Schwarzenegger signs Garcia Energy Bill

Desert Water Agency to Cut Costs and Save Money for Consumers

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law AB 140 authored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia (R – Cathedral City) that will allow the Desert Water Agency (DWA) to produce and sell electricity from renewable energy sources to fund administrative and capital improvement costs. The new law will go into effect on January 1, 2008.

The Desert Water Agency provides water, sewage collection, and recycled water services to Businesses, School Districts, Tribes, and residents of Palm Springs and Cathedral City.

The new legislation authorizes the Desert Water Agency to develop hydroelectric energy for use by the agency to construct, operate, and maintain its project for the control, conservation, diversion, and transmission of water.

Savings realized as a result of this legislation will help keep costs down for consumers in their service area and expand DWA’s use of alternative energy. A few years ago, DWA installed hundreds of Solar Panels on their property to reduce reliance on the state grid and generate electricity to run their administration buildings.

Garcia said, “DWA is clearly on the cutting edge to better serve our community and ratepayers will benefit from this forward-thinking attitude. As an advocate of alternative energy, I was pleased to help lead the charge to add improvements that promote the use of clean and renewable energy.”

“This Bill will allow Desert Water Agency to expand its solar power-generating facilities, which will benefit our ratepayers financially by offsetting the Agency’s operating costs over the long term,” said Tom Kieley, president of the Agency’s board of directors. “I’d like to express appreciation for the leadership demonstrated by Assemblywoman Garcia and Governor Schwarzenegger in assisting the Agency in gaining passage of this important legislation.”