San Francisco’s Environment Code Chapter 30 (Ordinance 220-19) requires large commercial buildings to source 100% of their electricity from renewable or greenhouse gas-free (GHG-free) sources.
2025: Who Should Already Be Compliant?
The ordinance applies to nonresidential buildings with the following deadlines:
✔ 500,000+ square feet → Required compliance since December 31, 2022
✔ 250,000 – 499,999 square feet → Compliance deadline was December 31, 2024
➜ 50,000 – 249,999 square feet → Deadline is December 31, 2030
So if your building is over 250,000 square feet and still not sourcing 100% renewable electricity in 2025, here’s what to understand and do immediately to minimize your risk.
What’s at Stake: The Risks of Non-Compliance
Owners and operators in San Francisco are subject to fines (up to $100/day per Sec 900 of the ordinance) for non-compliance. Beyond fines, non-compliance threatens a building’s competitiveness in the marketplace. Stricter building performance standards could lead to higher operating costs, including increased utility rates and potential carbon fees. Investors and corporate tenants now prioritize sustainability—buildings that fail to meet renewable energy requirements risk reduced tenant demand, lower asset values, and reputational damage, potentially impacting LEED certification, ESG ratings, and marketability. Buildings that fail to comply will be listed publicly (per Sec 900); they are viewable here.
Missed the 2024 Deadline?
Taking proactive steps now is essential to avoid financial and operational setbacks. Here’s what we recommend to get back on track.
1. Confirm Your Current Energy Mix
Review utility bills and contracts; does any portion of your electricity still come from fossil fuel sources? Identify any tenant-managed accounts that need to be switched to renewable options. Not sure where to look? Gridium’s energy analysts can dig into this with you to provide appropriate guidance.
2. Immediately Enroll in a 100% Renewable Energy Program
San Francisco offers program options that require no on-site investment:
- CleanPowerSF SuperGreen: This is the easiest compliance option—100% renewable electricity from wind and solar via a fixed adder of $0.005/kWh to your rate. Enrolling takes 2 minutes, and ensures compliance. (NOTE: SuperGreen is an “upgrade” from the default CleanPowerSF option, which alone does not meet the requirement.)
- PG&E Solar Choice : This is a utility-provided renewable power program, however, it is currently FULL. As such, we recommend the CleanPowerSF SuperGreen option.
Alternatively, you can consider entering the Direct Access (DA) lottery: if selected, large commercial customers can purchase electricity from an Energy Service Provider (ESP) instead of PG&E. AllESPs offer 100% renewable energy contracts, however, there is limited availability. The Gridium team can assist with entering the DA lottery and if selected, would be happy to help you secure 100% renewable energy contracts.
3. Implement Energy Monitoring
If you don’t have a way to track energy consumption, Gridium makes it easy to get up and running, with no hardware required. Using this data, our team of energy experts will look into your building’s specific energy patterns to 1) guide you on the best options for your building to ensure compliance with the city’s requirements and, 2) identify any efficiency gaps to further optimize energy use.
4. Engage with Tenants
If your tenants control their own electricity accounts, they must also comply. Work with tenants to transition all submetered spaces to 100% renewable sources, and provide education and ensure lease agreements align with sustainability goals.
5. Consider Longer-Term Energy Investments
While utility-provided renewable programs are the fastest compliance path, long-term solutions can reduce costs and improve building value:
- Install on-site solar + battery storage (now possible with zero capital expenditure!).
- Pursue energy efficiency retrofits to further reduce building-wide energy consumption.
- Explore Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for off-site renewable procurement.
We’re here to help.
The team at Gridium has partnered with leading owners and operators in San Francisco to create strategies to quickly meet the ordinance’s requirements while positioning their properties for long-term success in an evolving regulatory landscape. We’d be happy to discuss a plan for your building.
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