In November’s election, San Francisco voters will weigh in on a plan that could lead to the public takeover of the privately owned electrcity system.
Voters have rejected similar proposals numerous times over the last 100 years. But regional utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is falling behind on the state-mandated requirement to produce 20% of its power from renewables by 2010. As a result, support is growing for the creation of a municipal utility similar to ones in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Proposition H would amend the city charter to require that San Francisco get 51% of its electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar by 2017, 75% by 2030 and 100% by 2040.
It also would require the city’s Public Utilities Commission to study ways to reach its clean energy goals and authorize the Board of Supervisors to issue revenue bonds to fund the acquisition of PG&E’s San Francisco operations or the contruction of a new electrical system.
Read the full Associated Press story.
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