From: Ana Soulriver
To: Gao, Beilei
Cc: Jones, Justin;
Subject: Support for Local Solar and Storage in Pasadena"s Transition to Carbon-Free Power Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 11:35:24 AM
Some people who received this message don't often get email from Learn why this is important <https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification>
[ ] CAUTION: This email was delivered from the Internet. Do not click links or open attachments unless you know the content is safe.
Report phish using the Phish Alert Button. For more information about the Phish Alert Button view article "KB0011474" on the DoIT portal.
------------------------
Dear Betty and Justin,
I am writing to express my strong support for Pasadena’s transition to carbon-free electric power and, in particular, for the robust incentives and policies to support local rooftop solar and storage.
As we all know, the consultants’ update makes it clear that a significant increase in rooftop solar is essential to achieving our carbon-free energy goals. Local rooftop solar provides numerous benefits that are critical for our city’s future:
1. Reduced Demand on the Grid: Increased local solar capacity will help reduce the strain on the grid, which is particularly important as we transition away from fossil fuels.
2. Energy Security: In light of the physical bottleneck at the Goodrich receiving station, local solar offers a reliable and secure resource, especially as we face rising energy prices and external challenges to renewable energy.
3. Cost Savings for PWP and Ratepayers: By encouraging private investment in rooftop solar, we reduce the immediate financial burden on PWP and its ratepayers, as solar installations are financed privately but benefit the public grid.
The E3 Consultant Update further emphasizes the necessity of scaling up local solar. To succeed, it is crucial that Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) and city officials actively support this growth with strong public education, streamlined permitting, and enhanced programs to encourage both residential and commercial solar installations. We must act now to commit to significantly increasing local solar resources, including exploring public solar projects to ensure that renters and apartment dwellers also have access to solar benefits.
In addition to local solar, it is clear that combining solar with battery storage will play a critical role in achieving our carbon-free power goals. This combination not only improves our energy resilience but also helps optimize energy costs and performance. I urge PWP to explore creative solutions, such as time-of-use incentives, to maximize the potential of solar-plus-storage systems.
I also have concerns regarding the cost estimates presented in the E3 update, specifically the treatment of private solar installations as if they are directly funded by ratepayers. I would appreciate clarification on how the Total System Cost is calculated and why private investments in rooftop solar are being treated this way. The cost data presented by E3 seems inflated compared to other publicly available sources like the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and it is important that we ensure accuracy in these figures as we develop our future energy plans.
Finally, I want to stress the importance of incorporating the Social Cost of Carbon into the analysis, as was done in the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). This cost has significant relevance in light of the climate risks we are already facing, as highlighted by the recent Eaton fire.
I strongly believe that Pasadena can lead the way in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in local, renewable energy sources. Our city must take bold, proactive steps to increase solar capacity and storage to ensure a cleaner, more resilient, and equitable future for all.
Thank you for considering my comments. I hope to see Pasadena move forward with strong policies and incentives to encourage the rapid expansion of local solar energy.
Sincerely,
Ana Soulriver