🚀 go-pugleaf

   Los Angelenos sing for a green city
   
   Wednesday, January 30, 2002
   By Environmental News Network
                                                                         
   Los Angeles is no longer content to be the smoggy, energy-hogging city
   of the past. The City of Angels is crafting a new, sustainable
   lifestyle complete with renewable energy, efficiency, and water
   conservation.
   
   To spread the word, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will
   kick off its centennial celebration Feb. 10 by hosting a concert to
   help promote its "Green L.A." program.
   
   Three-time Grammy winning L.A. rock band Los Lobos and gospel singer
   Yolanda Adams are among the performers lined up to take the stage at
   the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
   
   Celebrating its 100th anniversary in February, the Los Angeles
   Department of Water and Power serves more than 3.8 million people in
   Los Angeles.
   
   Green L.A. includes a range of environmental programs that aim to make
   Los Angeles a sustainable city: Tree planting, electric
   transportation, water conservation, recycling, energy efficiency,
   solar and green power.
   
   "This is a worthy local cause we can all relate to," says Los Lobos
   lead singer David Hidalgo, who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of
   the band this year. "L.A. is our home, it's where our roots are, and
   it's great to be a part of something that will benefit not just our
   communities, but our children as well."
   
   "We take great pride in offering the city of Los Angeles a high
   quality, socially conscious performing arts program," says LADWP
   General Manager David Wiggs. "It's a great way to celebrate our many
   years of service to the community, convey the Green L.A. message, and
   build strong partnerships."
   
   Other artists scheduled to participate in Voices for a Green L.A.
   include the all-woman international percussion group, Adaawe; sacred
   Jewish music Cantorial performances; First African Methodist Episcopal
   Church Choir, the 180 member Children's Choir and traditional Japanese
   youth drumming group, Zenshuji Zendeko.
   
   Green Power for a Green L.A. is the department's renewable energy
   program. Los Angeles residents can choose 100 percent renewable
   energy, with 20 percent coming from new sources.
   
   The price for renewable energy is slightly higher than power generated
   from fossil fuels such as coal and oil. The extra cost for this
   package is about six percent or approximately $3 a month for the
   average customer with a monthly bill of $50, but the LADWP says the
   extra cost can be offset by its free energy efficiency products and
   services.
   
   Voices for a Green LA is an outreach to increase awareness of Green LA
   programs such as its solar incentive or rebate program, which offers
   the highest per watt financial incentive in California to go solar.
   
   "By lowering the price of solar electric power systems, we're hoping
   to encourage even more customers to consider going solar," Wiggs said.
   "It's important to remember that any power produced by these solar
   systems reduces the load on LADWP's power system, which benefits all
   Californians by reducing the need to build power plants."
   
   The Solar Incentive Program lowers the purchase price of solar
   electric or photovoltaic systems by at least half for all
   participating LADWP customers. It offers a cash incentive based on the
   wattage or size of a solar system. The system should produce at least
   300 watts but not more than 100 percent of a household's annual power
   needs.
   
   LADWP is constructing and operating solar photovoltaic systems on its
   facilities and municipal buildings throughout the city. Libraries,
   community centers, municipal office buildings and multipurpose
   buildings will receive solar photovoltaic systems that will generate
   electricity to be used in the Green Power for a Green L.A. Program.
   
   One to 1.5 megawatts of solar photovoltaic generation capacity is
   scheduled for installation each year for the next five years. A
   megawatt is enough electricity to power 1,000 typical California
   homes.
   
   "Green L.A. provides L.A. city residents a unique opportunity to make
   substantial changes to the way we use and conserve energy as well as
   take care of our environment," said LADWP Board president Kenneth
   Lombard. "This concert and festival are great ways to embrace L.A.'s
   diverse community and to expand the customer base for LADWP's Green LA
   programs and keep them growing well into the next 100 years."
   
   More information about Green LA programs and the Voices concert can be
   obtained by logging onto www.GreenLA.com or calling 1-800-GreenLA.
   Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster or the Music Center's Dorothy
   Chandler Pavilion box office.
   
   Copyright 2002, Environmental News Network