Renewable Energy Plan

33% of potential reductions

Energy that comes from renewable sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, and small hydroelectric, are the cleanest and most-environmentally friendly energy sources.  Here in San Rafael, where there is an abundance of sunny days, solar energy is a particularly good energy source.  According to Project Sunroof, 94% of San Rafael buildings have roofs that are solar-viable.  These 14,700 roofs could generate over 470 million kWh per year, which is more than the total electricity usage in San Rafael in 2016. Solar system costs keep falling, too, which make them an attractive option for home and commercial building owners. Our Climate Change Action Plan projects that we can get about 24% of our electricity from locally produced solar energy systems by 2030, up from about 4% currently, just by maintaining the current growth rate.

When solar is not an option, due perhaps to a shady roof or a reluctant landlord, residents and business owners can purchase 100% renewable electricity from MCE Clean Energy and PG&E.  MCE and PG&E electricity have a high percentage of renewable and GHG-free content, which means it’s some of the cleanest electricity in the country.  What’s more, MCE’s goal is provide 100% renewable and GHG-free electricity to all its customers by 2025.  Considering that MCE currently carries about two-thirds of the total electricity load in San Rafael, that action alone will significantly reduce emissions.

Since our electricity is so clean, and getting cleaner, it’s a great idea to swap out appliances and heating and cooling systems that use natural gas for ones that use electricity. If you’re constructing a new home or building, consider going all-electric. Battery prices are falling, and will soon be a cost-effective option, too.  Eventually, we’ll need to replace the majority of natural gas appliance and equipment if we’re going to hit our long-term goals.  Fortunately, ongoing research and development of energy storage systems are creating new business opportunities and making an all-electric, 100% renewable future possible.

The City will take the following actions to reduce emissions from energy use.

Table 7: RENEWABLE energy measures to reduce community emissions