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Board approves PG&E easement at Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant over one supervisor’s climate objection
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Summary
The Board adopted a resolution (10–1) granting PG&E an easement at the SFPUC Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant to provide additional natural gas to heat new biosolids digesters; Supervisor Fielder voted no, citing conflict with climate goals. SFPUC staff said gas is needed for digester heating and that the easement does not enable the project’s biogas portion.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10–1 on March 10 to approve a resolution granting Pacific Gas & Electric Co. a permanent easement of roughly 3,000 square feet on San Francisco Public Utilities Commission property at the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant.
Clerk materials described the easement as necessary "to provide additional natural gas to heat the new larger digesters," part of a project to replace and relocate solids treatment facilities. The amendment would extend a grant term effective upon approval and recordation and allow PG&E to install service for the digesters. The clerk said the amendment increases the project total by approximately $5,900,000 for a new total of approximately $65,000,000 for related services in prior SFMTA item language on the consent calendar.
Supervisor Fielder said he could not support the measure, arguing that adding natural gas infrastructure is inconsistent with the city’s climate goals and that the design reflected older engineering assumptions. "Knowing what this puts what this means for our climate goals, I just cannot support it," Fielder said.
Jeremy Spitz, government affairs staff for SFPUC, responded to that concern and said the easement is not for the biogas portion of the biosolids digester project but rather to provide additional natural gas to heat the larger digesters. He explained the design choice to move away from an on‑site cogeneration approach because of environmental justice impacts and said the pilot design treats natural gas as heating fuel where operationally required. "This easement isn't for the biogas portion of the...biosolids digester facilities project — it is just to provide additional natural gas to heat the new larger digesters," Spitz said.
The clerk recorded 10 ayes and 1 no (Supervisor Fielder). The resolution was adopted.
