SUBJECT: Request to Agendize Appeal of LADWP’s Scattergood Project Decision
Dear Councilmember Park and Members of the Energy & Environment Committee:
Councilmember Adrin Nazarian (Chair)
Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky
Councilmember Ysabel Jurado
Councilmember Nithya Raman
Councilmember Imelda Padilla,
I’m writing as a concerned community member to respectfully ask that you agendize the recent appeal of the LADWP Board’s decision to approve the Scattergood Generating Station “hydrogen-ready” project and its Environmental Impact Report.
Angelenos are deeply worried about this proposal, not only because of the pollution and health risks, but also because of the major financial impacts on LADWP ratepayers. The City’s own Office of the Ratepayer Advocate has warned that the cost of gas turbines has been accelerating since the council last voted on this project. Due to this, the total cost could increase 2-3 times the current price tag and delay the project by 6-8 years. That means an already expensive project, estimated at at least $800 million, could balloon into the billions while still relying on a methane-hydrogen blend and continuing harmful NOx pollution emissions.
The appeal also highlights significant gaps in the environmental review, including the failure to analyze cumulative pollution, the project’s water demands, realistic hydrogen availability, and cleaner alternatives, such as combining grid-scale battery storage, distributed solar, and demand response. Many of these concerns were raised repeatedly by community organizations, environmental experts, and residents, yet remain unaddressed. The City Council has previously stepped in to ensure transparency and oversight of the Scattergood proposal, and this moment calls for that leadership to be exercised again.
We respectfully urge you to schedule the appeal hearing as soon as possible, ideally before the end of the year, so Councilmembers and the public have a real opportunity to understand the risks before LADWP advances a project that could lock us into higher bills, more pollution, and years of delay.
Thank you for your time and attention. Please let us know once the appeal has been placed on an agenda.
