Posted on 12/19/2008 8:30:53 AM PST by NormsRevenge
When members of the Los Angeles City Council agreed last month to put an ambitious solar energy plan on the March 3 ballot, they talked effusively about their desire for cleaner air and "green" technology jobs -- the kind that could boost the economy during a recession.
What they didn't discuss was an analysis by a city-hired consulting firm that called the solar plan "extremely risky" and considerably more expensive than was being portrayed by the Department of Water and Power.
Measure B, which calls for unionized DWP workers to install solar panels on rooftops and parking lots across the city, sailed onto the ballot with a unanimous vote. But days earlier, the council's top policy advisor was so troubled by the proposal that, in an e-mail to Council President Eric Garcetti, he recommended that the council delay it until a future election.
After receiving the analysis from the consulting firm, Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry Miller warned Garcetti that the solar measure could result in "substantial increases" to the electricity bills of DWP customers.
Neither Miller nor Garcetti made those findings part of the public record. Since then, Miller's office has rebuffed requests from The Times for a copy of the consulting firm's analysis, saying the state's public records law allows city officials to withhold any document that would reveal the "deliberative process" between the council and its chief legislative analyst.
Miller said Thursday he is no longer worried about the cost, as long as the DWP can secure $1.5 billion in solar tax credits. ...
Garcetti, for his part, said the consulting firm's findings were not made part of the record because they were among several opinions that he solicited informally on the ballot measure. Solar industry experts disagreed with the numbers produced by the consultant, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Seems like Eric Garcetti is just one more idiot in a long line to serve on the council. Go fill potholes or something.
Not worried about cost, as long as they get the 1.5B in Solar “Credits”.
And, mind you, where do these ‘magical’ ‘credits’ come from ? Could it be from, eh, TAXES !?!
They should go to Boston's Big Dig area and ask the people there to explain how this wonderful "X" dollar project can balloon up to ludicrous numbers the instant the ink is dry.
Hmmm, reminds me of Soylent Green.
Quote in Judge Dredd Movie.
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