Los Angeles will be receiving power from geothermal energy sources

Los Angeles will be receiving power from geothermal energy sources

June 8, 2017 0 By Angie Bergenson

LADWP forms agreement to make use of geothermal energy

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) has formed a new agreement to make use of geothermal energy. This is expected to help Los Angeles accomplish its environmental goals within the coming years. By 2025, the city intends to become coal-free, relying completely on renewable energy. The agreement to acquire geothermal energy was approved by the City Council and finally signed by Mayor Eric Garcetti shortly thereafter.

Geothermal energy will be coming from projects in Nevada

Per the agreement, LADWP will be receiving enough geothermal energy to serve approximately 208,000 homes throughout Los Angeles. This is expected to offset an estimated 701,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases every year. The geothermal energy that LADWP will be using will be provided by the Southern California Public Power Authority. The organization is deriving much of this energy from the Northern Nevada Geothermal Portfolio Project, which is currently under development. LADWP has signed a 26-year power purchase agreement with the organization, securing its access to geothermal energy.

New geothermal project will be operational by the end of this year

The first geothermal energy facility that is part of the Northern Nevada Geothermal Portfolio Project is expected to become operational by the end of this year. This facility will have a maximum capacity of 24 megawatts. Two other facilities are expected to become operational by December 31, 2022, and will be providing electrical power to California. LADWP officials have expressed praise for geothermal energy, noting that it is not intermittent like wind and solar, which can only produce electrical power when the wind is blowing and the sun is shining.

Geothermal energy continues to gain support in California

Geothermal energy has been growing in popularity in some parts of the United States. Much of the country has very limited geothermal potential, but the west coast is situated in a geologically active region. As such, states like California have a great deal of geothermal potential, much of which is currently going unused. The state intends to show more support for geothermal energy in order to accomplish its environmental goals in the coming years.

Spread the love