Pasadena City Council Approves Two Clean Energy Projects

Glenarm Power Plant (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)

Pasadena City Council approves 10-year Wind Power Contract, and Utility-Scale Battery Project.

By News Desk

As part of its ongoing transition to carbon-free electricity, the Pasadena City Council approved plans for two, new energy contracts:

• 10-year wind power contract with CalWind Resources, Incorporated (CalWind)
• Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Glenarm Power Plant.

Pasadena Water and Power makes progress toward 100% Carbon Free by 2030 goal with 2 new Clean Energy projects. These efforts will diversify Pasadena Water and Power’s (PWP) energy resource portfolio and contribute to the City’s progress toward 100 percent carbon-free energy sources by the end of 2030.

New CalWind Contract

The CalWind contract will provide 20 megawatts (MW) of wind power over 10 years. The project will draw from a 30 MW facility, in Tehachapi, CA, which is currently undergoing a repowering to modernize the existing wind turbine fleet. Pasadena currently holds a short-term CalWind contract and will begin receiving power from the new, 10-year agreement in May 2025.

“This wind energy agreement is another significant step toward achieving our clean energy goals,” said David M. Reyes, Pasadena Water and Power Acting General Manager. “We are excited to expand our carbon-free resource portfolio and are committed to ensuring our customers enjoy the benefits of a clean energy future.”

Purchase of Battery Storage at Glenarm Power Plant

The recently approved BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) project at Pasadena’s Glenarm Power Plant will be the first, local utility-scale battery storage system in the city. The project will provide 25 MW of dispatchable storage capacity up to four hours at a time from Glenarm BESS, LLC, a special purpose entity created by EPC Energy Inc. The battery is anticipated to have a 15-year minimum lifespan.

“The battery storage installation will allow us to store excess solar energy on the grid and use it during peak demand, which will also help provide local reliability to our distribution system,” said Kelly Nguyen, PWP Assistant General Manager of Power Supply.

To help offset the battery and installation costs, PWP secured a $9.6 million grant from the California Energy Commission through the Distributed Electricity Backup Assets Program. PWP expects the BESS project to be completed and operational by 2027.