In a move to make Los Angeles coal-free by 2020, Mayor Antonio Villariagosa just announced a proposal for a monthly carbon surcharge on water and power bills. The funds will be used to transition the city towards renewable energy sources, and although no set amount was announced, it is expected that the smallest increase seen by 55% of the LA Department of Water and Power (DWP) consumers will be an additional $2.00 a month.
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The proposal was made following a study made by PA Consulting that revealed the city’s current “energy cost adjustment factor” is not enough to clear the coal filled LA air by 2020. A recently commissioned survey by the mayor’s office showed that 64% of the respondents were willing to pay an additional $2.50 a month in order to help the DWP make the transition from coal to renewable energy sources.
The question now is whether or not the addition will make the difference for Villariagosa’s ambitious coal free plan. The carbon surcharge is up for review by the Los Angeles City Council today.
This post and the images are somewhat misleading. Los Angeles’ air is not “coal filled.” The coal plants that provide roughly 50% of DWP’s energy supply are actually based in faraway places such as Utah and brought to LA through high-voltage trasmission lines. The air pollution in LA (as shown in the pictures) comes primairly from auto exhaust, which is of course from oil. In other words, a coal-free LA greatly improves the City’s carbon footprint but does little in the way of improving local air quality. No judgement as to whether that is good or bad, but it should be noted.