The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is marking Earth Month by expanding clean energy programs, providing grants of up to $2.5 million for large property owners to make green improvements, and offering rebates for the latest water conservation tools, it said on April 21.
“One of the most transformative milestones, confirmed by newly available data, shows that in 2023 San Francisco’s public power program, CleanPowerSF, for the first time delivered 100% renewable electricity to all of its 380,000 residential and business customers,” SFPUC said.
This achievement was delivered two years ahead of the City’s Climate Action Plan target.
In addition, over the past nine years, CleanPowerSF has helped San Francisco reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use by 98% from 1990 levels, improving air quality in the city and fostering a healthier environment.
“Across the SFPUC, we are dedicated to environmental stewardship, being good neighbors, and investing responsibly in San Francisco’s future,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera.
“Achieving our clean energy goals ahead of schedule and being recognized for our sustainable infrastructure are sources of pride for our whole agency. With Earth Month underway, these are just some of the powerful reminders of how our investments protect the bay, restore natural systems, and serve future generations. This is your ratepayer dollars at work,” he said.
National Recognition for SFPUC’s Treasure Island Facility
SFPUC said that the new Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility, on track to finish construction in 2026, sets a benchmark for sustainable water treatment with its climate-forward design and advanced nutrient reduction and has earned the prestigious Envision Platinum Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.
The plant will also produce up to 357 million gallons of recycled water annually for irrigation and toilet flushing, reduce water onsite use by 98%, and replace a former U.S. Navy site with a modern wastewater treatment facility, public space, and new wetlands.
Expanding Clean Power Programs
The SFPUC recently broadened its pioneering EV Charge SF program, which provides customers up to $120,000 in financial incentives as well as technical assistance to install electric vehicle charging equipment.
This spring, the program expanded to include existing buildings, not just new construction projects, in San Francisco. To date, the program has enrolled over 50 projects, resulting in over 600 parking spaces being electrified.
The agency is launching a new program in May to encourage residential CleanPowerSF customers to install an electric heat pump water heater instead of gas models.
This program will provide a monthly $50 bill credit directly on a customer’s electricity bill for two years to customers who install a heat pump water heater and enroll it in a demand response program. This will allow customers to maximize their electric bill savings potential. Customers with low incomes on an electricity discount program will see a monthly $50 bill credit for three years.
Additionally, the SFPUC is expanding its popular Electrify My Ride program this summer, offering $1,000 rebates for e-bikes at participating retailers for power customers enrolled in an electricity discount program, helping more residents afford clean, electric transportation.
Meanwhile, the SFPUC has kicked off a new water conservation rebate program. The Irrigation Controller Rebate Program helps customers save water, save money, and save their plants from overwatering.
The program provides rebates up to $250 for two eligible irrigation controllers that use weather or soil data to ensure landscapes and outdoor plants are watered only when needed.
The SFPUC is accepting applications for Green Infrastructure Grants, which provide up to $2.5 million for projects on large properties and in public spaces that reduce stormwater runoff while delivering public benefits that enhance the quality of life for all SFPUC rate payers. Examples include rain gardens, permeable pavement, and green roofs. Applications for the Spring 2025 cycle are due by June 2, 2025.
The SFPUC recently embarked on a new chapter in native species habitat restoration. The SFPUC, together with the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation Districts – has made a historic, self-funded $80 million commitment to design and implement a collaborative, holistic habitat restoration program on the Tuolumne River as part of the state’s Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program.
The program also includes substantial increases in river flows, even in dry years.
Habitat Restoration
With the help of renowned experts River Partners and Applied River Sciences, the Tuolumne partners are focused on developing 77 acres of suitable salmon rearing and floodplain habitat and improving specific reaches of the river for optimal spawning and rearing.
The partnership recently completed a precursor project on the Tuolumne near the Central Valley community of La Grange that restored 10 acres of river and floodplain habitat to support native fish, like trout and salmon.
SFPUC is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and meets more than 75% of the electricity demand in San Francisco.
