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Freeman reaffirms goal of open Inyo-L.A. talks |
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Thursday, 14 January 2010 |
 Interim General Manager for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power David Freeman speaks in front of a packed house Monday in Bishop. Freeman discussed the utility’s proposal for a solar park on the Owens Lake bed as well as answered questions from the crowd. He said this is an “historical period” for DWP as it changes from “dirty to clean” energy sources. Photo by Mike Bodine By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
1-14-2010Interim General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power S. David Freeman used his well-known charm on a crowd of more than 300 Monday as he and other DWP managers held a public discussion about a proposed solar park on the bed of the Owens Lake.
Freeman received some rounds of applause and several chuckles from the audience – a rare occurrence for the head of the utility that, as Freeman himself said, “stole the land” from the people of Inyo.
“I’m an honest guy,” Freeman said, adding that the meeting may sound a little strange as DWP has no details about the solar project, but that’s the point. He said that in the past DWP would not relay the details of a project until it was complete, but this time Freeman wanted to be upfront from the ground level.
He said this is an “historic period” as the utility goes from “dirty to clean,” moving away from coal toward renewable energy sources.
He also got a small round of applause from Southern Inyo residents after a Keeler resident told Freeman the existing DWP plant is incredibly bright, even impeding on the resident’s enjoyment of the night sky.
Freeman said he was going to issue an order the next day that there will be no more excessive lights on at night.
Freeman also said the “devil’s in the details” with the solar park project.
Then it was up to DWP managers to explain to the crowd why exactly the Owens Lake bed was chosen. Basically, they explained, the lake is the only suitable area with a minimal impact to the environment and view shed to put up a photovoltaic, or flat-panel, solar park.
When asked if DWP will pump water from Owens Lake if the project is successful in conserving water, Freeman said yes.
“If it’s safe to do so, we should,” Freeman said, explaining that the state is in a drought. “We need all the water we can get.”
When asked if the solar park will lower customer’s bills, he said, “You can’t upgrade from 5 cents a watt coal to 15 cents a watt solar without some increase in your bill.
“I’m not here to tell you it won’t drop your bill, but it will not go up as much,” Freeman added.
Another concern from several residents was why Inyo County residents have to pay a transportation fee for electricity generated in the county.
Freeman explained that produced energy all goes into “a pot” that is distributed through the complicated logarithms of energy rates and billing.
He said the real money maker will be in jobs and property tax revenue from other companies and utilities that want to build solar projects in the valley too.
Inyo County Superintendent of Schools Terry McAteer asked Freeman if there would be training opportunities, such as DWP offering solar engineering classes.
“I want this project to benefit everyone here,” Freeman responded.
Owens Valley resident Harry Williams told Freeman that DWP has yet to fulfill its land exchange agreements with the local tribes.
Williams said he thought this was a great project and it would inevitably go through, but he added there is an air of suspicion surrounding anything the utility does.
“All we’ve learned is the courts are all you guys really care about,” Williams said, adding that DWP used lawyers and litigation as a knee-jerk reaction to any situation.
Freeman said he intended the meeting to be a “friendly gathering” and, “we can embrace the future or curse the past.”
Williams said DWP needs to honor its obligations.
Another resident asked if DWP’s plans for turning to renewable energy sources and “going green” will include outfitting city buildings and even homes with solar power capabilities.
Freeman said the solar park is much cheaper than tailor-making systems for individual buildings.
Freeman said a test project of some 80 acres will go up before a completed solar park, which is expected in 2014.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 26 January 2010 )
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