The city’s utility has made significant progress toward the city’s ambitious goal of providing 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030, adding new renewable energy resources, launching customer incentive programs and advancing major battery storage and municipal solar projects, according to a progress report scheduled for review Tuesday by the Municipal Services Committee (MSC).
The report marks the first formal update on the city’s Optimized Strategic Plan (OSP), which was developed to implement a City Council resolution adopted in 2023 committing Pasadena to reach carbon-free electricity 15 years ahead of California’s statewide 2045 target.
As part of the approval of the OSP, Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) was requested to provide progress reports to the committee highlighting the accomplishments and milestones achieved, according to the report.
“This represents the first report and provides updates on key initiatives, program advancements, and collaborative efforts that are helping achieve Pasadena’s landmark carbon-free goal,” the report reads.
The plan stresses affordability, electric reliability and rate equity while expanding renewable energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
According to the report, the city has already secured or contracted enough resources to meet an estimated 94% of its annual carbon-free electricity needs and 84% of its hourly carbon-free matching goal through owned, contracted and in-progress projects.
Among the most significant milestones is the procurement of more than 200 megawatts of new carbon-free energy resources and 50 megawatts of battery storage through power purchase agreements. Pasadena Water and Power also is preparing to begin construction in August on a 25-megawatt battery energy storage system at the Glenarm Power Plant, with the facility expected to begin operating by June 2027.
The utility also completed a competitive solicitation for additional utility-scale renewable energy and storage projects. Twelve proposals representing 18 potential projects were submitted, with city officials expecting to develop a shortlist later this year before presenting recommendations to the City Council in early 2027.
The report outlines several initiatives to increase locally generated renewable energy.
Pasadena Water and Power is developing the Clean Power Pasadena Partnership, a program that would allow large property owners, educational institutions, government facilities and clean energy developers to generate renewable electricity and sell it directly to the utility. The initial solicitation seeks 5 megawatts of locally generated carbon-free electricity by the end of 2028.
The city also is expanding municipal solar generation. An initial phase includes solar installations at four branch libraries and the City Maintenance Yards, while a broader program now targets 27 municipal facilities through a Design-Build procurement process. The effort is part of a five-year, $90 million capital investment in municipally owned solar projects.
The report also highlights a $1.7 million federal award to install solar panels, battery storage and electric vehicle fast chargers at the Central Library, creating what officials describe as a municipal microgrid demonstration project.
To encourage residents and businesses to participate in the transition, Pasadena Water and Power recently launched new rooftop solar and battery storage rebate programs. Residential customers can receive incentives of up to $1 per watt for solar installations and up to $550 per kilowatt-hour for battery storage for income-qualified or medically vulnerable customers. Commercial customers also qualify for solar and battery incentives, while the utility is developing a low-interest solar loan program.
The report notes customers added 1.14 megawatts of new rooftop solar during the first half of 2026, increasing the city’s installed solar capacity to 33.6 megawatts. Battery storage capacity also grew to 2.39 megawatts.
Officials also reported continued progress in energy conservation. Customers saved 7,816 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2025, bringing cumulative energy efficiency savings since 2007 to nearly 269,000 megawatt-hours.
Looking ahead, Pasadena Water and Power plans to implement time-of-use electric rates, continue expanding renewable energy procurement and study long-duration battery storage at the Broadway Power Plant to further reduce the city’s dependence on the Glenarm natural gas facility while maintaining electric system reliability.
“As progress continues toward 2030, PWP remains actively engaged with utility partners and developers in pursuit of scalable clean-energy solutions, including wind, solar, geothermal, and storage,” the report said.
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