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SFPUC sets accelerated Clean Power SF goals: 50% renewable by 2020 and citywide enrollment by July 2019
Summary
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted May 9 to amend Clean Power SF: raise the green default product to 50% renewable by 2020 and direct staff to pursue enrollment of all eligible San Francisco customers by July 2019, 'or sooner if possible.' The vote followed extensive public comment urging a faster roll-out and more local renewable development.
At its May 9 meeting, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission adopted an amendment to Clean Power SF that raises the target renewable content of the program’s default 'green' product to 50% by 2020 and instructs staff to pursue enrollment of 100% of eligible San Francisco customers by July 2019, or sooner if feasible.
Barbara Hale, assistant general manager for power, told commissioners the program had completed its first year of operation and was serving about 76,000 accounts with a 3.2% opt-out rate. She said staff envisions expanding to roughly 350,000 accounts and growing annual program revenues from about $38 million to $258 million if full enrollment were achieved. Hale said the commission’s growth plan will use a laddered, diversified contracting strategy and an RFP process this summer to determine market availability and pricing for renewable supply.
The vote followed sustained public comment. Eric Brooks of the San Francisco Green Party argued that “none of the objectives of Clean Power SF can be met unless we get all the customers in right away,” urging immediate citywide enrollment to realize economies of scale. Jed Holtzman of 350 San Francisco and other speakers urged rapid roll-in and more aggressive local project development so the program has sufficient renewable supply to expand quality local jobs.
Commissioner Viator moved an amendment to the resolution that explicitly set the 50% default-product target by the end of 2020 and added the July 2019 enrollment target for eligible customers; commissioners moved and seconded the amendment and carried it by voice vote. Several public commenters and a representative from LAFCo urged the commission to retain flexibility for staff and to ensure staff return with procurement results if contracting markets prove more constrained than expected.
The resolution directs staff to launch competitive procurements for a mix of supply types and durations, to staff up Clean Power SF operations, and to pursue initiatives that support low-income customer participation and local renewable development where cost-effective. Staff emphasized the proposed schedule is a target contingent on market availability and cost-effectiveness and said it will report back to the commission with procurement outcomes and implementation details.
