LA’s 400 MW Solar Measure Fails by 1%

Los Angeles voters narrowly turned down a massive solar power measure, said the city’s clerk certifying election results March 19. The solar plan--known as Measure B-- failed by 2,644 votes, garnering 49.5 percent of the votes with 50.5 percent voting “no” on March 3. The measure would have required the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power to install and operate 400 MW of solar panels within its distribution territory on city properties. It was part of a larger LADWP plan to install a total of 1,280 MW of solar power capacity by 2020, including 500 MW of distant utility-scale systems and 380 MW through customer-based programs. In the wake of the final election results, LADWP general manager David Nahai said the department thinks it still can meet the measure’s goal of installing and operating 400 MW of solar panels by 2014. The LA City Council is moving to adopt the property tax-based solar financing mechanism that Berkeley has in place that was authorized for all cities by legislation last year (Circuit, Sept. 22, 2008). Elsewhere, Measure B opponents crowed about the election result. “This wasn’t an election about solar energy,” said Ron Kaye, an activist who helped lead the fight against the measure. “The majority of LA voters repudiated City Hall itself and the way it has worked for far too long. This is a mandate for change.” A number of neighborhood council and city political activists like Kaye opposed the measure largely because of cost concerns. They also objected to the speed with which the city council placed the measure on the ballot at the urging of the mayor and organized labor. Nahai acknowledged that many voters appeared disappointed by the process through which the solar measure wound up on the ballot. “Throughout the whole discussion,” said Nahai, “what I kept hearing again and again was that the people of Los Angeles want solar power.” Their chief concerns, he added, “were about the process.” The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 18, which represents LADWP workers, developed and backed the measure. IBEW Local 18 business manager Brian D’Arcy said the proposition not only would create renewable energy and cut greenhouse gases for the department, but also provide new jobs in the city (Circuit, March 6, 2009). A study for LADWP indicated the measure would cost $1.3 billion and raise the average residential power bill in the city by around $1 a month. An earlier study said the measure could cost more than $3 billion (Circuit, Feb. 13, 2009).

Over 11K Stories!

| Independently Powered Energy News

LA’s 400 MW Solar Measure Fails by 1%

vdharadmin

Related Posts

FERC Moves to Ease Renewable & Storage Projects’ Grid Connections

Bill Aims to Drive Carbon Emission Reductions in Building Materials

Silicon Valley CCA to Provide Google 100% Clean Energy All Day, Every Day

CEC OKs High Number of Deals, Tripling of PG&E Substation