In his inaugural speech for a second term in office, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa vowed to "permanently break our addiction to coal".
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, with 1.45 million electricity customers and 4 million residents, had already launched an aggressive initiative to boost uptake of renewable energy under Villaraigosa’s direction during his first term.
While renewable energy made up only three percent of LA’s power supply in 2005, as of July last year the figure was 8.5% and the city is on track to have 20% by 2010.
According to the LADWP web site, the authority’s conservation programs saved 140.1 million kWh in 2007-2008; equivalent to the annual energy use of 23,360 residential household customers. These savings also resulted in reduction of global warming by reducing CO2 emissions by 78,727 tons, equivalent to the amount of annual emissions from 15,158 automobiles.
However, coal still currently accounts for roughly 40% of the LADWP power portfolio – but the reliance on the fossil fuel will be short lived.
Last week, Mayor Villaraigosa directed the CEO of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to take "every action necessary" to source 40% of the city’s power from renewable energy by 2020 and go 60% carbon-free by the end of the next decade; with a view to "eliminate the use of coal by 2020". The remainder of Los Angeles’ power will come from from natural gas, nuclear, and large hydroelectric.
During his speech, the mayor also vowed to "make L.A. plug-in ready, aimed at making our city a national hub of the electric vehicle market".
While the speech would have likely sent shivers down the spine of many coal executives and "clean coal" supporters, Mayor Villaraigosa’s goals have been lauded by environmental groups around the world. Some are now asking – "If Los Angeles can do it, why can’t we?".
