Global-warming and clean-energy update

SF Community Choice plan nears finish line; key vote finally in sight

It's often said that waves break first in California. In the race to curb global climate change and build a clean-energy future, San Francisco is riding the wave.

The Bay Chapter's top-priority energy campaign is San Francisco's plan to build the largest urban network of renewable energy in the world, using the creative new model of Community Choice Aggregation, which enables local governments to exercise local control over energy purchasing. San Francisco is leading a statewide movement, with a host of cities ready to follow. Anticipation is building among clean-energy experts and advocates, solar manufacturers, and large energy users as this visionary plan enters an exciting phase. The city's Board of Supervisors will soon be making a key vote to get started.

San Francisco will get at least one-third to one-half of its total energy needs from green energy. By 2017 it will get twice as much of its energy from renewable sources as required by state law. San Francisco will build:

• 31 megawatts (MW) of solar panels on hundreds of warehouse-scale rooftops;
• 72 MW of fuel cells and other distributed energy generation;
• 107 MW of technologies, at hundreds of sites, that reduce or eliminate power demand;
• 150 MW of new wind turbines, some potentially within city limits.

Best of all, by taking advantage of the solar "H" bonds passed overwhelmingly by San Francisco voters in 2001, Community Choice will enable the city to keep prices at or below current PG&E rates and to finance new solar, wind, hydrogen, and conservation facilities.

Hurry up and wait?

The road to this cutting-edge innovation has had its share of delays, but our persistence and determination are paying off.

Our leaders on the Board of Supervisors and Mayor Gavin Newsom need to ensure that Community Choice is professionally managed, with the proper resources and a sustained focus from his administration in its roll-out. The program will require a sophisticated planning and implementation effort.

WhatYouCanDo

The Sierra Club Bay Chapter and our allies are gearing up for the Board of Supervisors' final vote on the San Francisco plan in early June. We need your help to show that the public is behind our city leaders and to ensure a sense of urgency. We are ramping up our volunteer education and outreach, with a series of exciting events and opportunities to get involved.

Attend our Tue. May 9, event with Adam Werbach!

Join us on Mon., May 15, for a creative and memorable public display of support. Contact our Bay Chapter organizer, Lindsey Hodel, at (510) 848-0800, ext. 316, or email lindsey -at- sfbaysc.org for details.

Visit the campaign's website.

Aaron Israel, Chapter Energy Committee