Climate Change Data

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2009, 2017-2018)

Reporting Period: 2009

Environmental Metrics

Renewable Energy Share:12% at the end of 2008; goal of 20% by 2010, 40% by 2020

ESG Focus Areas

  • Renewable Energy
  • Energy Conservation and Efficiency
  • Sustainable Water Supply
  • Sustainable Design
  • Green Jobs and the Economy
  • Waste Diversion
  • Procurement and Use of Environmentally Preferred Products
  • Air Quality
  • Transportation
  • Environmental Stewardship Programs
  • Training and Outreach

Environmental Achievements

  • Increased renewable energy from 3% to 12% of total generation by the end of 2008.
  • Completed construction and began commercial operation of the Pine Tree Wind Farm in June 2009.
  • Surpassed energy efficiency record in 2009, saving 274 gigawatt-hours of energy.
  • Achieved 80 percent solid waste diversion from landfills.
  • Constructed 29.8 square miles of shallow flooding at Owens Lake to mitigate dust.
  • Implemented the Lower Owens River Project (LORP) for environmental restoration.

Social Achievements

  • Expanded opportunities for green jobs through contracting processes.
  • Developed and supported citywide conservation programs.
  • Provided training workshops for local residents in collaboration with Community Development Department and WorkSource California.
  • Launched the Los Angeles Infrastructure Academy for vocational training.

Governance Achievements

  • Adopted a policy for all new buildings to attain LEED Silver certification (March 2007).
  • Adopted the “Buy Recycled Program” in March 2000.
  • Implemented the City’s Environmental Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policy.
  • Integrated sustainability into internal policies, business processes, and written agreements.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Reduce GHG emissions 35% below 1990 levels by 2030.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Achieve 35% renewables by 2020 (later increased to 40%).
  • Divert 70% of solid waste from landfills by 2015.
  • Convert 85 percent of all LADWP-fleet vehicles to alternative fuels by FY 2012-2013.
Short-term Goals:
  • Increase renewable energy to 20% by 2010.
  • Reduce paper usage by 10% by 2010.
  • Retrofit all LADWP facilities with High Efficiency Plumbing Fixtures by September 2010.

Environmental Challenges

  • Meeting the challenge of finding a path to reliable, renewable energy on a system-wide scale.
  • Balancing the movement towards greener vehicles and the cost-benefit and functionality of those vehicles versus increasingly cleaner conventional fuel vehicles.
  • Groundwater contamination in the San Fernando Valley limiting water available for pumping.
  • Economic downturn impacting investments in green initiatives.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Developed an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to meet future energy demands.
  • Investing in alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and fueling infrastructure.
  • Working with EPA to address groundwater contamination.
  • Collaborating with various agencies to promote green jobs and economic development.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Buy Recycled Program (10% bid preference for products with >25% recycled material)
  • Environmental Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policy

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Drought
  • Extreme weather
Transition Risks
  • Regulatory changes
  • Market fluctuations in fuel costs
Opportunities
  • Development of renewable energy resources
  • Energy efficiency improvements

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: California Climate Action Registry

Awards & Recognition

  • Highest rankings for implementation of solar power by a municipal utility (Solar Electric Power Association)

Reporting Period: 2017-2018

Environmental Metrics

Total Carbon Emissions:9.6 MMT (2017)
Renewable Energy Share:30% (2017)

ESG Focus Areas

  • Customer excellence
  • Transportation electrification
  • 100% clean energy
  • Local water supply and infrastructure
  • Sustainable, diverse workforce

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions to 47% below 1990 levels (14 years ahead of state mandate)
  • Achieved over 30% renewable energy
  • Commissioned the 250 megawatt Beacon Solar Plant

Social Achievements

  • Launched new energy efficiency and water conservation programs to assist at-risk customers
  • Average call wait time of 55 seconds
  • Awarded the Business Customer Champion among peer utilities for the second year in a row

Governance Achievements

  • Implemented performance-based rates aligning spending with strategic priorities
  • Semi-annual performance metric reporting to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • 100% clean energy
  • Achieve the state’s 2050 GHG emissions reduction target 20 years early
Medium-term Goals:
  • Reduce reliance on imported water to nearly half of L.A.’s water supply by 2040
  • 10,000 public EV chargers by 2022
  • 4,000 public EV chargers on city-owned property by 2022
Short-term Goals:
  • Meet 100% of performance metrics defined in class action lawsuit
  • Meet 100% of rate case performance targets
  • Attain top quartile in performance benchmarks or at least 90% in customer satisfaction surveys

Environmental Challenges

  • Aging water infrastructure
  • Aging power infrastructure
  • Climate change impacts on water supply
  • Workforce transition due to retirements
Mitigation Strategies
  • $2.85 billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades over 10 years
  • $2.3 billion investment in power infrastructure upgrades over 3 years
  • Expanding local water resources (stormwater, recycled water, groundwater)
  • Aggressive water conservation incentives
  • Increased recruitment efforts to attract new talent

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Climate change impacts on water supply

Awards & Recognition

  • Business Customer Champion (Market Strategies International)