Pasadena Expands Renewable Electricity Resources with Geothermal Contract

As part of Pasadena’s commitment to the adoption of clean energy, Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) is expanding its energy portfolio with 25 megawatts (MW) of geothermal energy. This measure is in keeping with Pasadena’s commitment to growing clean energy and goal of sourcing 100% of its electricity from carbon-free sources.

“Pasadena continues to invest in our renewable future,” said PWP General Manager Sidney Jackson. “The addition of this new geothermal energy brings us closer to meeting goals adopted by the City Council.”

The City Council recently approved a 15-year contract with the Southern California Public Power Authority for the purchase of 25 MW of geothermal energy from Geysers Power Company, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Calpine Corporation, beginning January 1, 2027. Located in Lake County, California, the Geysers Geothermal Project (Geysers) is North America’s largest producer of clean, reliable renewable geothermal power.

PWP is currently in the process of updating its Power Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), Pasadena’s long-range blueprint for supplying reliable and environmentally responsible electricity at competitive rates. The acquisition of this geothermal energy advances the greenhouse gas reduction goals identified in the 2021 Power IRP Update. Along with the Coso Geothermal Project contract, which was acquired in 2020 and is also anticipated to start delivering energy in 2027, geothermal power is expected to make up approximately 25 percent of PWP’s retail energy sales by the end of 2027.

For more information on Pasadena's power sources, visit Where Our Power Comes From. For more information about PWP's long range blue-print for supplying reliable and environmentally responsible electricity at competitive rates, visit our Power Integrated Resource Plan.