Wednesday, November 6, 2019

UPDATE: San Francisco's 100% Renewable Electricity Requirement for Commercial Property Owners Now Effective


UPDATE - November 6, 2019

This ordinance was approved by Mayor London Breed in October and is now effective. Note the compliance dates below and detailed in the ordinance. Please email johnb@boma.com with any questions you may have.

Thank you again to our Energy & Environment Committee leaders for their expertise in helping to make this measure feasible to implement.

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UPDATE - September 20, 2019

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently - and unanimously - approved this ordinance. It will be heard again at their meeting next Tuesday and will then move to Mayor London Breed's desk for her consideration.

The legislation calls for the City’s largest commercial buildings to procure 100 percent renewable electricity from any of the City’s electricity providers by 2022. Then, starting in 2024, additional buildings will be subject to the requirement, eventually encompassing all commercial buildings 50,000 square feet or larger. The requirement is currently phased-in chronologically to ensure adequate renewable electricity is available for procurement:
  • 2022 – commercial buildings over 500,000 square feet;
  • 2024 – commercial buildings over 250,000 square feet; and,
  • 2030 – commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet.
Since 1987, BOMA San Francisco has supported and promoted a more sustainable built environment generally through voluntary means as opposed to mandates. Measures addressing energy efficiency, water savings, resource usage reduction or any other environmental concerns should be well-vetted, realistic and cost-efficient.

With regard to this ordinance, our BOMA San Francisco Energy & Environment Committee leaders sincerely appreciate collaborating and working with those at San Francisco's City Hall early in the process to determine the feasibility of implementing a well-intended policy objective. Indeed, there were a number of possible issues at the onset that would have made the requirements of the ordinance, without key amendments, difficult to implement if not for our member feedback and the understanding of City and County of San Francisco stakeholders.

They include the ability for the San Francisco Department of the Environment to determine compliance if:
  • The lack of GHG-free or renewable energy market resources available to meet demand, and/or;
  • The cost of all available 100% GHG-free or renewable electricity options is more than 5% of each provider’s default program offering, and/or;
  • And language that addresses long-term energy contracts.
Please email johnb@boma.com with any questions you may have.
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Original Post - July 19, 2019

San Francisco's ordinance requiring 100% Renewable Energy for commercial property owners ordinance is now moving through the legislative process at City Hall and will likely be heard at the Land Use and Transportation Committee soon.

Please click here to review the measure and us know if you have any feedback at johnb@boma.com

BACKGROUND

You can read Mayor London Breed's press release on this topic. Breed announced the proclimation on Earth Day in April 2019.

UPDATE: November 5, 2019 Election Results




UPDATE - November 6, 2019 at 9:45 a.m.

As anticipated, the turnout for yesterday's election was low - around 23% - and provided predictably known and unknown results. Here is the synopsis of what we know, so far, as there are a number of ballots to count that will determine the outcome of key races important to BOMA San Francisco members. They will require more time, a few days perhaps, to determine the winners of those close contests. 

Based on recommendations from the BOMA SF-PAC Voter Guide, below, and the latest results from the San Francisco Department of Elections, here's where we stand at present:

Local Propositions

Proposition A - Affordable Housing Bond
  • Requires 2/3rds voter approval and the measure is at approximately 69.5%. 

Proposition D - Traffic Congestion Mitigation Tax
  • Requires 2/3rds voter approval and the measure is at approximately at 66.6%.

Candidates - San Francisco

 VOTER APPROVED 

 London Breed - Mayor
Dennis Herrera - City Attorney
Jose Cisneros - City Treasurer 

INDETERMINATE (Incredibly Close!)

Vallie Brown - District 5 Supervisor
Suzy Loftus - District Attorney 


More updates daily - email johnb@boma.com for any questions you may have.

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Original Post - October 10, 2019 

BOMA San Francisco's Political Action Committee's Voter Guide
November 5, 2019 Election

The BOMA SF-PAC is looking forward to the November 5, 2019 election. Our members have endorsed candidates for elected office and taken positions on the following propositions. If you are a registered voter in San Francisco, please reference this guide when you vote!

If you have any questions, contact John Bozeman, BOMA San Francisco's Director of Government and Industry Affairs, at johnb@boma.com.

Local Propositions


SUPPORT - Proposition A: Affordable Housing Bond

Proposition A is an ordinance put on the ballot by Mayor London Breed and the Board of Supervisors that would allow the City to borrow up to $600 million by issuing general obligation bonds. The City would use this money to build, buy and rehabilitate affordable housing in the City.

Please review the details starting on page 44 of the Voter Guide.

SUPPORT - Proposition D: Traffic Congestion Mitigation Tax

Starting Jan. 1, 2020, Proposition D would impose a business tax on commercial rideshare companies for fares generated by rides that start in San Francisco as follows: 
  • 1.5% on a shared-ride fare; and 
  • 3.25% on a private-ride fare
The same business tax would also apply to driverless vehicle companies. The City would impose these taxes on fares charged by these companies until Nov. 5, 2045.


Candidates - San Francisco

Mayor, City and County of San Francisco

London Breed



San Francisco Board of Supervisors - District 5

Vallie Brown



San Francisco District Attorney

Suzy Loftus 



San Francisco City Attorney




San Francisco Treasurer

Jose Cisneros



Apture