background will be invaluable to LADWP as we continue the transition to a clean energy future, transform our local power grid, and reduce our reliance on imported water through aggressive expansion of our local water supplies and further conservation. Nancy will also serve a key role in ensuring that our investments create economic opportunities that benefit our City and small businesses.  She is a great addition to our team.”

Commenting on her appointment and return to the City, Ms. Sutley said, “I am pleased to have this opportunity to serve the people of Los Angeles at LADWP. I look forward to using my experience to work towards the important sustainability and economic development goals that will help LADWP now and in the future.”

Sutley’s 27-year career experience most recently includes working as one of the chief architects of President Obama’s June 2013 Climate Action Plan, implementing the 2009 Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environment, Energy and Economic Performance, and setting aggressive energy and water sustainability goals for federal agencies.  Prior to her government and private sector service, she earned her bachelor of arts degree in government from Cornell University, and her master’s in public policy with a concentration in energy and environmental policy from Harvard University.

The seasoned environmental expert will lead the Department’s sustainability initiatives at a time of major transformation of LADWP’s energy and water supplies. LADWP is working to transition out of coal power, while aggressively expanding renewable energy and energy efficiency. The Department achieved 20% renewable energy delivered to its customers in 2010, and is on track to meet 25% by 2016 and 33% by 2020. Greenhouse gas emissions were also lowered to 22% below LADWP’s 1990 level, and even more dramatic GHG emissions reductions will occur as plans to eliminate coal power from Navajo and Intermountain Power Plants are realized.  

LADWP is also working to reduce its dependence on imported water through water conservation and local resource development. Since the implementation of the mandatory water conservation ordinance in 2009, and complemented by aggressive public education and outreach efforts, Los Angeles residents have reduced daily per capita water use by 17%. The Department is currently developing the L.A.’s Water Reliability 2025 Program, and through the expansion of water recycling, enhancement of stormwater capture, and groundwater remediation and recharge, LADWP anticipates to reduce Metropolitan Water District purchases of imported water in half over the next decade.

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