CLEAN LA Solar brings power online, primed for expansion - Clean Coalition
A group of officials, including a man speaking at a podium, stands beside solar panels at an outdoor event under a clear sky.

CLEAN LA Solar brings power online, primed for expansion

Since opening its first tranche in February, LADWP has received applications totaling more than 115 MW.

Craig Lewis


Yesterday in Los Angeles, Mayor Villaraigosa ‘switched on’ a rooftop solar installation atop a multi-family apartment building – the first project to come online as part of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP) CLEAN LA Solar Program. Since opening the first 20 MW tranche in February, LADWP has received applications totaling more than 115 MW – signaling strong demand for solar distributed generation (DG) and correct pricing. Notably, many of the proposed projects will bring DG to underserved communities with a high solar resource and also to areas with minimal interconnection costs.

mayorcaptionGiven such significant andfavorable results, CLEANLA is primed for furtherexpansion. Eric Garcetti,LA’s newly elected mayor,committed to producing1,200 MWof local solarenergy in LA by 2016, halfof which LADWP will bringonline through the CLEANLA Solar Program. In total,1,200 MW of new localsolar would inject morethan $2 billion into thecity’s economy – creatingjobs, reducing pollution,and locking in affordable energy rates for consumers.

The Clean Coalition has also been working with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) to expand production of clean local energy in its service territory. Given the strong success of LIPA’s 50 MW CLEAN Solar Initiative, the Clean Coalition expects to see exciting news coming out of Long Island in the very near future.

Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Business Council.

Craig Lewis

Founder and Executive Director

Craig founded the Clean Coalition in 2009 and has over 30 years of experience in policy and technology innovation, including the proliferation of Solar Microgrids and Community Microgrids. Prior to founding the Clean Coalition, Craig held numerous positions in the wireless, semiconductor, banking, and renewable energy industries. Previously VP of Government Relations at GreenVolts, he was the first to successfully navigate a solar project through California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard solicitation process. Craig was energy policy lead on Steve Westly’s 2006 California gubernatorial campaign. His resume includes senior government relations, corporate development, and marketing positions at leading wireless, semiconductor, and banking companies such as Qualcomm, Ericsson, and Barclays Bank. Craig received an MBA and MSEE from the University of Southern California and a BSEE from the University of California, Berkeley.