Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) has secured a series of grants aimed at bolstering Pasadena’s clean energy infrastructure and pushing towards a future of zero-carbon electricity. Among the awards, PWP received a substantial $9.66 million from the California Energy Commission to implement the city's first Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Glenarm Power Plant, as reported by city officials. The BESS, which is designed to provide 25 MW of power across four hours (100 MWh in total), will be key in maintaining electric reliability, especially during extreme weather events or power outages.
David Reyes, PWP General Manager, has expressed enthusiasm about bringing energy-efficient innovations to the area, aiming for Pasadena to source 100% carbon-free electricity by the end of 2030. "Investments in energy storage solutions and distributed energy resources are at the forefront of Pasadena’s goal to source 100% carbon-free electricity by the end of 2030," Reyes told the City's newsroom. Expecting to break ground in 2026, the BESS project is part of a larger effort that aligns with the California Energy Commission's Distributed Electricity Backup Assets (DEBA) Program to strengthen the state's electric grid.
Continuing its stride toward clean energy, PWP is also dipping its toes into the world of Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), with the Department of Energy providing two grants to fund feasibility studies. These vouchers, partnering PWP with X Utility in Fresno and Grand Summit Group, LLC in Montrose, will explore the potential of re-purposing retired locations for new energy storage solutions. Keeping to plan, the studies are set to wrap up by September 2027, aiming to explore the potential that LDES projects might hold for the Pasadena community.
Additionally, PWP has netted a $60,000 grant from the American Public Power Association to test a rooftop wind microturbine on a City-owned building, which, aimed at analyzing energy reduction opportunities. "This effort will also help demonstrate the value of emerging distributed energy resources in urban locations, such as Pasadena," reports a statement from the city. With a projected completion date in September 2027, the microturbine project marks yet another step toward Pasadena's sustainable future.
Serving more than 65,000 electricity customers and delivering water to nearly 38,000 households and businesses, Pasadena Water and Power stays rooted in the city’s movement for clean, sustainable energy. For more information on Pasadena's energy initiatives and real-time progress, community members are encouraged to visit PWPweb.com/CleanEnergyTracker.
