San Francisco's Clean-Tech Report Card

Last October, my company, Clean Edge, published a report, Harnessing San Francisco's Clean-Tech Future, outlining how San Francisco could implement programs and strategies to become a leader in the clean-technology sector, with a focus on clean energy and transportation. The report, commissioned by the Mayor's office and the city's Department of the Environment, offered a ten-point plan to help the city play a central role in pursuing clean-technology development and attracting new business and jobs.

Just before Thanksgiving last year, I, along with former U.S. EPA administrator William Reilly, were called in to brief Mayor Gavin Newsom on the report. I entered the Mayor's office much like a Master's candidate, fully prepped to defend my thesis. To my pleasant surprise, Newsom began the meeting by pointing to the report and saying, "This is great. Let's do it."

The ensuing conversation was, suffice to say, pretty easy.

Still, this was, after all, big-city government. And while I had long admired Newsom's green politics and risk-taking initiatives, I left his office with a healthy skepticism about how much would actually get done.

Some ten months later, the Mayor's office called again, asking us to update the report. It turned out my skepticism was dead wrong. Five of the ten recommendations had, to some degree, already been accomplished. Two others were underway. Only three hadn't yet been fully addressed.

That updated report is being published today and can be downloaded (PDF) here. It's a model of what any city, state, or region can do to attract job-creating companies focusing on clean energy, alternative transportation, organic products, biobased materials, and other goods and services that fall under the "clean-tech" moniker.

San Francisco's initiative will be guided by a newly formed Clean Technology Advisory Council, chaired by Bill Reilly, charged with promoting the city's clean-tech vision and inviting clean-tech firms to make their homes within San Francisco. (I've been honored to be named to that council.)

In addition, the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and city agencies have developed a three-part shared vision for clean technology in San Francisco:

to create high-skilled, high-wage clean-tech jobs; to promote a cleaner and healthier environment; and to reduce the City's dependence on fossil fuels by investing in clean energy research and development. To achieve these goals, the City is pursuing four broad strategies: 1) investing in the industries of the future, 2) promoting the construction and renovation of high-performance, energy-efficient buildings, 3) improving the environmental aspects of its landscape, and 4) diversifying its energy sources.

Beyond that:

The Mayor has named a clean-tech manager, Jennifer Entine-Matz, to coordinate citywide clean-tech initiatives, market and execute San Francisco's clean-tech business attraction strategy, and work with the new advisory council.

The Board of Supervisors last month approved a payroll tax exemption for qualified clean-tech companies doing business in San Francisco.

Several city agencies are working to create a fast-track permitting program for new commercial buildings that meet the LEED green-building standards.

The Mayor recently signed the Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance, which creates a comprehensive system for the city to identify, purchase, and use environmentally preferable products. San Francisco is the first city in the U.S. to adopt an ordinance of this kind.

Among the works in progress:

There is strong support for creating a Clean Technology Park at the Hunter's Point Shipyard, which would be dedicated to clean-tech research, development, and manufacturing. It would serve as an incubator for early-stage companies, a showcase for the technologies themselves, and a learning and training facility that provides workforce development for future clean-technology workers.

The city is implementing a number of noteworthy high-profile projects, including a proposal to use the animal fat produced at a local tallow rendering facility to produce up to five million gallons of biodiesel a year for use by the city's buses and other vehicles.

There's more, which you can read in today's report.

All told, a pretty impressive first-year report card. Indeed, I’ll give the city an "A."

Comments

[Warren]

San Francisco should be commended for its clean technology vision and goals. In overall sustainability related programs, policies and practices, San Francisco ranked #1 in a benchmarking study released in June by SustainLane.com (it's available free on the site), just edging out Portland in cumulative performance.

In the area of green buildings per capita, both Portland and Seattle scored higher, and Portland citizens in 2004 were willing and able to buy more alternative energy (geothermal, wind, small scale hydro, biomass and solar) from Portland General Electric and PacifiCorp. San Francisco will have to expand its portlfolio beyond solar if it wants to be a true leader and it will need to greatly expand green building incentives if it wants to produce the results Portland and Seattle have achieved in those areas.

Hopefully the city continues its progress there and in city programs promoting use of local food. Portland's mayor requests citizens there to buy at least 10% of their food from local sources, and the county has a local food policy council guiding the city. That will greatly impact the local economy while reducing energy consumption.