One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
LADWP Drops Project that Would've Brought Renewable Energy from the Desert
Possible routes included skirting the borders of Joshua Tree National Park and Mojave National Preserve. All routes would terminate in the San Bernardino National Forest.
A controversial plan to bring Los Angeles renewable energy from the desert has been shelved by Los Angeles Department of Water & Power officials, it was announced today, according to the San Bernardino Sun. Green Path North was a proposal that included seven possible routes to carry geothermal, wind and solar energy from the Salton Sea to Los Angeles County.
The project would have resulted in construction of new power lines across what environmentalists considered pristine desert and forest landscapes, possibly threatening the endangered desert tortoise among other environmental issues. There was also the chance of private land taken through eminent domain. A potential 2,000 megawatts of geothermal energy could have been tapped from the Salton Sea area in Imperial County.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's goal is to meet a renewable portfolio standard of 20% by the end of this year and 40% by 2020. A $2.50 per month carbon surcharge on LADWP bills to meet the 20% goal is currently being discussed.
Also: Feds Commit $1.37 Billion for Controversial Desert Solar Power Project
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
