Q} Outlook
MSC 07.28.2026 Items 1 & 2 OSP Progress Report and Implementation Update From
Date Tue 7/28/20261:19PM
To Jones, Justin <[email protected]>; Rick Cole <[email protected]>; Cole, Rick <[email protected]>,· Hampton, Tyron <[email protected]>; Lyon, Jason <[email protected]>
Cc Gao, Beilei <[email protected]>,· PublicComment-AutoResponse <[email protected]>
[A] 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 (PAB). For more information about the PAB view article "KB0011474" on the DolT portal.
•
•
Dear MSC Members Jones, Cole, Hampton, and Lyon,
Talk is cheap. Implementation requires committed funding for Pasadena's "Clean Power Brand".
The Optimized Specific Plan (OSP) approved by City Council provided a blueprint for the number of megawatts (MW) required from each energy resource category to achieve 100% Carbon Free Electric Power by the end of 2030. Based on extensively documented research, OSP Table 19 Action Plan to Accelerate Local Solar and Storage Adoption included Total Annual Resource Additions with the number of megawatts (MW) required for each resource category as well as a generalized timeline:
• Customer Solar & Storage Adoption
• Large-Scale Energy Storage at City-Owned Properties
Solar at City-Owned Properties
Microgrids at City. Commercial and Institutional Sites
• Other Opportunities
Power Department staff members have worked diligently to design and implement a So/ar & Battery Rebate Program to assist and encourage homeowners to install solar panels and battery storage. However, the department failed to fund the required 20 MW of Municipal Solar at City-Owned Properties in its FY2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget. PWP's initial funding request included only 2 MW of Municipal Solar which was funded exclusively by the Public Benefit Charge, a surcharge on ratepayer electric bills. As a result of City Council's amendment to the "Recommended" FY2027-31 CIP, PWP increased its plan to include 11.8 MW of Municipal Solar, mostly unfunded, with expected completion by June 2029. This will provide only 60% of the required 20 MW of Municipal Solar.
The current Optimized Strategic Plan Progress Report (June 2026) is largely a self- congratulating public relations document. Authors of the report chose to ignore the clearly stated goals of OSP Table 19 and instead, organized their commentary around the more nebulous "Pillars of the Optimized Plan". The report does include numbers, but they refer to different categories making comparison difficult. It is notable that Municipal Solar will be installed on 27 small sites rather than a few large sites as planned for the City of Glendale.
Only three of the 27 sites would generate close to 1000 kW or more: Rose Bowl/ Brookside Golf Course (1063 kw), City Maintenance Yards (2500 kW) and Convention/Civic Center (967 kW).
Contrast Total Estimated Costs for other projects in the FY 2027-31 Adopted CIP to the lack of funding for Municipal Solar:
• $51 million for upgrades and repair of Gas Turbines at Glenarm • $33 million for PWP Office Consolidation
• $324 million for Broadway BESS (original request was $38 M for storage alone); the current budget apparently includes redevelopment of the entire site.
Implementation of Municipal Solar and Battery Storage to fulfill requirements for Resolution 9977's goal, 100% carbon free electric power by the end of 2030, will require the focus and dedication of the entire Power Department.
We must demand real accountability and transparency
from our City Departments.
Sincerely,
Genette Foster, CD2