New Geothermal Power Plant Begins Delivering Reliable Renewable Energy to L.A.

Provides Reliable Renewable Energy for 19,000 Homes; Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions Equivalent to Taking 12,300 Cars off the Road

The Don A. Campbell Geothermal Power Plant in Mineral County, Nevada, formerly called Wild Rose, was completed ahead of schedule and is producing its full capacity of 16 megawatts (MW), of which LADWP receives 14 MW. That amount of geothermal power will supply electricity to about 19,000 homes and avoid 64,100 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is roughly equivalent to removing 12,300 cars off the road each year.

“We are extremely pleased that the Don A. Campbell Geothermal Power Plant has met this historic milestone. Geothermal energy is an incredibly vital renewable resource to have in our power portfolio because it generates power continuously, so we can rely on it for base load renewable power, 24/7,” said Aram Benyamin, Senior Assistant General Manager – Power. “This is an essential element of our power supply transformation as we transition from coal power to greater reliance on renewable energy and energy efficiency.”

Under a fixed-price 20-year power sales agreement with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA), LADWP receives 85% of the plant’s output, representing 114 gigawatt-hours annually; the City of Burbank Water and Power receives the remaining 2 MW output. The Don A. Campbell facility, developed by Ormat Technologies, Inc., is delivering power from Nevada through NV Energy’s One Nevada Transmission Line recently placed in service.

“The Don A. Campbell Geothermal Power Plant provides a long-term, reliable renewable power supply for Los Angeles,” Benyamin said. “Given the advantages of geothermal energy and the way it will interconnect with LADWP’s transmission system, this is a very good fit for L.A.”

The plant is expected to produce power at 95% or more of its capacity year-round – a higher capacity than typical wind or solar renewable energy resources. Because of its predictability, geothermal also saves on transmission and other integration costs, as compared to variable renewables like wind and solar power.

LADWP has announced it will stop receiving coal power by 2025, and replace it with a combination of renewable energy, energy efficiency measures, and efficient natural gas as a bridge fuel to provide reliability. As part of the major power supply transformation, LADWP will also completely eliminate the use of ocean water cooling at its three coastal power plants while rebuilding them to improve reliability and integration with renewable energy.

LADWP has been steadily building a diverse renewable energy portfolio of wind, solar and now geothermal power. LADWP achieved 20% renewables in 2010, ahead of most other utilities in the state, and has maintained a 20% average for the past three years. LADWP is on track to supply 25% of its energy from renewable resources by 2016, and 33% by 2020, as required by state legislation. The geothermal energy from the Don A. Campbell facility will provide approximately 0.5% of LADWP’s renewable energy goals. LADWP has also entered a long-term power purchase agreement for 34 MW from the Heber-1 Geothermal Power Project in Imperial County, expected to begin December 16, 2015.

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