LA airport officials get OK to solicit green energy project on Palmdale property

April 19, 2010 | By KPCC Wire Services | KPCC

Los Angeles World Airports was granted approval to begin soliciting concepts for a potential renewable energy project on one of its land holdings just outside Palmdale.

The Airport Commission approved the plan this afternoon.

In their report to the commission, LAWA staff said the agency owns 17,500 acres — 7,500-10,000 acres of which can be leased to companies able to build a viable renewable energy project.

"Based upon ... the site's amount of land and physical characteristics, LAWA has the potential to generate significant revenues with which LAWA could offset the expense incurred to maintain this property,'' the report states.

LAWA staff noted that an August 2009 study to determine the best use of the site recommended leasing it for a renewable energy project.

"There is significant demand for property to support renewable energy projects in Southern California,'' the report says. "This demand is a result of several factors: the region's desirable solar index; the state's energy needs; state and federal tax credits/incentives; and the federal government's
recent stimulus package, which includes incentives and financing opportunities for renewable energy developments.''

LAWA staff stressed, however, that the project should not preclude the potential development of an airport on the property. For example, solar panels must not create enough glare to disrupt flights.

The commission's action today is the first stage of a four-step process in leasing the property. The next step is to come up with a short list of companies eligible to compete for the project, to be followed by a request for proposals and, finally, the awarding of the contract, possibly in the first
quarter of 2011.

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