City Moves to Provide Clean, Reliable, Affordable Power to New Homes and Businesses Under Construction at Former Naval Shipyard

Mayor Gavin Newsom and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) General Manager Susan Leal today announced a new effort to partner with Lennar BVHP to create San Francisco’s first neighborhood powered entirely by clean, renewable energy.  The new “Green Power Community” would be on a 93-acre parcel at a site of the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, where Lennar BVHP is about to begin construction of more than 1,600 new residential units and 300,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. Under the plan, the SFPUC will deliver reliable, 100% renewable and cost-competitive power to new residents and businesses of the current and future developments through its extensive hydropower, solar and other renewable energy generation projects. 

“A new Green Power Community at Hunters Point is at the core of San Francisco’s clean energy vision and leadership,” said Mayor Newsom.  “This partnership will bring clean, reliable, affordable energy to a community too long blighted by toxic industries and polluting power plants.”

The SFPUC currently provides reliable, clean, reasonably-priced power to many of San Francisco’s most vital public services and facilities – MUNI, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco General Hospital, more than 20,000 streetlights and more. The SFPUC has also been a leader in solar development, operating and maintaining the nation’s largest municipal rooftop solar facility in the nation at Moscone Convention Center, along with projects in operation or in the works at the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant, Norcal Recycling Facility at Pier 96, San Francisco International Airport and more.

“San Franciscans already rely on the water and power we deliver every day,” said SFPUC General Manager Susan Leal.  “Our growing portfolio of clean hydropower, solar and other renewable energies allows us to continue powering the City’s vital municipal services and bring clean, reliable, affordable energy to the new neighborhood at Hunters Point.”

Under the Green Power Community plan for Hunters Point, the SFPUC will procure and provide energy services to the community at the lowest overall cost.  The SFPUC will ensure that rates charged to residents and businesses in the new neighborhood are the same or lower than current retail and commercial electric rates.  Initially, the Green Power Community at Hunters Point will be powered by the SFPUC’s extensive hydro and solar power portfolio. As new technologies, such as thin-film solar, fuel cell and tidal energy, become available commercially, this and other future Green Power Communities will be first in line for power from these programs.

“Green power is the way of the future, not just for Hunters Point, but for San Francisco,” said Supervisor Sophie Maxwell.  “I am so proud to say that the Southeast Community is truly at the cutting edge of clean energy and environmental leadership for the Bay Area.”

“I am thrilled the City is moving forward to fulfill one of my most important goals for San Francisco – providing green, reliable power at reasonable rates for residents and businesses,” said Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi.   “A Green Power Community at Hunters Point is just the start.  San Francisco is literally at the center of a clean energy revolution in America.”

The announcement today by Mayor Newsom and Leal came as the SFPUC formally notified Pacific Gas & Electric – the owner of the City’s electric distribution network – of its intention to serve as the primary provider of power to the Hunters Point development. Though the SFPUC must still negotiate terms of distributing SFPUC-generated clean power through the private utility’s transmission system, PG&E is obligated to accept the application.  Upon completion of an agreement, the SFPUC would coordinate with Lennar BVHP to lay the required new water, sewer and electrical infrastructure into the development as well.
 
“Lennar BVHP has been committed to creating an environmentally friendly community at Hunters Point from the beginning,” said Kofi Bonner, President of Lennar Corporation, Northern California. “The possibility of a partnership with the City to provide green power directly to the community’s residents and businesses will help make this new Hunters Point community an environmental showcase for the nation.”