The Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation will power more than 40 affordable housing sites in San Francisco with 100 percent renewable energy
San Francisco, CA—The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) today announced that the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) will upgrade to the City’s 100 percent renewable energy service at all 43 of its affordable housing sites in San Francisco, providing clean power to more than 5,000 local residents.
“Thanks to TNDC’s decision to enroll in our SuperGreen program, over 5,000 San Franciscans living in affordable housing will have access to 100 percent renewable electricity,” said Mayor London N. Breed. “Climate change is a major threat to our City and the health of our residents, and we need to work together to stop it. By transitioning to renewable energy and working with our nonprofit and private sector partners to enroll more people in CleanPowerSF, we can create a safer, healthier, and more sustainable San Francisco.”
“By providing affordable housing sites with clean power, TNDC is helping to address the City’s housing shortfall while also working toward our climate action goals,” said San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) General Manager Harlan L. Kelly, Jr. “Creating a cleaner energy future for San Francisco requires contributions from everyone, so we are honored that the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation has decided to make this historic decision to embrace 100 percent renewable energy. They understand that our City thrives when we embrace clean, community-based energy programs.”
The TNDC is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing and services for people with low incomes in the Tenderloin and throughout San Francisco. The organization is the SFPUC’s first affordable housing customer to upgrade to SuperGreen, the 100 percent renewable energy option offered through CleanPowerSF.
TNDC has committed to power 43 affordable housing sites across seven neighborhoods with 100 percent renewable electricity. More than 5,000 residents live in TNDC housing sites and upgrading those units to 100 percent renewable energy will avoid 26,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions—the equivalent of 30,000 miles driven by an average passenger vehicle. TNDC will pay for the upgrade, not residents.
“TNDC plays a critical role in solving both the housing and climate crises by embracing a bold vision to reduce carbon emissions across our entire portfolio of more than 40 affordable properties,” said Don Falk, Chief Executive Officer at TNDC. “Switching to CleanPowerSF’s SuperGreen service demonstrates not only our commitment to the environment but to the health and well-being of our residents and communities.”
“From energy and water efficiency upgrades to rooftop gardens, TNDC is deeply committed to comprehensive sustainability and well-being initiatives” said Ruchi Shah, Senior Sustainability Manager at TNDC. “Sustainability is no longer optional; it’s embedded in how we operate and build affordable homes.”
CleanPowerSF launched in 2016 with a mission to provide San Francisco residents and businesses with the choice of having their electricity supplied from clean, renewable sources at competitive rates. Following the largest and last enrollment period in April of this year, CleanPowerSF now serves more than 376,000 customers in San Francisco, a 360 percent increase from the year prior. With a 96 percent participation rate, the program is popular among businesses and residents.
Along with CleanPowerSF, the SFPUC operates the Hetch Hetchy Regional Power System, which provides 100 percent greenhouse gas free energy to public facilities, such as City Hall, San Francisco International Airport, Muni buses, schools and libraries. Collectively, the two systems meet approximately 80 percent of the electricity demand in San Francisco.
Upgrading to SuperGreen is just one of TNDC’s sustainability initiatives. TNDC invests in energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects, and 50 percent of the multifamily buildings have either Solar PV or Solar Thermal systems on-site. In 2019, TNDC was recognized by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for reducing portfolio-wide energy and water use by 20 percent over 10 years.
About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and generates clean power for municipal buildings, residents, and businesses. Our mission is to provide our customers with high quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care. Learn more at www.sfwater.org.
About the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation
TNDC is a nonprofit that helps people focus on living a meaningful life by building deeply affordable homes and supportive communities in San Francisco. We currently provide homes to over 5,000 people with low incomes through 43 buildings across seven neighborhoods. Our staff works alongside people, families, and communities that have faced severe economic and racial inequity in the hopes of improving health disparities, raising marginalized voices, and building a better future for all. Through programs like the Tenderloin After-School Program and the Healthy Corner Store Coalition, we have driven positive change in San Francisco for the last 38 years. Learn more at www.tndc.org.