Los Angeles Ahead of the Renewable Energy Curve

In the age of renewable energy targets the magic numbers seem to be 2015 and 2020. For the European Union the target is to source 20% of its energy needs from renewables by 2020. California made 2015 the target to reach 20% renewable energy generation.

The City of Los Angeles along with its Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has announced it has achieved its goal of  generating 20% of its power from renewable sources by 2010. At first glance, it could be said that a municipality can't compare to a state or country let alone a collection of countries like the EU.

However, a closer look discovers that LADWP is the largest municipal utility in the United States, servicing over four million L.A. residents. In 2005, it was also the dirtiest utility in the entire country and generated just 5% of its energy from renewable sources. Due in large part to the development and acquisition of two wind farms, in five years the LADWP claims that it is the cleanest utility generating as much as 28% renewable energy in 2010.

In 2010, LADWP's renewable energy portfolio was made up of 50% wind power, 30% small hydro-electric power, 22% geothermal power and, surprisingly, 1% solar power. Combined renewable energy generates enough electricity to power 750,000 homes and reduce L.A.'s carbon footprint by 2.5 million tons a year.

So maybe there is no comparing one of America's largest municipalities to states or countries but as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told the L.A. Daily News:  "This is a big deal.  When I set the goal in 2005, no one thought it could be done. The state had a goal of 20 percent by 2015. We were able to achieve that this year."

Image Credit: kla4067 via Flickr