City of San Diego - Green Power Purchasing

December 14, 2011

Summary

On August 7, 2003, San Diego's mayor announced a new green power purchase resolution to install 50 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy in the San Diego region over the next decade, with 5 MW installed on City-owned buildings. The electricity may be generated from photovoltaic (PV) systems, wind turbines, landfill-gas facilities, small hydroelectric generators, geothermal energy systems and other renewable-energy technologies.

The resolution, approved by the San Diego Rules, Finance and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, also established the Sustainable Energy Advisory Board, amending Municipal Code Section 26.04. The board is responsible for advising energy policy and reporting progress every six months.

As of October 2010, San Diego is rated by the EPA's Green Power Partnership as their ninth largest local government partner, consuming 69,043,000 kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity every year, 27% of the electricity consumed by the City government.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: Local
Category: Regulatory Policy
State: California
Incentive Type: Green Power Purchasing
Web Site: http://www.sandiego.gov/environmental-services/sustainable/
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Solar Water Heat
  • Geothermal Electric
  • Solar Thermal Electric
  • Solar Photovoltaics
  • Wind (All)
  • Biomass
  • Municipal Solid Waste
  • Fuel Cells using Non-Renewable Fuels
  • Landfill Gas
  • Tidal
  • Wave
  • Ocean Thermal
  • Wind (Small)
  • Hydroelectric (Small)
  • Fuel Cells using Renewable Fuels
Renewables % or Amount: 50 MW across the region with 5 MW for City owned facilities by 2013

Authorities

Name: San Diego Municipal Code, §26.04

Contact

Name: Information Specialist
Organization: Environmental Services Department
Address: 9601 Ridgehaven Ct.
San Diego CA 92123
Phone: (858) 694-7000
Email: energy@sandiego.gov

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.