Committee to Look at Proposal for Strategic Plan on How to Achieve City’s Carbon-Free Goals

A proposal to develop an integrated strategic plan in pursuit of the City’s carbon-free goals will go before a City committee on Tuesday.

The Municipal Services Committee will review a potential $180,000 contract with a San Francisco-based consulting firm to create an integrated strategic plan to meet Pasadena’s goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030.

Energy and Environmental Economics Inc. (E3) would provide services over one year to help plan and guide the City transition to renewable sources. The contract sets a $150,000 base price and 20% contingency for change orders.

Pasadena Water and Power is recommending the no-bid contract based on E3’s previous work reviewing the utility’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan. The firm’s expertise with California clean energy policy also makes it well qualified, PWP said.

The quick timeline aims to fulfill a City mandate to convert to carbon-free sources within six years. 

In January 2023, the City Council passed Resolution 9977 which mandates that PWP should source 100% of Pasadena’s electricity from carbon-free sources by 2030. 

Last December, the City Council unanimously approved PWP’s 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which integrated the goals of Resolution 9977.

Following approval of the IRP, the City Council also issued guidance that the City Manager’s Office assist PWP in looking for a third party consultant with expertise in green energy. 

The proposal to engage E3 came out of that guidance. 

On the company’s website, E3 was described as based in San Francisco with offices in Boston, New York City, and Calgary, Canada. E3 works on high-profile, high-impact projects in jurisdictions that lead in implementing clean energy policy, the company said. 

In California, E3 said it works with utilities, state agencies, and market operators in developing the infrastructure, programs, and plans that will realize the state’s goal of meeting a 50% renewable portfolio standard by 2030. 

E3’s proposed Scope of Work includes collaborating with PWP staff to draft and finalize an Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP) within a timeline of three to four months. The resulting ISP should be able to consolidate existing plans and studies, identify actionable steps, and provide guidance on risk mitigation strategies, financial considerations, and emerging technologies.

PWP said the recommendation for the contract is based on E3’s previous involvement in reviewing the utility’s 2023 IRP and its understanding of Pasadena’s energy goals. 

“Considering E3’s knowledge and expertise implementing clean energy policy, an exemption from Competitive Bidding and Competitive Selection is in the best interests of the City as it will allow PWP to leverage knowledge gained through the IRP technical review without the additional time and cost of conducting a new solicitation process and acclimating a new vendor,” PWP said in the memo. 

PWP also emphasized the importance of developing the ISP to meet the urgent timeline as set in Resolution 9977. The ISP aligns with the City’s commitment to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation as outlined in the Urban Environmental Accords, PWP said. 

The Municipal Services Committee meeting begins at 4 p.m. in the City Council chamber at City Hall.