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PUC adopts GoSolar SF changes: RECs to be assigned to city, incentives stepped down to preserve funding
Summary
The commission adopted staff-recommended changes to GoSolar SF, including requiring applicants to assign renewable energy credits (RECs) to the city and implementing stepped reductions in incentive levels to keep funding continuous; staff and an installer emphasized the changes aim to protect workforce stability and program continuity.
Barbara Hale, assistant general manager for power, presented the GoSolar SF annual report and proposed program modifications on Sept. 8, asking the commission to adopt changes intended to maintain continuous funding and support workforce goals.
Hale summarized first-year results — about 3.16 megawatts installed or committed, 868 applications received, 362 systems installed, and 33 green jobs reported — and told commissioners the program faced a rapid uptick in demand that threatened to exhaust the fiscal-year appropriation. To address that, staff recommended two principal changes: require GoSolar applicants to remit the renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with systems funded through the program so the city can use those attributes for future compliance with anticipated state renewable portfolio rules; and implement a quarterly, self-adjusting funding approach that would reduce incentive levels when quarterly allocations are reached.
Hale described the proposed stepped reductions in incentive levels that staff recommended starting the following Monday: the basic incentive level would drop from $2,000 to $1,000 and the workforce-development adder would be reduced (staff gave the adder reductions in the packet), while staff proposed placing a cap on nonprofit residential awards to manage large requests. Hale said reserved applications submitted before the effective date would remain eligible at the prior levels.
During questioning commissioners asked about the magnitude of the pipeline (requested vs. committed), verification for nonprofit residential eligibility, how the changes would be communicated to installers and the public, and whether program adjustments could be reversed if uptake declined. Hale said staff will post updates on the commission website, maintain a weekly tracker of reservations and commitments, and return to the commission if conditions warrant reversing the step-downs.
Public comment: Janine Cotter, representing San Francisco installer Luminal, urged adoption of the staff recommendations and stressed the importance of continuity for small installers and workforce outcomes. “The stop-and-start with the reservation letters is really difficult, particularly for those of us that are smaller installers,” Cotter said, adding the program had been “transformative” for her company and its employees.
Outcome: The commission moved, seconded and adopted the staff recommendations by voice vote. Commissioners instructed staff to communicate the effective date, track reservation/payments, and consider a resolution edit to clarify timing for Mayor’s Office of Housing verifications for low-income applicants.
Next steps: Staff will post the changes on the PUC website, update the GoSolar tracker weekly, and incorporate any minor resolution language edits directed by the commission.
