Clean Power SF reports growth, NREL recognition; LAFCO approves $75,000 battery study to ARUP

Clean Power SF staff told the Local Agency Formation Commission the community choice aggregator continues steady enrollment while voluntary renewable procurement and commercial interest in higher‑tier products are rising.

Deputy Assistant General Manager Michael Himes said Clean Power SF serves more than 380,000 customers and that Super Green product sales have grown to more than 11 percent of annual sales, up from 9 percent reported in September. Himes said Clean Power SF ranked fifth among community choice aggregators in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) 2022 green‑power CCA rankings, noting the list recognizes programs that go beyond state renewable portfolio standards.

The commission then considered Item 5: a proposed purchase order to ARUP North America Ltd. for a battery energy storage system study, not to exceed $75,000. Executive Officer Jeremy Pollack described a two‑phase scope: phase 1 will study single‑family homes and duplexes as a straightforward residential case; phase 2 will address multifamily buildings and related policy and permitting considerations. Pollack said ARUP proposed to complete both phases by March of the following year and that staff had reached out to Fire Department, Department of Building Inspection and Department of the Environment staff during scope development.

Public commenters raised lifecycle concerns about batteries and recycling. "How do you recycle these batteries?" one caller asked, urging attention to end‑of‑life processes.

Vice Chair Jackie Fielder moved the motion to authorize the executive officer to execute a purchase order to ARUP North America Ltd. in an amount not to exceed $75,000; Commissioner Hope Williams seconded. The commission approved the purchase order 3–0 (Preston, Williams, Fielder voted Aye).

Pollack and Himes said the study will inform permitting, siting and policy for battery storage deployment and help identify where storage is and is not appropriate across the city’s housing types.