Summary
Roughly a dozen residents blasted the draft CIP for leaving municipal solar and the Broadway battery storage unfunded while allocating $33 million for a new PWP headquarters, defying the 2030 carbon-free goal. Council members echoed the criticism, and staff promised a clarifying funding document before next week's CIP hearing.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 1
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 20, 2026.
Impact analysis
Critics cite a $392 million five-year unfunded gap for solar and storage and a $33 million headquarters proposal they want redirected.
Residents would gain cleaner air, grid resilience and long-term public solar assets if the funding is redirected.
None directly, though utility ratepayers could face higher rates if projects are deferred and later financed by bond or rate increases.
Mentions & discussions (6)
City Council Meeting: - Oct 20, 2026
A resident flagged that Pasadena's 2025 power mix is 51% fossil fuels versus a 33% state average, and asked the council to require an explanation from Water and Power.
City Council Meeting: (Audio Description) - May 4, 2026
The council's promise of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 faces a huge funding gap — about $1.3 billion of the electric CIP is unfunded, and only 2 megawatts of municipal solar are funded for next year. Councilmembers pushed staff hard on whether PWP is truly committed, and Cole won a 6-2 vote adding $11.25 million for five more megawatts in FY 2028.
City Council Meeting: - May 4, 2026
The council adopted a capital plan for Pasadena Water and Power that funds only two megawatts of municipal solar next year against a 20-megawatt goal, sparking a late-night fight. Cole's amendment adds $11.25 million for five more megawatts in FY 2028, but Lyon and Masuda say the pace still falls short of the 2030 mandate, with roughly $1.3 billion of the electric plan unfunded.
City Council Meeting: - Apr 13, 2026
Speakers said the draft five-year capital budget funds only a fraction of the solar and storage needed for the city's 2030 carbon-free goal, and counts unrelated maintenance as 'carbon-free enablement.' Councilmember Cole demanded alternatives when the hearing resumes May 4.
City Council Meeting: (Audio Description) - Apr 7, 2026
Roughly a dozen residents blasted the draft CIP for leaving municipal solar and the Broadway battery storage unfunded while allocating $33 million for a new PWP headquarters, defying the 2030 carbon-free goal. Council members echoed the criticism, and staff promised a clarifying funding document before next week's CIP hearing.
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