LADWP seeks to boost Green Power

The City of Los Angeles wants to meet its goal of using 20% renewable energy--without accounting for hydropower from the Hoover Dam:

In a 12-2 vote, the council approved the plan by Councilman Tony Cardenas that requires the DWP to get 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources, excluding hydroelectricity generated at the Hoover Dam. Officials estimated the new mandate will eventually raise the average bill $2.60 a month.

"This does not preclude us from using the Hoover Dam for energy, but it forces us to determine that we will take other steps to meet our goal," Cardenas said.

Under state law, the DWP must get 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2010.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who with Councilman Tom LaBonge opposed the proposal, questioned why the Hoover Dam power was being excluded.

"All we are talking about when we include Hoover Dam is 2.5 percent of all our energy," Miscikowski said. "It makes no sense when we are looking at charging our ratepayers $2.60 a month more. That's asking an awful lot of ratepayers."

Brian D'Arcy, business manager of IBEW, Local 18, which represents DWP workers, urged the council to include the Hoover Dam electricity as a green power source.

"We want to see the DWP competing on a level playing field with other utilities in the region and the state," D'Arcy said.

I do not understand the logic behind the IBEW argument. LADWP does not face competition or deregulation as a municipally-owned utility. The only reason to include Hoover power as "renewable" would be to increase the amount of money taken in from green-power surcharges, which could then be kicked back to the unions.

Related: Damn the Dam [LA Voice]