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Grace Cathedral stands to benefit from a proposed solar incentive program announced last month by Mayor Gavin Newsom.
SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - The heavens will power Grace Cathedral — with help from The City — if supervisors vote to bankroll solar-panel installations, according to an environmental and religious leader who joined others Tuesday in endorsing the program.
The City’s public utilities commissioners Tuesday unanimously endorsed the proposed solar incentive program, announced last month by Mayor Gavin Newsom. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the program will provide grants of up to $10,000 per building to help meet solar-panel installation costs.
“We’ll be taking advantage of it,” the Rev. Sally Bingham, environment chair of the diocese of California and president of California Interfaith Power and Light, told commissioners before their vote. “We are looking right now at putting solar on our Grace Cathedral roof at the top of Nob Hill.”
Homeowners in the Bayview- Hunters Point, Potrero Hill and Dogpatch neighborhoods will be eligible for up to $5,000 in assistance under the solar incentive program because they are in environmental justice districts, according to SFPUC Assistant General Manager for Power Barbara Hale.
Other city homeowners will be eligible for up to $3,000, according to Hale, or up to $4,000 if they hire a local company. Businesses will be eligible for up to $10,000.
The SFPUC will begin accepting applications for the $3 million program on a first-come, first-served basis after the program is approved by the Board of Supervisors, according to Hale.
She said she expects supervisors in February to approve the program, which will be funded largely with money from hydroelectric power sales.
Supervisors are also considering providing interest-free solar installation loans to property owners, which would be repaid using money saved on future power bills, according to SFPUC spokesman Tony Winnicker.
Utility chief fails to show due to recent injury
Susan Leal, the general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, was a no-show Tuesday at the first commission meeting held since Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he wanted another city official, City Controller Ed Harrington, to take over her job.
Leal did not attend the meeting because she was still recovering from being struck by a car three weeks ago as she crossed the street in front of City Hall, according to SFPUC spokesman Tony Winnicker.
On Friday, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced 27 staff changes, including the replacement of Leal as head of the SFPUC. Its commissioners, all of whom were appointed or reappointed by Newsom, must vote to endorse the change.
The accident did not break any of Leal’s bones or damage any of her internal organs, according to acting general manager Tony Irons.
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Comments from Examiner Readers
3:08 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "SFPUC gives blessing to solar incentives"
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11:58 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "SFPUC gives blessing to solar incentives"
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11:39 PM MST on Tue., Jan. 8, 2008 re: "SFPUC gives blessing to solar incentive program"
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Gretchen said:
This is terrific! Thank you SFPUC. Thank you Mayor Newsom. This is an awesome step forward for SF. Next step: Provide property tax breaks on buildings that have solar (or wind) power connected to the grid. Also, make it manditory for new construction to include renewable energy capability.
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Examiner Reader said:
I am glad to see the program and hope to take part in it since I have priced a system and it is too expensive for me. Some issues though: I saw no mention of the task force on SFGOV.com until September. A search turns up nothing before then either. Sunshine issues? Grace Cathedral has a very large financially well-endowed support group that could pay for the whole thing. Should they be taking away dollars from a program meant for the little guy who really wants & needs it but can't afford it? I don't think Ting has panels on his house. Isn't that a poor example to set? Wind in the form of vertical axis turbines are cheaper and animal safe. One thing we got around here (Sunset) is wind - sun not so much. No programs for that. Why not?
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Seeing the light... said:
I do hope the Supes will see the light on this issue and the importance to support a cleaner environment so we can do our parts to address climate change, without having to send us to the poor house in the process. Thank you, Gavin and Phil Ting, for initiating this program.
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