Brown-out on PG&E

Brown-out on PG&E By Amanda Witherell California State Attorney General Jerry Brown's office is investigating Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s meddling with Community Choice Aggregation, according to several sources who spoke with the Guardian. "I was contacted by their office," said John Rizzo, who works with the Bay chapter of the Sierra Club. Rizzo was …

Peaker suit

Peaker suit Through a public-private partnership, the city would own the peaker plants after 10 years By Amanda Witherell The permits for San Francisco's Electric Reliability Project — a 145-megawatt, natural gas–fired "peaker" power plant — have not been properly vetted, according to a Sept. 24 lawsuit filed against the Environmental Protection Agency and the …

CCA moving

CCA moving Legislation's supporters confident it would pass By Amanda Witherell San Francisco's plan for Community Choice Aggregation was primed to move one step closer to enactment June 12. Legislation before the Board of Supervisors would allow the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to issue Requests for Information to make more of the city's power …

Green like money

Green like money Gay greenwash: Look who skipped out on PG&E's LGBT Center solar panel party BY Amanda Witherell The LGBT Community Center on Market Street traded pink and lavender for Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s acidic green Jan. 27. During a so-called green fair at the center, the billion-dollar corporation unveiled a $170,000 gift …

Peak experience

Peak experience By Amanda Witherell Standing on the steps of City Hall, New College professor Richard Heinberg told a crowd of San Franciscans, "The 21st century will be the decline of fossil fuels." This renowned expert on "peak oil" then headed inside to testify at a hearing convened by Sup. Ross Mirkarimi on the issue. …

What booze ban?

What booze ban? After an alcohol crackdown in North Beach, the city commission is back to facilitating the fun By Amanda Witherell Outside of North Beach, the party is still on. That's good news for San Francisco festivalgoers, but it leaves one outstanding question: What exactly is current city policy on promoting partying in public …

Recycling city buildings

Recycling city buildings By Amanda Witherell High-rise homeless housing or high-priced condos? That was the choice when the fate of 150 Otis was debated at a June 16 hearing of the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development Committee. "I am totally convinced that if the final decision about 150 Otis is left in …

Another round

Another round New events coalition raises a ruckus after a second North Beach festival is denied a permit to sell booze By Amanda Witherell Members of the newly formed San Francisco Outdoor Events Coalition gathered on the evening of May 3. It had been a long, discouraging day, and the mood was somber. Robbie Kowal …

Get on the water

Get on the water Smooth sailing for seaworthy landlubbers, and the legendary Beer Cans on the Bay By Amanda Witherell It was my wise Uncle Arthur who told me: Cultivate friendships with people who have boats. He passed on this nugget of wisdom as we were reaching across Maine's Frenchman Bay in my tiny Tartan 27, …

King of the Hill

King of the Hill Telegraph Hill Dwellers try to take territory from neighboring political groups By Amanda Witherell On the evening of April 11, there's a bottleneck at the door of the Tel-Hi Community Center as members of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers try to get in out of the rain. President Brad Willmore has a …