Coal Fired Power on the Way Out In Pasadena?

Pasadena Weekly reports that the City of Pasadena, which currently gets about 65% of its electricity from a coal-fired plant in Utah, will meet next week to consider ending that relationship.

The Weekly notes:

In September, the City Council unanimously adopted the United Nations Green Cities Declaration and Urban Environmental Accords as well as the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which set targets for the reduction of global-warming gasses as called for by the Kyoto Protocols.

While those agreements promise to put the city among the nation’s most eco-friendly, living up to those lofty goals may come with a cost — specifically, having to pass on a deal that some believe would keep electricity affordable for Pasadena homes and businesses over the next 38 years.

This is precisely the kind of tough decision that is going to have to be made in council chambers all over California given the new renewable energy mandate. It will be interesting to see what comes of all the political posturing and hand-wringing... and what the public reaction will be.

Easy, cheap and dirty [Pasadena Weekly]