LADWP: We Support L.A.'s Arizona Boycott, but...
Now that at least one Arizona official is challenging Los Angeles to give up using electricity generated in his state, the LADWP is responding. In protest of the controversial SB 1070, the L.A. City Council last week boycotted most all travel to and some business with and within Arizona so Gary Pierce of the Arizona Corporate Commission sent a huffy-puffy letter Westward.
"I am confident that Arizona's utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona's economy," Pierce wrote.
L.A. receives 20 to 25% of its power from two power plants in Arizona. the Navajo Generating station, a dirty coal-fired plant is located on sovereign land. The Palo Verde nuclear plant is located some 45 miles West of Phoenix.
In a statement released today, LADWP General Manager Austin Beutner said Pierce is wrong in interpreting L.A.'s boycott. "We are part owner of both power plants, which are generating assets of the Department. As such, nothing in the City’s resolution is inconsistent with our continuing to receive power from those LADWP-owned assets."
And he's right: L.A.'s resolution on Arizona did not include boycotting its own properties in the state.
Beutner, who also is a Deputy Mayor, noted that the LADWP supports the city's resolution. "I might add that, as the City’s Job Czar, I certainly would welcome any conventions or meetings that were going to be held in Arizona to come to Los Angeles. We have fantastic facilities and incomparable weather and we’d welcome them to the City of Angels."