A bright future for the CLEAN LA Solar Program - Clean Coalition
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A bright future for the CLEAN LA Solar Program

LADWP will be able to bring 100 MW of local solar energy online at an additional cost of only 15 cents per month to the average residential customer in Los Angeles.

Craig Lewis


The CLEAN LA Solar Program is off to a strong start as the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) received applications for 107 MW of potential solar projects during the program’s opening week.

Initial applications totaled 7 MW more than the allotment for the entire 100 MW program – highlighting a significant market opportunity for distributed solar projects in Southern California. Notably, LADWP will be able to bring 100 MW of local solarenergy online at an additional cost of only 15 cents per month to the average residential customer in Los Angeles.

Procurement for the program is divided into five 20 MW allocations. Within each allocation, 4 MWs are reserved for small projects between 30 kW to 150 kW, while the remaining 16 MWs areopen to larger projects up to 3 MW. The first 20 MW allocation began accepting applications on February 1, and subsequent allocations will open every six months through 2016 – until the full 100 MW program capacity is subscribed.

Contracts feature a 20-year agreement in which LADWP purchases 100% of the energy generated by projects at $0.17/kWh for the City of Los Angeles and $0.14/kWh for Owens Valley. The price differential accounts for the cost incurred when transmitting energy from Owens Valley to Los Angeles. The fixed price paid for energy will decline after each 20 MW allocation is reserved.

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.

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