Potrero Power Plant MOU fails after board rejects tabling and ultimately votes no

San Francisco — A resolution authorizing the executive branch to negotiate and execute a memorandum of understanding concerning retrofit and closure options for the Potrero Power Plant failed on Nov. 25, following a contested floor sequence.

Supervisor Peskin introduced the item and described the MOU as lacking substance when it was previously tabled. Supervisor Alioto Pier moved to table the item again; that motion was seconded and went to roll call. The motion to table failed (3 ayes, 8 noes). The board then took the resolution itself — a roll‑call vote produced a single recorded "aye" with the remaining votes "no," and the resolution did not pass.

During debate, some supervisors said the item had not been sufficiently fleshed out in committee and that tabling it earlier had been appropriate. Others said nothing substantive had changed since the prior hearings and that a formal MOU without detail was not ready for board approval. After the failed tabling motion, Supervisor Amiano moved to rescind an earlier vote; the clerk later recorded a final tally showing 11 no votes when the vote was rescinded and reconsidered, and the resolution failed.

The MOU addressed long-term planning for the Potrero site — including retrofit, closure when no longer needed for system reliability, and reuse of the site — but critics said the MOU contained few concrete commitments. With the resolution defeated, further discussions among the mayor’s office, the port, energy stakeholders and the board will be required before a substantive agreement reaches the board again.