Boiling Point — L.A. Is Keeping The Lights On Without Coal

Host: Sammy Roth, L.A. Times Studios
Guest: Jason Rondou, Assistant General Manager, L.A. Dept. of Water & Power (LADWP)
Date: October 2, 2025
Duration Covered: Main content, approx. 04:46–46:17

Episode Overview

This episode of Boiling Point dives into Los Angeles’ historic move to eliminate coal from its electricity mix. Host Sammy Roth speaks with Jason Rondou from LADWP about the end of the Intermountain Power Project—a significant coal facility in Utah that for decades powered L.A.—and the innovative transition to a renewable future, featuring a world-first hydrogen-capable power plant. They explore the history of L.A.'s energy system, the technological and policy challenges of going coal-free, and what lies ahead in the journey to 100% clean energy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. L.A.'s Historic Reliance on Coal and Path Away From It

• Intermountain Power Project (IPP) Background

  • For decades, L.A.’s largest electricity source was the Intermountain coal plant in Utah.
  • “[Intermountain] has allowed us to provide reliable and low cost power for many years. But it’s come at a pretty significant external cost…coal carbon emissions.”
    — Jason Rondou (05:07)
  • As of November, IPP will shut down, leaving virtually zero coal on California’s grid.
    (00:07–04:52, 05:07–06:45)

• Why Utah?

  • “Delta, Utah…not only has access to water, it also has access to coal…and a significant amount of land.”
    — Rondou (07:25)
  • L.A. has a long tradition of importing power and water through owned infrastructure.
    (06:45–10:01)

• Municipal Ownership as Strategic Advantage

  • L.A. owns and operates its own generation, transmission, and distribution.
  • This strategy, including vertical integration, keeps rates low and reliability high.
  • “We did not sell off our generation assets. We stayed steadfast…to own and control that whole value chain.”
    — Rondou (10:56)
  • Acknowledgement of trade-offs and past utility scandals. (10:01–12:05)

2. Transitioning From Coal: Practical & Policy Milestones

• Timeline of Change

  • In 2003: 3% renewable energy, over 50% from coal (mainly IPP and Navajo Generating Station).
  • Early exit from coal, in part due to SB 1368—a state law requiring phaseout by 2027. (12:58–14:42)

• Flying Blind Into a New Era

  • Transition challenged by supply chain, political, and economic headwinds, but progress is steady.
    (17:20–17:40)

3. The New Plant: Natural Gas + Green Hydrogen

• Why Not Just Renewables + Batteries?

  • Environmentalists pushed back on original plans to build a new natural gas plant.
  • Final plan is for a plant designed to run on 70% gas + 30% hydrogen (at first), ramping to 100% hydrogen by 2045.
  • Rationale: Seasonal and long-duration storage needs, not just quick-reacting batteries. (17:40–20:13, 24:39–29:00)

• Why Hydrogen, and How Does It Work?

  • Excess renewable electricity is used for electrolysis, splitting water into hydrogen (stored in salt caverns) and oxygen.

  • “So you've turned excess solar and wind power…into something that you can combust when you need electricity here in LA?”
    — Sammy Roth (25:38)

  • “That's right. The one nuance is…you really want to be smart about when you create [hydrogen] and how much you use.”
    — Rondou (25:47)

  • Hydrogen storage enables multi-day or seasonal backup, unlike lithium-ion batteries which are best for a few hours. (24:39–29:00)

  • Memorable moment:
    “We are not blessed with salt caverns here in Los Angeles, right?”
    — Roth, sparking laughter (29:50)

4. LA100: The Study Mapping 100% Clean Energy

• Multi-Year, Third-Party Study With Broad Stakeholder Input
  • Found that even with all renewables, in-basin backup (potentially using hydrogen) is critical for extreme events or transmission failures.
  • “The approach is going to be…potentially a little bit different for each [power plant]. But hydrogen would play a role and will play a role if we’re to get to 100%.”
    — Rondou (34:58–35:54)
  • Reliability becomes even more important with increased electrification—EVs, industry, etc. (29:50–32:10; 32:10–36:01)

5. Political & Economic Context

• National Backdrop: Trump Administration Pushes Coal

  • Even as federal leadership attempts to revive coal, L.A. is demonstrating that transitioning away is possible, practical, and economic.
  • “Despite supply chain issues, through COVID, uncertainty around tax law…we still got this done in the same calendar year we intended…a decade ago.”
    — Rondou (37:28)
  • The Eland Solar and Storage project is now supplying 7% of L.A.’s power at record-low prices. (36:03–39:53)

• Upcoming & Recent Milestones

  • Two new power purchase agreements (geothermal and solar) at $1.5 billion.
  • Expansion in demand response: advanced EV charging, building management, flexible energy use.
    (39:27–40:01)

6. Affordability and Future Challenges

• Can L.A. Still Hit 100% Clean Energy Without Huge Rate Hikes?
  • LA100 found it’s technically possible by 2035, but a lot of elements must fall into place—policy, technology, financing.
  • Some projects can still be built before recent federal tax law changes make them more expensive. (41:23–43:03)

7. Technical Details on Intermountain's Transition

• Timeline:

  • Coal plant shuts down Nov 2025.
  • Combined cycle gas plant begins operations; hydrogen blending starts after enough is stored (Q2 2026).
  • “We need to build up enough pressure [in the salt cavern] so that when we extract that hydrogen…we can actually tap into it.”
    — Rondou (44:29) (43:30–45:04)

• Significance:

  • “[This] will have a real impact on other utilities’ decarbonization efforts… this is a big deal. We’re proud of it.” — Jason Rondou (45:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We as you know, view ourselves as a leader in clean energy, in reliable energy and affordable energy. And Intermountain Power Project has really checked two of those boxes for many, many years...But it’s come at a pretty significant external cost…coal carbon emissions.”
  — Jason Rondou (05:07)

• “Back in 2003, 3% renewable, over 50% coal power. And if you fast forward TO Even in 2015, almost 40%...was coal power.”
  — Jason Rondou (14:01)

• “If we are going to get to 100% you'll have have to convert them to hydrogen somehow, is what you're saying.”
  — Sammy Roth (35:54)

• “There’s a lot of folks that really appreciate the significance and the importance of reliability going forward...I don't think [current reliability] is sufficient. I think we have to actually be more reliable.”
  — Jason Rondou (32:10)

• “Despite all of these challenges, we are moving forward…We’re not going to be able to control the uncertainty, the tax law changes and all those sorts of things. So to the degree that we can still operate and control the things that we can control…that will be what we focus on.”
  — Jason Rondou (40:01)

• Playful moment:
  Roth jokes about Rondou’s habit of “stepping back” too much in his answers.
  — (19:33-19:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:07–04:46 — Roth’s introduction: L.A.'s journey from coal, Intermountain visit
• 04:46–10:01 — History of coal in L.A. and public power strategy
• 12:58–15:01 — California law and L.A. planning to exit coal
• 17:40–20:13 — Decision to use gas + hydrogen instead of just renewables/storage
• 24:39–29:00 — Hydrogen as energy storage; technical explanation and analogy
• 29:50–36:01 — LA100 study; reliability needs in deep decarbonization
• 36:03–39:53 — Headwinds for clean energy (federal coal push, supply chain, tariffs); L.A.’s progress
• 41:23–43:03 — Economic outlook: rates and affordability for 100% clean energy
• 43:30–45:04 — Commissioning details: salt cavern storage, hydrogen mix, timeline
• 45:04–46:17 — Closing thoughts: global leadership, pride in innovation

Takeaways

• L.A. will soon be coal-free for its electric grid, ending a historic reliance dating back to the oil crisis of the 1970s.
• The Intermountain transition is a global first: a major power generator will shift from coal to gas to green hydrogen, with long-term storage using Utah salt caverns—enabling seasonal balancing.
• LADWP’s public ownership and vertical integration have been critical to weathering crises and driving rapid innovation.
• Reliability and affordability remain central, even as L.A. makes aggressive, landmark moves to decarbonize.
• Results are hard-won: Despite regulatory, political, and economic headwinds—including a U.S. administration doubling down on coal—LADWP is hitting major clean energy milestones.
• Future challenges include the cost impacts of tax law changes, the complexities of storage technologies, and system reliability amid electrification.

Final Note

This episode was Sammy Roth’s last as host of Boiling Point. He shares his gratitude, encourages listeners to follow his next work, and supports the L.A. Times’ ongoing climate journalism.