Energy / San Francisco, California: 2010 Smarter City - Energy

San Francisco is exploring the use of marine energy (also known by the appealing name “ocean power”), notes Murray, and a recent feasibility study suggested that a 30 MW “wave farm” just three to five miles off the coast of the city’s Ocean Beach could produce enough electricity to power fully 10 percent of San Francisco’s households.

But the city is taking advantage of other forms of clean energy as well, and its energy policies encourage residents and businesses to do the same. In particular, its efforts to incorporate solar power into city energy generation have been impressive: Projects producing at least 8.5 MW of sun-generated power have already been established in the city, saving $1,853,986 and 7,450,148 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. GoSolarSF is a division of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission that provides solar incentives to residents, and it is growing. For the fiscal year beginning in July 2010, it will provide an additional $5 million in funding for solar projects, with $2 million reserved for low-income residents. Projects to further the use of biodiesel—the city has more than 800 alternative fuel vehicles in its fleet and is experimenting expansion at the airport, zoo, fire department and the department of public works—and cogeneration, which captures electric power and heat from a single source, are a part of the mix as well.

In addition to many other qualifying criteria, San Francisco passed two of Smarter Cities’ significant thresholds to be considered a leading city on energy production and conservation, based on programs that take advantage of the distributed generation of energy, as well a greenhouse gas inventory that is a part of San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan. These initiatives help make San Francisco a leading city on energy production and conservation.

Its efforts have proved successful so far. According to a Brookings Institute report titled “Shrinking the Carbon Footprint of Metropolitan America,” San Francisco reduced its per capita carbon footprint from transportation and residential energy use by 3.1 percent from 2000 to 2005, with a whopping 16.2 percent reduction in residential energy. Clearly, San Francisco residents are doing their part.

The San Francisco Energy Watch—a joint program between Pacific Gas & Electric, SF Environment and the city—makes it easier for businesses and managers of multi-family residences to do the same. It includes free assessments and reduced costs on installation and equipment, and the programs success stories range from schools and churches to breweries and retailers—some large buildings whose retrofits can greatly impact the city’s overall carbon footprint reduction.

According to Murray, San Francisco has that right mix of an interested public and a dedicated local government, both of which are necessary to make significant progress in a city’s energy use: “When it comes to energy policy, San Francisco is lucky to have a well-informed, environmentally conscious, and engaged public, as well as a supportive local government, which makes it possible to implement innovative, forward-thinking energy programs.”