GUEST OPINION
Glendale Water and Power (Photo – y3110w)
In 2018, Glendale City Council rejected a 262 MW gas plant proposal and directed Glendale Water and Power (GWP) to pursue clean energy projects.
By Jane Potelle
In 2019, GWP returned with a greatly reduced proposal for 93 MW of gas capacity, as part of a portfolio that also included clean energy and battery storage. At that time, Glendale City Council again told GWP to look for ways to reduce or eliminate the need for new gas generation. Three and a half years after proposing that 93 MW portfolio in 2019, in 2022 GWP has returned with that very same amount, despite new transmission rights and many more clean energy technologies and projects that GWP has yet to fully explore.
The Glendale Environmental Coalition (GEC) strongly believes that Glendale Water and Power is once again overestimating the city’s need for gas capacity. Glendale should avoid making this large financial investment in unneeded and unwise fossil fuel energy generation.
GEC wants the City to maximize clean energy and minimize gas. They believe that the best way to accomplish that is for the City to hire an independent consultant with clean energy expertise, to assess Glendale’s true energy need and how to meet it with as little gas as possible. GEC plans to rally to emphasize this opinion.
> Here’s information on the upcoming event:
Stop New Gas Rally 3:00 pm Sunday, Feb 6 Steps of Glendale City Hall 613 E. Broadway Glendale, CA 91206 *This is a masked, socially distanced event Parking Free at the Civic Center Visitors Parking Garage (behind City Hall) 620 E. Wilson Ave
Jane Potelle is a member of Glendale Environmental Coalition.
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Not building thermal power generation in Glendale will lead to blackouts. GWP’s sole purpose is to provide reliable and affordable electricity to our residents. A modern gas-fired power station located in town will enable Glendale to keep the lights on in cases of earthquake or other disasters that sever distant transmission lines. Solar and wind (even with short term batteries) can not currently provide uninterruptible on demand power. Even the European Union has realized this and recently passed legislation that deems natural gas powered generation to be “clean and green” and suitable for the long term. They have tried solar & wind and realized it’s failures. If opponents hadn’t pitched unproven and unworkable concepts to politicians who lack knowledge, Grayson would be up and running by now. Keep the lights on and re-power Grayson.