Touting Lowest Emissions Limits in the Nation, Pasadena Power Plant Celebrates Official Ribbon-Cutting

The long-awaited overhaul of the Glenarm Power Plant that rids the City of outdated and energy inefficient equipment by installing a new turbine that is the most environmentally “clean” unit in its class will be marked by ceremony this morning.

The combined cycle turbine unit’s installation was one of the largest and most complex capital improvements in Pasadena’s history, officials said this week.

This new technology, namely in the form of a state of the art engine called the Gas Turbine 5 (GT-5), cements Pasadena as an energy trailblazer and helps reduce the city’s fuel consumption and emissions, lower its carbon footprint and backstop the community’s power needs with a reliable alternative to renewable energy resources when needed.

“The City as a whole is very proud of what GT-5 represents. It is the most environmentally ‘clean’ natural gas-fired unit in its class. And it’s the first of its kind, electric generating unit to have the lowest emissions limits in the country,” said Art Silva, Pasadena Water and Power’s Production Superintendent and Project Manager for the GT-5 Project.

The complex project was originally anticipated to be completed in May, 2016. It saw its fair share of setbacks since its undertaking in 2014, notably issues with equipment testing that delayed completion, and subsequent cost overruns. Despite these difficulties, City officials seem  universally enthusiastic about the project’s benefits.

The GT-5 provides a stable source of backup power that allows Pasadena Water and Power to integrate more renewable – but intermittent – energy such as solar and wind.

The turbine also offers a quick-start capability that can generate power within minutes as opposed to the 72-hour start up time needed for the old system.

“This is really an example of improved technology, terrific air quality achievements and I think it really does represent the positive step in terms of applying current technology to our needs,” said Mayor Terry Tornek.

The Glenarm Power Plant makes up for the shortages required to meet the community’s electrical needs when PWP experiences electric import limitations, said Silva, who added that the outdated B-3 is no longer cost-effective.

“GT-5 brings local reliability. The City’s import capacity is limited. If the City’s electrical demand exceeds the import capacity or there are limitations with the infrastructure or state transmission lines, Pasadena can produce the power locally,” explained Silva.

The Glenarm power plant sits on a 14-acre site in the southwestern portion of the City, at the end of the Arroyo Seco Parkway. The site consists of two groups of generating facilities bisected by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Gold Line tracks: the Glenarm Plant to the west of the Gold Line and the Broadway Plant to the east.

The project is a key component of the 2009/2012 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that was adopted by city officials in 2009 as a blueprint for the Pasadena Department of Water and Power (PWP) to ensure “reliable, environmentally responsible electricity service, competitive rates and energy independence” through 2030.

“This is going to get us towards our goal for greenhouse gas emissions and reducing our energy load and just being all together more efficient and more sustainable as a city,” said Chair of the Municipal Services Committee and District 2 Councilmember Margaret McAustin.

The project faced time consuming delays.

“Most of the challenges were with technology because this is a very technologically advanced turbine engine,” said McAustin.

The delay in completing the project was caused by efforts to meet the strict emissions limits placed on the unit by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), according to Silva.

“Although testing of this unit contributed to the delay, maintaining our air quality for the community was an important factor,” explained Silva.

The project budget was increased by City Council in September 2014, from $131.9 million to 136.9 million.

“The challenge for the City was that it was simply a cumbersome process because of air quality regulations and power grid regulations–these are not project that you just crank out in a short period of time,” explained Tornek who said that the project is a good long-term investment for the City.

“People may or may not realize, but most of the power that powers their light bulbs and air conditioning is not generated locally,” Tornek added.

A bulk of Pasadena’s power is generated from a plant as far away as Utah leading up to the installation of the new GT-5.

“In emergency conditions when transmission on the grid is interrupted or in peak power load conditions when the grid is really being strained, it’s very important to have this kind of local capacity to be able to maintain reliability,” explained Tornek.

The overhaul was a collaborative effort at its foundation, in which the people of Pasadena contributed greatly.

“From the inception of this project the City was committed to the prospect that this project would be built by the Pasadena community,” explained McAustin.

The City set a standard goal for 15 percent of the sub contracting and procurement on the project to be satisfied by Pasadena businesses and residents, according to McAustin, in which the City not only met the goal, but exceeded it.

“Twenty percent of the certified payroll for the project went to our own residents. We’re very proud of that because many of them received training that they can take on to other jobs and it was just a great opportunity to have a Pasadena project built by Pasadena,” said McAustin.

The Glenarm Plant has had units in operation since 1906. Still in operation on the site are GT-1, 3 and 4.

“The Glenarm Power Plant reflects both the history of Pasadena and the future. On the site, there are 3 city-designated historic landmarks, the light and power building, the electric fountain in front, and the Pacific Railroad building. With the addition of GT-5, we now have a faster, cleaner technology in place to help produce power to serve our community,” said Silva.

Pasadena Water and Power will hold a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Awards Recognition for the completion of the Glenarm Repowering Project on Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Glenarm Power Plant located at 85 E. State St.

For more information about the project, visit http://cityofpasadena.net/Planning/Glenarm_Power_Plant_Repowering_Project/