Supervisors forward resolution urging PUC and city attorney to pursue transmission-only option to close Potrero plant

Supervisor Sophie Maxwell on Monday presented a resolution asking the Public Utilities Commission and the City Attorney to press the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to pursue a transmission-only option to close the Potrero Power Plant and to require that any in-city generation meet minimum air-quality criteria.

The resolution was prompted, Maxwell said, by a June 2 letter from CAISO that changed the agency’s reliability assumptions and created an opportunity to reconsider in‑city generation. Maxwell proposed—and the committee accepted—an amendment adding the City Attorney to those urged to explore a transmission-only pathway.

Public comment split. Espanola Jackson of Bayview Hunters Point opposed reviving or importing peaker units and cited a prior petition and Prop F efforts opposing new local generators. An environmental coalition speaker warned the draft resolution as written could inadvertently revive power-plant proposals unless most of its language is tightened. Joe Boss, who identified himself with earlier task-force work on the power-plant issue, said CAISO is responsible for reliability and argued the letter could be used to shut down fossil generators. Tony Kelly supported the resolution’s air-quality standards but reiterated CAISO has, at times, indicated a need for some in‑city generation unless a transmission solution is feasible.

Chair Supervisor Aaron Peskin said the June 2 CAISO letter is a step in the right direction and framed the committee action as keeping pressure on CAISO for a transmission-only approach while preserving standards if in‑city generation is needed. The committee accepted Maxwell’s amendment and forwarded the item to the full Board as amended without objection.

The committee took no formal vote on the substance of the underlying policy; its action was to forward the amended resolution to the full Board for consideration.