California Construction News staff writer
San Francisco and Berkeley have been awarded a $19.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to electrify large commercial and multi-family buildings. The funding, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, will help implement equitable Building Performance Standards (BPS) aimed at modernizing buildings and reducing carbon emissions.
San Francisco will receive $14.3 million to help eliminate emissions from all city buildings by 2040. The city has been working to expand access to clean energy and reduce carbon emissions, including offering discounts for 100% renewable energy to low-income residents and providing rebates for replacing fossil fuel-powered appliances.
“San Francisco has been a leader in climate solutions, reducing emissions by nearly 50% since 1990,” said Mayor London Breed. “This grant will help us move closer to a net-zero future and advance electrification efforts in San Francisco, Berkeley, and the Bay Area. I thank President Biden and Vice President Harris for their continued support.”
The cities are among 19 state and local governments awarded this grant to modernize buildings, enhance climate resilience, and improve health outcomes. The grant will be distributed over nine years.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to develop BPS with our community,” said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín. “Berkeley’s recent involvement with the National Building Performance Standard Coalition reflects our commitment to moving off fossil fuels.
“We look forward to working with San Francisco to create a model policy for the region.”
The cities will collaborate with community partners to help Equity Priority Buildings in disadvantaged areas meet BPS requirements without undue financial burden. They also plan to work with smaller Bay Area jurisdictions to develop a regional roadmap for BPS adoption and building decarbonization.
