NOTE: This news release was initially published by the Office of Mayor Karen Bass.
For Immediate Release
September 24, 2024
Contact: lamayornews@lacity.org
Strengthening Clean Energy in Los Angeles: U.S. Department of Energy Awards L.A. $8 Million to Help Strengthen Grid Infrastructure
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Bass announced today that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the nation’s largest municipal water and electric utility, was awarded $8 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office (GDO) to help strengthen grid infrastructure as a part of the Maintaining and Enhancing Hydroelectricity Incentive program. This will include $3 million for the Power Plant 2 (PP2) Tailings Stability and Slope Restoration project and $5 million for the Elderberry Dam Tailrace Sediment Removal project at the Castaic Power Plant (CPP). Made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the grant will strengthen LADWP’s hydroelectric infrastructure, improve grid resilience and promote equitable access to clean energy for all Angelenos.
“Right now we are working to strengthen our grid and we must continue to advance this important work,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “Locking arms is not a slogan, it’s a way to get things done. I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued support in helping us not only improve our infrastructure but also build a greener Los Angeles.”
“These projects underscore our continued commitment to innovative solutions that benefit the environment, but most importantly the communities we serve,” said Janisse Quiñones, CEO and Chief Engineer of LADWP. “With the financial support from our federal partners, we are more empowered than ever to fulfill our mission of delivering clean, reliable energy to all our customers and creating a more resilient energy landscape for generations to come.”
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office announced the selection of 247 hydroelectric projects to receive over $430 million. The goal is to fast-track the implementation of innovative projects that will play a crucial role in strengthening hydroelectric infrastructure across the nation and ensure communities have access to affordable, reliable clean power when they need it.
LADWP will use the grant at two of the power plants in Los Angeles to improve and ensure the reliable operation of three vertical reaction turbine generators originally placed in service almost 100 years ago. One of the power plants not only provides zero-emission electricity to the City of Los Angeles but will also play a vital role in responding reliably and quickly to changing generation and grid demands.
The mayor and LADWP continue to actively pursue financial resources that will enable the initiation and implementation of innovative projects aimed at moving the city’s clean energy goals and creating a greener Los Angeles for all.
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