To help advance Pasadena’s clean energy goals and enhance grid resilience, Pasadena Water and Power (PWP), a department of the City of Pasadena, California, has been awarded grants supporting the ongoing deployment of emerging technologies to accelerate the City’s clean energy transition.
“We are very excited to bring new energy efficient innovations to Pasadena,” said David Reyes, PWP General Manager. “Investments in energy storage solutions and distributed energy resources are at the forefront of Pasadena’s goal to source 100% carbon free electricity by the end of 2030. We will continue to seek additional grant funding to support our clean energy initiatives.”
California Energy Commission - Distributed Electricity Backup Assets Program
The City recently executed an agreement with the California Energy Commission (CEC) to formalize a $9.66 million grant award made in 2024 from its Distributed Electricity Backup Assets (DEBA) program. The grant will enable Pasadena to install its first Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which will be located at the Glenarm Power Plant.
The DEBA Program aims to strengthen California's electric grid by supporting the development of cleaner and more efficient distributed energy assets. Pasadena’s energy storage project aligns with DEBA priorities and will help contribute to a sustainable and resilient energy future for Pasadena and California.
In a statement provided to PWP, CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda said, “This investment/project shows how local and state action can work hand-in-hand, to bring innovative solutions that strengthen California’s grid during heatwaves and give Pasadena added resilience during outages to better protect the community.”
The PWP BESS project, which will provide 25 MW of 4-hour/100 MWh storage is scheduled to break ground in 2026 and become operational in 2027. BESS technology will support electric reliability during extreme events, help restore power in the event of a complete shutdown (black start) and help bolster energy resilience and sustainability.
Department of Energy - Voucher Programs
The Department of Energy (DOE) is providing Pasadena with two in-kind voucher support to develop two separate studies for local Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) projects. The voucher program is a partnership between the DOE and ENERGYWERX (an energy non-profit) providing support to eligible recipients in need of technical assistance for deploying energy solutions.
As part of this effort, PWP is partnering with industry experts on feasibility studies for incorporating LDES projects in Pasadena. The two studies include collaborations with:
1. Fresno-based company, X Utility, which will evaluate siting and permitting best practices for potential local LDES project locations.
2. Montrose-based organization, Grand Summit Group, LLC, to evaluate the suitability of the retired Broadway Power Plant as a possible location for a LDES project.
The collaborations are valued up to $100,000 and $150,000, respectively, and will be completed by September 2027. The study results will provide PWP with actionable pathways for next generation storage.
American Public Power Association - Demonstration of Energy and Efficiency Developments
The City also received a $60,000 grant from the American Public Power Association’s Demonstration of Energy and Efficiency Developments program for a rooftop wind microturbine pilot project.
The project will feature the installation of a wind microturbine on a City-owned building and provide insight into potential energy reduction opportunities on City facilities.
This effort will also help demonstrate the value of emerging distributed energy resources in urban locations, such as Pasadena. PWP expects to complete the installation by September 2027.
