The Newspaper of the San Francisco Bay Chapter
JULY-AUGUST 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SFPUC slow to issue bonds for solar power
From the Moscone Center to the signs on light poles throughout the city, San Francisco prides itself as a "Leader In Solar Energy". In 2001, voters overwhelmingly approved Propositions B and H, which together authorized the city to issue more than $100 million in revenue bonds for renewable energy and energy conservation projects. It was a precedent-setting moment that put the city on the international stage of renewable-energy leaders. Unfortunately, city officials have so far failed to seize this opportunity. To date, none of these historic solar bonds has been issued.
Sierra Club activists have learned from Ed Smeloff and Fred Schwarz at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission that the PUC plans for Hetch Hetchy Water and Power, which supplies the city's water, to issue the bonds. Since Hetch Hetchy has never previously issued any bonds, however, it lacks a credit rating, and must submit a business plan to the various bond-rating agencies such as Moody's and Standard & Poor's.
This sounds like a reasonable plan - but 2-1/2 years after the voters approved the bond measures, the city has still not hired the consultant it says it needs to help write the business plan, and the PUC has allocated no money for the process in its budget.
There are signs of hope. Adam Werbach, the former Sierra Club president who was recently appointed to the PUC, has made implementation of the solar bonds a priority. Mayor Gavin Newsom has publicly stated his disappointment at the delays. Susan Leal, recently appointed by the mayor to take over the general manager's job at the PUC, brings a background in finance that could prove very useful.
What You Can Do
Now is an opportune moment for change. Write to PUC chair Dennis Normandy and PUC general manager Susan Leal at:
1155 Market St., Fourth Floor
San Francisco CA, 94103
and Mayor Gavin Newsom at:
City Hall
One Dr. Carter B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102.
Urge them to take action to issue the solar bonds, and to implement Props B and H.
To join in the Sierra Club's efforts to advance solar energy in San Francisco, contact acting Chapter energy chair Doug Beach at (415) 608-1439 or: or Chapter conservation organizer Cathleen Sullivan at (415) 596-8083 or:
© 2004 San Francisco Sierra Club Yodeler