Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) remains committed to delivering reliable, high-quality water and electric service to our community throughout the year. Throughout the year, PWP teams work proactively to keep our water and electric systems strong and reliable.
As part of this work, we conduct extensive maintenance on critical power infrastructure to strengthen the grid in anticipation of demand peaks. We also increase staffing during periods of sustained high heat so that any issues can be addressed safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to the community. At the same time, we continue to make progress toward clean energy goals by engaging customers, expanding partnerships, and investing in a more sustainable future for Pasadena.
Earlier this month, PWP earned the Green Power Leadership Award from the Center for Resource Solutions, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing sustainable energy and climate solutions. The award is in the “Impactful Procurement” category, which recognized the utility’s leadership toward 100% carbon-free electricity by the end of 2030.
Community engagement continues to be a core part of our clean energy work. At our annual PWP Open House in June, and at events across the city like the solar home tours and National Night Out, we were able to talk directly with customers about Pasadena’s clean energy future. Those conversations matter because they help us understand what people need and give us opportunities to share what is coming next.
In November, we plan to hold a “Solar Power and Battery 101” online community meeting. It will cover how to choose reputable vendors, incentives now available, and what to expect when navigating permits and electric code requirements. These are practical topics, and they give residents and businesses the information they need to take part in the city’s energy transition. We plan to keep showing up in the community and continuing these conversations in the months ahead.
Our Optimized Strategic Plan, which serves as Pasadena’s roadmap for achieving carbon-free electricity, continues to build momentum. We are expanding clean energy resources, advancing major infrastructure projects, and broadening programs that help customers take meaningful steps toward a carbon-free energy future. We are also creating new opportunities for local partners to develop community-based solar that strengthens reliability and keeps clean power close to home.
PWP recently released a Request for Proposals (RFP) that advances Pasadena’s clean energy goals. The RFP seeks design-build proposals to install approximately 2.6 megawatts (MW) of solar and battery projects at 13 city-owned sites by mid-2028. An RFP for a second phase, which adds another 14 sites and roughly 6.1 MW targeted for completion by 2029, will be released later this year. As more potential city-owned sites are identified and assessed for solar and storage installation, an additional RFP is planned for release in 2027 to support our long-term goal of developing 20 MW of municipally owned solar.
We also launched the Clean Power Pasadena Partnership RFP earlier this month, which invites Pasadena’s large property owners and clean energy developers to propose renewable projects that will sell [TK: “ee” — please clarify; likely “renewable”] power directly to PWP. Projects must be at least 200 kilowatts, and PWP will fund eligible infrastructure improvements needed to connect these projects to our grid. This initiative expands local clean energy opportunities, strengthens reliability, and reduces dependence on imported electricity. Responses to the RFP are due in October.
Residents and businesses continue to play a major role in our progress toward a carbon-free energy future. Our solar and battery storage rebates, which we launched this past spring, are already helping customers reduce energy use and lower monthly bills. To increase access to these opportunities, we are developing a Low Interest Solar Loan Program and have released an RFP to identify bank and credit union partners. This effort will help our customers, especially those who are income-qualified, to overcome financial barriers to adopting solar.
PWP is also advancing utility-scale clean energy procurements that are essential for meeting energy goals. Several solar and storage projects are now under negotiation and represent significant new resources that will replace fossil fuel generation and support long-term reliability. We expect to bring recommendations to the City Council later this year and into 2027.
Our latest Optimized Strategic Plan Progress Report provides a comprehensive summary of recent progress, including solar development, battery storage projects, infrastructure upgrades, customer programs, and expanded community outreach.
The full report is available at PWPweb.com/OSP
Pasadena’s path to a carbon-free future is steady and strong. I am proud of our team, grateful for our community’s engagement, and appreciative of the continued support from our City Council. We will continue sharing updates as this work advances, and I remain confident in the direction we have set together.
David Reyes is the General Manager of Pasadena Water and Power for the City of Pasadena
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