The LADWP La Kretz Innovation Campus took top honors at the CMUA awards. (photo courtesy of the La Kretz Innovation Campus)

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, along with eight other publicly-owned electric utilities and water agencies, were recognized in the 2021 California Municipal Utilities Association Resource Efficiency & Community Service Awards for outstanding projects, advancing best practices and innovative ideas in the water and power industry.

LADWP took top honors in the Community Service Programs category for its facility, La Kretz Innovation Campus, and its continued commitment to sustainability and L.A.’s green economy.

“We are honored to be selected for this award,” LADWP general manager and chief engineer Martin L. Adams said. “Developed with a commitment to sustainability, the La Kretz Innovation Campus is a hub for new and emerging technologies and a major part of our work to create a more sustainable future and build a stronger Los Angeles.”

LKIC is the office for a number of staff from LADWP, as well as the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, a private nonprofit company run by entrepreneurs that is dedicated to supporting LA’s green economy.

Having a utility in close proximity to clean-tech startups creates a synergistic opportunity to support product development, marketplace deployment and utility program design that brings benefits to LADWP customers.

The new companies nurtured at LACI aims to help LADWP and the city reduce dependence on imported supplies, conserve the use of natural resources and reduce the emission of criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gases. As a living lab for new and emerging technologies, the LKIC facility includes a wide range of demonstration and public education spaces, offices and meeting rooms, and access to equipment for facilitating product research and development.