10-Year Clean-Air Plan Announced

Mayor Tom Bradley said Tuesday that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will spend $1 billion over the next 10 years to reduce air pollution emissions from its 19 power plants. The mayor said the cost will increase the average homeowner’s monthly electrical bill by 7% to 10%. DWP power plant emissions account for 2,329 tons, or 25% of the 9,340 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions from all power plants each year in the four-county South Coast Air Basin.

The air pollution reduction program is required under rules adopted two weeks ago by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Bradley said the city supports a compromise between the AQMD and Southern California Edison that gave utilities until 1999 to be in full compliance with the rules on nitrogen oxide, one of the two principal ingredients of photochemical smog. Originally, the AQMD staff had recommended a 1992 deadline.