Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recently announced 20% of the city’s power was now being sourced from renewable energy.
In 2005, Mayor Villaraigosa increased Los Angeles’ target from 5% to 20% by 2010 – the equivalent of 4,500 gigawatt-hours, enough to power three quarters of a million homes. This represents a carbon dioxide reduction of 2.5 million metric tons, comparable to removing 490,000 cars from the road.
The goal was achieved through a variety of major projects and initiatives, including the nation’s largest wind facility, the Pine Tree Wind Power Plant. Wind power now makes up nearly half of all Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s renewable energy in 2010; with small hydro-electric contributing 30%, geothermal and biofuels, 22%, and solar power, 1%.
According to a press release from the Mayor’s office, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power has reduced its carbon emissions to 22% below 1990 levels through increased uptake of renewable energy; upgrading power plants and promoting energy efficiency among its customers.
Energy efficiency has and will continue to play a major role in reducing carbon emissions. 3% of the city’s total power use is offset by energy efficiency and LADWP expects to save an additional 7% by 2020.
LADWP says it will continue to develop new wind and solar energy projects close to existing transmission lines and other infrastructure and a feed in tariff program will also be implemented.
Australia’s national renewable energy target is 20% of energy to be sourced via renewable energy by 2020.
