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Public Power Weekly <br />The conference program also includes concurrent sessions in the areas of <br />accounting and finance, human resources and training, and pricing and market <br />analysis. For complete program and registration information, visit the Events <br />Calendar at www.APPAnet.ol-~ or contact 202/467-2973 or <br />businessandfinance(~ AP PAnet.or~. <br />Los Angeles mayor calls on L~D~'~'P to phase out coal <br />Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has directed the Los Angeles <br />Department of Water and Power to eliminate the use of coal by 2020. <br />"It's now time to meet the carbon challenge," Villaraigosa said in his second <br />inaugural address July 1. "Breaking the coal habit is a long-term proposition <br />demanding along-term commitment. It's going to require investment from <br />ratepayers. Our future depends on pricing power in relation to the <br />environmental cost." <br />Currently, LADWP gets 40% of its power from coal plants located in Utah <br />and Arizona but Villaraigosa said he envisions a city weaned of coal energy. <br />LADWP will make up for this by using 40% renewable power, with the <br />remainder coming from natural gas, nuclear and large hydroelectric, he said. <br />Villaraigosa spent his first term pushing for carbon reductions from the city <br />utility and said he expects to meet his 20% renewables goal by 2010. By 2020, <br />the mayor predicted carbon emissions will have been cut by up to 60% of <br />19901evels. Carbon-heavy coal and natural gas are currently 76% of <br />LADWP's generation. <br />The mayor admitted that meeting this goal will mean higher electricity rates <br />for LADWP customers. <br />"The rates are going to go up," said Deputy Mayor David Freeman, who <br />~~ <br />previously headed LADWP, to Reuters. There is no way you can bring in <br />renewable energy and not have some rate impact when you replace coal. But <br />the value to society, even aside from global warming, is going to be positive." <br />Critics of the plan worry that ratepayers will face major rate increases if <br />LADWP breaks from its Utah and Arizona coal plants, both of which deliver <br />power at less than 5 cents per kWh. <br />"We recognize that we have to do something because California utilities will <br />not be allowed to build new coal plants or renew their contracts," said Jack <br />Humpreville, a member of the LADWP Oversight Board, to the Daily Breeze. <br />http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppw/printFriendly.asp?projID=3214 (14 of 21)7/28/2009 3:37:08 AM <br />