LADWP’s $800 Million Hydrogen-Ready Overhaul for Scattergood Faces Funding Gap and Ratepayer Pushback

Overview

• The LADWP board is set to consider installing hydrogen‑ready combined‑cycle turbines at Scattergood that can co‑fire up to 30% green hydrogen with natural gas.
• The Trump administration withdrew $1.2 billion in hydrogen hub funding and scaled back incentives, undercutting expected federal support including at least $100 million pledged via ARCHES.
• LADWP and California’s GO‑Biz are pursuing state and local financing to close the shortfall, and utility officials say they remain committed to renewable hydrogen despite the funding uncertainty.
• Letters and environmental advocates argue the retrofit could extend reliance on methane gas and raise customer costs, urging updated price estimates and greater investment in solar, batteries and demand response.
• If approved, LADWP targets procurement and engineering contracts in early 2026 with turbine delivery in 2027, but a dependable green‑hydrogen supply has yet to be secured.