Four Trendsetting Environmental Initiatives

[EWerb at aol.com]

...like paul; i too want government money to do good stuff -

Four Trendsetting Environmental Initiatives
Receive DWP Board Approval

Programs Include Electric Leaf Blower
Commercialization; Pilot Fuel Cell Project; Cool
Schools Tree Planting Phase II; and U.S. Postal
Service Electric Vehicle Partnership Project

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 1999-- The Board of Water
and Power Commissioners today authorized four major environmental initiatives 
that will continue to improve the city's
environment, demonstrate DWP's leadership role in new ecologically based 
technologies, and enhance the quality of life
in the nation's second-largest city. 

The four programs include finalizing the manufacturing agreement for an 
electric battery-powered leaf blower, installation
of a state-of-the-art fuel cell electric power generating station, starting 
the second phase of the Cool Schools tree-planting
program and supporting a program to deploy a fleet of electric-powered U.S. 
Postal Service delivery vehicles in Los
Angeles. 

``We are pleased to exercise a leadership role in moving toward a cleaner and 
greener L.A. in the coming century,'' said
Dave Freeman, the general manager of LADWP. 

``We are very excited about the board's approval of these trendsetting 
programs that push the bounds of technology and
also balance human needs with the environment. These initiatives help 
establish DWP as one of the nation's most
technologically advanced and environmentally sensitive organizations,'' said 
Angelina Galiteva, DWP director of
strategic planning. 

Leaf Blower Program 

The electric leaf blower program plan calls for field testing in Spring 2000, 
with units available next fall for sale
commercially in retail stores. The cost will be comparable to conventional 
leaf blowers, except these units will have zero
exhaust emissions and will allow gardeners to comply with the city's leaf 
blower ordinance. 

Under the proposed financial arrangements, DWP will not only recoup its 
investment, but may receive additional funds
that could be used to support development of new technologies in the future, 
she said. 

Before the leaf blower program moves ahead, it needs additional approval from 
City Council's Commerce, Energy and
Natural Resources Committee and the full City Council. 

Pilot Fuel Cell Plant Project 

A second state-of-the-art initiative approved was the development of one of 
the world's first 250-kilowatt molten
carbonate fuel cell power plants. The board authorized the general manager to 
execute an agreement with Fuel Cell
Energy Inc. to manufacture and install a fuel cell power plant in Los 
Angeles. 

This fuel cell plant will be used to test and demonstrate the feasibility of 
this technology for generating electricity on the
DWP system. The fuel cell plant will help DWP gain the necessary knowledge 
and experience in the installation,
maintenance and operation of possible future fuel cell power plants. 

The execution of the agreement is contingent on DWP receiving commitments of 
some of the funding from other sources.

A fuel cell converts chemical energy to electrical energy in a manner similar 
to a battery, but instead of requiring a
periodic recharge, its fuel (hydrogen and oxygen) is continuously supplied to 
maintain the electric output. 

Fuel cells offer a clean source of electricity, but the cost is currently 
much higher than conventional sources. However,
these costs are expected to drop as more plants come on line and the 
technology continues to be refined and
mass-produced. 

Cool Schools Phase II 

The second phase of the Cool Schools tree-planting program, covering 24 
months, was approved. The second phase
involves the planting of 4,200 trees at 35 schools in the Los Angeles Unified 
School District and five private/parochial
schools. 

In this second phase, one new nonprofit organization has been added to 
provide tree-planting services -- the Watts Labor
Community Action Committee. The four tree groups continuing to help implement 
this program include the Hollywood
Beautification Team, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, North East Trees and 
TreePeople. 

The program is coordinated with the Los Angeles Unified School District's 
Proposition BB Program. 

The first phase in the Cool Schools program, also extended to June 2000, 
involved planting 4,000 trees at 42 campuses.
By the end of December, 3,500 will have been planted at all schools except 
the two ``sustainable'' schools in this
program. 

Cool Schools was initially launched June 10, 1998. The program received a 
special award for Best Use of Public Benefit
Funds from the California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA). 

Partnership With U.S. Postal Service for Electric Delivery Vehicles 

In its final environmental program approval, the board gave the go-ahead for 
DWP to pursue an agreement with the U.S.
Postal Service to provide support and expertise for more than 100 
electric-powered delivery vehicles at four post offices
within the city of Los Angeles. 

DWP's involvement may include installation of charging stations, training for 
postal service employees on EV usage and
helping to fund a portion of the incremental cost of electric delivery 
vehicles. 

Postal vehicles are suited for electric propulsion. They typically travel no 
more than 25 miles per day on a fixed route
ending in an overnight rest period that is ideal for charging during off-peak 
hours. 

This project is the first large-scale application by the federal government 
of a full-size electric vehicle fleet. The project
will help enhance air quality and facilitate the commercialization of 
electric vehicles. 

The 100 vehicles are part of a larger program to provide 500 electric 
vehicles in California and the Washington, D.C.,
area. Over the next several years, the U.S. Postal Service has plans to 
deploy 6,000 electric delivery vehicles throughout
the nation. 

Additional information about DWP environmental and public benefit programs 
can be received by clicking on to two Web
sites: www.GREENLA.com or www.ladwp.com. 

Contact: 

     Department of Water and Power
     Walter Zeisl,  213/367-1342
                 213/367-3227 (after regular business hours)