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City council approves DWP integrated resource plan and sale terms for Mojave stake after AQMD concessions
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council approved the Department of Water and Power's integrated resource plan and a related package tied to the proposed sale of the city's 20% interest in the Mojave plant after the South Coast Air Quality Management District secured expedited repowering and pollution-control commitments.
The Los Angeles City Council approved the Department of Water and Power's (DWP) integrated resource plan and a related package of measures tied to the proposed sale of the city's 20% interest in the Mojave generating plant, following new commitments negotiated with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).
The council voted 11-2 to pass item 12, the DWP integrated resource plan. Item 14, the ordinance and agreements needed for sale of the city's Mojave stake as amended by Councilmember Padilla's motions and a revised AQMD schedule, passed 12-1 (Councilmember Holden recorded the lone no). Council action on a related committee motion (item 34a) passed 12-1.
AQMD staff told the council that after extensive discussions with DWP they recommended council approval "contingent upon the agreed upon measures," including an expedited repowering schedule, installation of six turbines at the harbor facility to reduce interim runs by the Valley station, and "prompt installation of selective catalytic reduction, SCR controls on at least 4 major units," AQMD representative Carol Coy said. Coy told the council those changes would, from the AQMD's perspective, "protect Southern California air quality."
Councilmembers described the package as a tradeoff between securing future cleaner generation and managing short-term impacts in in-basin areas such as the San Fernando Valley, Sun Valley and North Hollywood. Councilmember Padilla said his amending motion includes "reporting and an accountability measure not only to the DWP board but back to this council" and a condition intended to ensure interim emissions do not increase during the transition.
Councilmember Holden raised objections focused on consumer electricity rates and broader deregulation concerns, saying the city should be cautious about selling generating assets that might raise rates. Multiple councilmembers — including Bernsen, Goldberg and Ridley Thomas — supported the sale when coupled with environmental safeguards and the AQMD commitments.
The council incorporated the AQMD commitments into the council record by moving to include AQMD's schedule in the action. Councilmember Feuer confirmed Padilla's motion and the AQMD schedule would be included as part of the council action.
Looking ahead, council members said they expect DWP, AQMD and city staff to monitor implementation closely and return reports as required under the added accountability language.
Votes at a glance: item 12 (integrated resource plan) 11 ayes, 2 nos; item 14 (sale-related ordinance) as amended 12 ayes, 1 no; item 34a (committee matter linked to the sale) 12 ayes, 1 no.
The council's actions tie the sale process to explicit pollution-control and repowering commitments negotiated with AQMD; however several council members and public speakers urged continued monitoring of in-basin impacts.
