Los Angeles Gets Out of Coal

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced a dramatic shift in Los Angeles’ energy policy: The city will phase out all its coal-based electricity by 2020 and replace it with power from cleaner and renewable sources of energy. Currently, 40 Percent of the electricity delivered by Los Angeles’ Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the nation’s largest public utility with 1.45 million customers,  comes from coal-fired power plants. But in just over ten years “we will deliver 40 percent renewable power, with the remainder coming from natural gas, nuclear, and large hydroelectric,” said Villaraigosa. The result: While electricity rates may rise, the city expects to cut its carbon emissions by up to 60 percent from 1990 levels and reduce “costs to society” including medical bills related to lung diseases such as asthma. Read the full story.