Interview by Rachel Z. Azoff
David Nahai heads up the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), but he knows a thing or two
about development. Before assuming his post in December 2007, he spent 30 years as an L.A. real estate attorney. But Nahai, a lifelong environmentalist, divested all interest in his successful law firm for a chance to promote energy and water conservation as CEO and general manager of the country’s largest municipal utility company, which serves more than 3.9 million L.A. residents.
Nahai is no stranger to the public sector either. For more than 10 years, during his tenure as a lawyer, he served on California’s Regional Water Quality Control Board, and in September 2005 he was appointed to LADWP’s board. Now at the helm, Nahai continues to lead the department on an aggressive mission aimed at protecting the planet.
Nahai believes developers should consider utility companies as valuable green resources. That’s why LADWP offers numerous financial incentives to encourage builders to take the lead in environmentally conscious development.
Why is it important for utility companies to embrace the development community?
DN: We pride ourselves on being progressive—not just limiting our role to providing water and electricity. We have a responsibility to provide those services in a way that is prudent and far-sighted in terms of the future needs of the city. That’s why we’ve engaged with the development community to make sure that we provide adequate education about what’s happening with respect to building standards. In April, the L.A. City Council adopted a green building ordinance as part of the mayor’s [Antonio Villaraigosa] master plan to green the city. Before the adoption, we did a great deal of outreach, and we plan to do even more to make sure developers don’t feel that the ground rules are being changed.
What are the top green incentives you offer customers?
DN: We off er the highest rebates in the state for developers and others who wish to install solar panels on their roofs, and we are going to be substantially expanding our solar program. For small businesses, we off er up to $2,500 in free energy-effi cient lighting. On the water conservation side, there are rebates for developers who retrofit their toilets with low-flow or waterless urinals.
How is the department changing its energy mix?
DN: LADWP has traditionally been mostly a coal and gas utility. But we are determined to cut our greenhouse
gas emission substantially. Our goal is to move to 20 percent renewables by 2010 and, beyond that, to 35 percent by 2020. Diversifying energy resources is a wave that certainly has taken grip in California and one I believe will spread steadily across the country.
How has LADWP helped green the entertainment awards scene?
DN: We are very gratifi ed at being able to participate with the GRAMMY awards, Emmy Awards, Academy Awards, and the American Idol finale. We make arrangements for the entire shows to be powered with green power—electricity produced through renewable sources of energy. It’s tremendously important because it
enables us to tell [the general public] our message, which is one of environmental responsibility and conservation.
