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Rules Committee accepts technical changes and continues Clean Energy Right to Know ballot measure to July 27
Summary
The panel heard staff from LAFCO, SFPUC and the Department of the Environment on a proposed ballot measure to define "clean/green/renewable/greenhouse gas free" electricity and require disclosure of nuclear sources. Supervisors accepted technical amendments and continued the item to a July 27 special meeting to finalize language.
The committee considered an ordinance to place the "Clean Energy Right to Know Act" on the November ballot. Chair John Avalos said the measure aims to align municipal definitions of "clean," "green," "renewable" and "greenhouse gas free" with state law and to require the city to report how much electricity ratepayers receive from nuclear power.
Jason Fried (Local Agency Formation Commission) told the committee the measure would let the city present its energy-mix information consistent with state accounting and warned that a competing IBEW-backed initiative could restrict how the city can describe some resources — notably rooftop solar — under a narrower drafting. "If CCA were to take over and run a GoSolar SF type program, it would not necessarily be able to call it a clean, green, GHG free source" under the competing measure, Fried said, noting potential consumer confusion.
Michael Himes (SFPUC Power Enterprise) said the proposed city measure ties definitions to state law and raised operational concerns: a narrower local definition could limit procurement options for Clean Power SF and increase administrative costs. He estimated an additional notification burden at about $135,000 if the city must add required disclosures beyond state-mandated notices.
Guillermo Rodriguez (Department of the Environment) emphasized the importance of clear, consumer-facing disclosures if the ballot language moves forward, and the Department said it expects minimal internal costs for providing mixes if the ordinance passes.
Public commenters were split. Eric Brooks (San Francisco Green Party) supported increased transparency and nuclear disclosure; Hunter Stern (IBEW 1245) urged further changes and criticized unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) as failing to create new renewable resources.
After discussion and acceptance of a technical amendment tying the ordinance language to the relevant PUC code, the committee continued the item as amended to a special Rules Committee meeting on July 27 to allow updated language to be finalized before moving to the ballot.
Next steps: the item will return to the Rules Committee on July 27 with the amendment in writing and then, if approved, be ordered for the November 3, 2015 ballot.
