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Commission adopts resolution to advance policy requiring solar on new construction
Summary
The commission voted to advance a draft resolution studying a requirement for solar on new San Francisco construction, directing staff to continue stakeholder vetting and technical analysis and to coordinate with DBI, Planning, the California Energy Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment on July 22 adopted a resolution directing staff to continue stakeholder engagement and technical work on a rooftop solar policy that would encourage or require solar on new construction.
Commissioners said the item grew from community discussion (including a Bayview meeting) and noted that the state energy code recently required new construction to be "solar-ready." Staff described an anticipated statewide requirement in 2016 and said the local conversation is intended to go one step further by installing solar, not just making roofs solar-ready.
Lisonbee Healy (renewable energy program manager) and other staff outlined a careful stakeholder process that already has included the mayor's office, building industry groups, Planning, DBI and the code advisory committee. Staff emphasized the complexity of the technical issues, including balancing roof-area uses (green roofs, living roofs, roof decks) and determining minimum system sizing or coverage rules. The staff presentation noted that other cities (Lancaster, Sebastopol) have adopted mandatory rooftop solar measures as local policy experiments.
Commissioners supported continued stakeholder vetting, technical work to align the draft with Title 24 and state requirements, and outreach to labor and business to address workforce and implementation questions. The commission adopted the resolution to advance the policy process; staff will continue consultations and prepare a refined proposal for future review and possible referral to the Department of Building Inspection, the California Energy Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
The resolution was presented as a next-step policy direction rather than a final ordinance; staff and commissioners said the process will entail additional technical and policy decisions before any mandatory requirement is proposed to the Board of Supervisors.
