Pasadena Secures Four Grants to Accelerate Clean Energy Transition

Glenarm Power Plant (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)

Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) has been awarded four grants to advance the city’s clean energy goals and strengthen grid resilience. The funding supports deployment of emerging technologies that will help Pasadena reach its target of sourcing 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030.

By News Desk

“We are very excited to bring new energy efficient innovations to Pasadena,” said David Reyes, PWP General Manager. “Investments in energy storage solutions and distributed energy resources are at the forefront of Pasadena’s goal to source 100% carbon free electricity by the end of 2030. We will continue to seek additional grant funding to support our clean energy initiatives.”

California Energy Commission Grant

• The California Energy Commission (CEC) awarded Pasadena a $9.66 million grant through its Distributed Electricity Backup Assets (DEBA) program.
• The funding will enable installation of Pasadena’s first Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Glenarm Power Plant.
• The project will deliver 25 MW of 4-hour/100 MWh storage, breaking ground in 2026 and becoming operational in 2027.
• CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda emphasized the project’s role in strengthening California’s grid during heatwaves and providing resilience during outages.

Department of Energy Voucher Support

• The Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with ENERGYWERX, is providing Pasadena with two in-kind vouchers to support feasibility studies for Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) projects.
• Collaborations include:
  • X Utility (Fresno) — evaluating siting and permitting best practices.
  • Grand Summit Group, LLC (Montrose) — assessing the retired Broadway Power Plant as a possible LDES site.
• The studies, valued at $100,000 and $150,000, will be completed by September 2027, offering actionable pathways for next-generation storage.

American Public Power Association Grant

• Pasadena received a $60,000 grant from the American Public Power Association’s Demonstration of Energy and Efficiency Developments program.
• The funding will support a rooftop wind microturbine pilot project on a City-owned building.
• Scheduled for completion by September 2027, the project will provide insights into energy reduction opportunities and demonstrate the potential of distributed energy resources in urban environments.

For updates on Pasadena’s progress toward a carbon-free future, visit PWPweb.com/CleanEnergyTracker.