The City worked diligently with environmental justice activists and residents to improve our energy infrastructure. Upgrades to transmission lines and adopting renewable energy and energy efficiency measures resulted in the closure of polluting power plants – one in Potrero Hill and another in Hunters Point.
Shutting down old polluting power plants
The City is aggressively integrating renewable energy resources and energy-efficiency measures throughout San Francisco to the benefit of many residents in historically underserved neighborhoods. After recognizing that local fossil-fueled power plants had burdened the Southeast neighborhoods of Potrero Hill and Bayview Hunters Point for too long, San Francisco’s policymakers worked diligently with local residents and state regulators to shut down polluting power plants and to modernize our energy infrastructure.
The improvements made by Pacific Gas and Electric to its transmission and distribution lines, combined with private and public efforts to develop renewable energy systems and promote energy efficiency, have resulted in closure of two old, unreliable power plants that operated for decades in the Bayview Hunters Point and Potrero neighborhoods.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
SF Environment promotes renewable energy systems and energy efficiency in homes and businesses. We provided grants to help pay for the installation of energy efficiency measures and the installation of solar systems on low-income homes and non-profit buildings in the Southeast area neighborhoods.
Learn more about resources for homeowners and commercial properties.
Home assessment
The San Francisco Green Home Assessment Program is a community education program that offers residents simple tips on energy and water conservation, safety preparedness, safe cleaning products, and zero waste. This program promotes green jobs as the partnering community-based organizations employ trained residents and former workforce development students to perform the 45-60 minute assessment. This unique program focuses on safety preparedness and emergency kit preparation. After each assessment, we give residents a personalized checklist detailing actions they can take to help make their homes healthier and more sustainable.
