Burbank Water and Power (BWP) is very pleased to announce the July 2002 installation of two hydro generators at its Valley Pumping Plant. Burbank Water and Power purchases water from the Metropolitan Water District. This water comes to us under high pressure. BWP will now be using that high-pressure water to run two turbine generators. This innovative system will produce over one million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, requiring no fuel and producing no pollution! This amount of energy is enough to run about 200 households.
On July 8, 2002, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Valley Pumping Plant to recognize the hydro generating project. David Laurell, Mayor of Burbank, gave the following speech at the ceremony:
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David Laurell, Mayor of Burbank |
Good morning everyone. It is with genuine pleasure and enthusiasm that I welcome you here today as we celebrate the installation of two small hydro generating units. Many of us do not get the opportunity to visit the Valley Pumping Plant, but it is important to recognize that this is where the distribution of treated groundwater to our domestic water system begins. It is also the site of the City's most recent advance in our quest for renewable energy sources.
As we all know the State of California has experienced more than its share of blackouts, brownouts, and rising energy costs during the power crisis over the last two years. Fortunately for us, the City of Burbank was prepared and the worst of the power crisis passed us by. Burbank Water and Power took the opportunity to reassess the City's energy programs and found that there were other, smaller projects that could be integrated into its system. It is true that each, on its own, would give us only a slight advantage; but together, these small differences will be of great benefit to the City and demonstrate Burbank's commitment to environmentally clean energy.
In the past, BWP has investigated the use of hydro generation for power production. Recent modifications to the City's water system now make it feasible. The most significant change involves the construction of the Burbank Operable Unit. This required the utility to import high-pressure water supplies from the Metropolitan Water District to the Valley Pumping Plant. This high pressure means excess energy, which BWP is able to harness with turbine-generators. The change in pressure energy is converted into over one million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This is enough power to meet the energy needs of 200 households for an entire year. And better yet, this process requires no fuel and produces no pollution.
Renewable sources of energy will always be a good investment. It would have been easy for us to say that the energy production of these hydro generators is too small for us to bother with. But, the fact that the City of Burbank does take the time and does make the effort to develop numerous small renewable energy projects shows that Burbank has truly made a genuine commitment to the environment and to the community.
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My fellow Council members and I have encouraged and supported this project from its inception and would like to commend the BWP staff for all their hard work in bringing this endeavor to completion. This project adds complexity to an already intricate operation. The coordination and cooperation between BWP's Water and Electric divisions is a wonderful example of the utility's commitment to both the environment and the citizens of Burbank. Thank you. |
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Mayor David Laurell and Tom Jamentz, BWP Board Chair |
Burbank Water and Power is very proud of this project. BWP will continue to search out new and unique ways to save energy, water and the environment.