Community News Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at 4:43 pm

Councilwoman Perry introduces Feed in Tariff Pilot Program motion at Los Angeles City Council

Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry has introduced a motion to implement a 75 Mega Watt Feed in Tariff (FiT) Pilot Program at the City of Los Angeles. The motion asks the Department of Water and Power to report to the Energy and Environment Committee on an implementation plan for a pilot program that will assist the department in meeting renewable energy goals, generating green jobs and private investment in renewable sources of energy.

In its April 25th progress report on the program, LADWP said its guiding principles would be maintaining reliability, receiving best prices for customers, ensuring projects get built, providing for steady growth, and providing a streamlined and clear participation process.

According to the report, the DWP’s first “Local Renewable Energy Program” of 3-5MW is projected to start in October 2011. Initial goals will be to demonstrate program structure and fine tune areas such as application/selection and interconnection processes, pricing mechanisms, and safety protections.

Councilmember Perry chairs the LA City Council’s Energy and Environment Committee — which considered a two part UCLA study “Bringing Solar to Los Angeles: An Assessment of the Feasibility and Impacts of an In-basin Solar Feed-in Tariff Program” commissioned by the Los Angeles Business Council. According to the motion, goals of the program would include meeting DWP’s renewable energy goals, generating private investment in renewables, and creating green jobs.

The full text of Councilmember Perry’s motion reads as follows:

A two part UCLA study (Bringing Solar to Los Angeles: An Assessment of the Feasibility and Impacts of an In-basin Solar Feed-in Tariff Program) commissioned by the Los Angeles Business Council shows that a well-designed Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program could help the Department of Water and Power (DWP) successfully achieve a number of important policy objectives. Key policy objectives include meeting the DWP’s renewable energy goals, generating private investment in renewables and creating green jobs.

The UCLA study demonstrates that there is ample rooftop capacity in the City to implement a successful program; and that a disproportionate amount of it is located in economically challenged parts ofthe City. These areas suffer from high unemployment rates that desperately need private sector investment and new jobs.

The DWP has proposed a 150 megawatt (MW) FiT program to be implemented over 15 years. SB 32 currently requires utilities to implement at least a 75 MW FiT program. There is broad support among the business and the environmental community for a viable FiT program to be implemented in the near term to take advantage of federal tax credits.

In the interests of the City being compliant with SB 32 requirements and to create an economic development strategy that advances our renewable portfolio objectives, the DWP should pursue the implementation of a Fit program.

I THEREFORE MOVE that the Department of Water and Power report to the Council on the implementation of a 75 MW Feed-in Tariff (FiT) pilot program; including the pace of implementation and commensurate annual costs.