The Los Angeles Post

Councilmembers O’Farrell, Krekorian, Martinez Advance Landmark Initiative to Make City’s Building Stock Carbon-Free

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Today’s action will pilot the decarbonization of nine City-owned buildings, while setting the stage for the complete decarbonization of the City’s building stock

 

LOS ANGELES – Led by Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, Councilmember Paul Krekorian, and Council President Nury Martinez, the Los Angeles City Council today unanimously approved the allocation of $30 million to kickstart the City’s efforts to make public buildings and facilities carbon-free, a major milestone on the path to achieving the goal of a City powered by 100% carbon-free energy by 2035.

 

The pilot program will fully electrify nine City facilities and equip them with solar generation and battery storage capabilities. The $30 million, which was secured by O’Farrell and Krekorian in this year’s City budget, is also supplemented by an additional $80 million from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, representing a total investment of $110 million.

 

“Today’s vote makes clear that we’re not just talking about the decarbonization of our buildings but backing these words with actual investments,” said Councilmember O’Farrell, the Chair of the Council’s Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River committee. “Los Angeles must lead by example as we tackle one of our greatest sources of carbon emissions and work collectively to achieve our LA100 renewable energy goals.”

 

“Los Angeles is leading by example with this investment in solar, storage and building electrification,” said Councilmember Krekorian.  “These investments will save the City departments money, make our community facilities more resilient to extreme weather, clean our air, and help us reach our LA100 goals of 100% clean energy by 2035.  It is a win-win-win-win and is just the beginning.”

 

“In order to meet Los Angeles’ climate goal, it’s crucial that we electrify and decarbonize buildings and the best place to start is in our own house, with our city facilities,” said Council President Martinez. “I’m very proud that one of the facilities being decarbonized is in my district, Fire Station 39. Today’s motion is proof that the City of Los Angeles is a leader in adapting to climate change and will work tirelessly to ensure that no neighborhood is left out.”

 

Today’s Council vote, which results from a motion introduced by Councilmembers O’Farrell and Krekorian in September 2021, identifies the following nine buildings for this first of its kind pilot program: Las Palmas Senior Citizen Center; Silver Lake Branch Library; Balboa Sports Complex; Benjamin Franklin Branch Library; Cypress Park Branch Library; Old Fire Station No. 39; Green Meadows Recreation Center; Valley Plaza Recreation Center; and the LA Zoo Solar PV System.