SF Sets Goal to Be Carbon Neutral by 2045
In honor of Earth Day, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced a series new citywide climate goals, including an ambitious plan to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next 24 years.
The city’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2045 includes hitting key environmental targets like providing all residents with 100 percent renewable energy by 2025.
The plan to provide completely renewable energy would be made possible through CleanPowerSF, the city’s community energy program, created in 2016. CleanPowerSF generates electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric, biogas and small-hydro, and has already enrolled around 380,000 businesses and residents.
Mayor Breed also announced on Thursday the city is six years ahead of its goal of reducing emissions by 40 precent by 2025. As of 2019, the city’s emissions have dropped to 41 percent below 1990 levels, city officials said.
CleanPowerSF is overseen by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
SF Says it’s Currently Exceeding Key Environmental Goal.
- CleanPowerSF will provide all customers 100% renewable electricity by 2025, five years ahead the City’s goal of 2030 and twenty years ahead of the State’s goal of 2045.
- As of 2019, San Francisco’s emissions have dropped to 41% below 1990 levels, which is six years ahead of the City’s goal of reaching a 40% reduction by 2025.
SFPUC Acting General Manager Michael Carlin said, “Through our public power programs, we are empowering San Francisco with local, cleaner and more renewable energy sources that also give our residents and businesses a chance to do their part to combat climate change.”
Also, in celebration of Earth Day, Breed announced the Chase Center, home to the Golden State Warriors, is the latest building to be certified by the San Francisco Department of the Environment as a Green Business. Through its energy improvements and water conversation features, the Chase Center is the only NBA arena that is Green Business certified throughout the state.
Other notable San Francisco Green Businesses include Oracle Park, California Academy of Sciences, and the Exploratorium.
Chase Center General Manager Kim Stone said, “Being located in one of the most environmentally-friendly cities in the world, we want to make sure we are doing our part to minimize our environmental impact and reduce our carbon footprint.”
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