San Francisco Sun

San Francisco, CA – San Francisco and the City of Berkeley have been awarded a $19.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to transform and modernize large buildings, including commercial and multi-family structures. Of this amount, $14.3 million will be allocated to San Francisco to develop and implement equitable building performance standards (BPS) aimed at electrifying buildings, eliminating emissions, and moving the Bay Area towards a more resilient all-electric future.

Mayor London N. Breed has emphasized expanding access to clean and affordable electricity for residents across San Francisco. Under her leadership, the city has advanced programs that reduce carbon emissions and promote equitable access to clean energy, including discounts for 100% renewable energy for low-income customers and rebates for replacing fossil fuel-powered appliances. This grant will support Mayor Breed’s goal of eliminating emissions from all buildings by 2040.

“San Francisco has been a leader in pioneering bold climate solutions, reducing emissions by nearly 50% since 1990,” said Mayor Breed. “Our Climate Action Plan sets out the path to continue this work, and this grant will set the stage for electrifying San Francisco, Berkeley, and cities across the Bay Area, bringing us closer to a net zero emissions future. I want to thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their continued investment towards a stronger, better future for San Francisco.”

Building Performance Standards are designed to reduce the carbon impact of communities by requiring existing buildings to meet energy or greenhouse gas emissions-based performance targets. San Francisco and Berkeley are among 19 state and local governments awarded the grant to implement BPS, modernizing buildings to reduce emissions, improve health outcomes, and enhance climate resilience. The award is preliminary and subject to negotiations with final approval by the federal government; once complete, it will run for nine years.

“We’re thrilled to be awarded this grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Energy,” said City of Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín. “In early 2023, Berkeley joined the National Building Performance Standard Coalition to accelerate an equitable transition off fossil fuels. Alongside San Francisco, we look forward to creating a model policy that could be scaled throughout the region.”

The cities of San Francisco and Berkeley will collaborate with community partners to help Equity Priority Buildings in disadvantaged communities meet BPS outcomes without undue economic burden. They will also work with smaller Bay Area jurisdictions on establishing a region-wide roadmap for BPS adoption and building decarbonization.

“I am grateful to see our shared vision for greenhouse gas reductions affirmed by the Department of Energy with their grant award,” said District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. “San Francisco already has a long history of enacting cleaner building code requirements than those outlined by the State.”

San Francisco has long been recognized as a global sustainability leader; recently named as top U.S city by American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in their 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard. Through Mayor Breed’s 2021 Climate Action Plan, bold building policies have continued advancing informed by their Zero Emission Buildings Task Force–a broad group comprising laborers tenants environmentalists ownership technical municipal stakeholders.

“Reducing pollution from San Francisco’s oldest largest buildings is complex challenge requiring broad collaboration," said Tyrone Jue Director Environment Department "This grant not only cuts local emissions but creates blueprint nationwide helping millions tackle climate crisis improving health outcomes quality life communities."

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