The Green Roofs Alliance scored our first victory yesterday at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission , which unanimously approved our amendment to SF's Stormwater Management Ordinance!



Leah Fessenden, Awie Smit, Lisa Benjamin, and Emily Weisensee, each spoke eloquently to the importance of green roofs as a stormwater solution. By the time we were done speaking, Commissioner Francesca Vietor made a motion to add our"plant uptake" language, affirming the value of green roofs in stormwater management. Her motion was quickly seconded, and received unanimous approval.

In other news, Laura Spanjian, Assistant General Manager for External Affairs for the SFPUC, gave a report on the city's emerging GreenFinanceSF program, which will offer property owners low-interest loans to cover the up-front costs of energy efficiency, solar, and water conservation projects, paid back over 20 years on their property taxes. San Francisco Department of the Environment will be the administrator, and the city expects to launch the program in March.



After the meeting, several Bay Localize folks agreed that this financing program could be another excellent opportunity for promoting green roofs in San Francisco. When the item was being discussed, Commissioner Vietor voiced her support for including green roofs among the list of eligible projects under the program. So now we have a strong ally at the SFPUC!


In the coming weeks, Bay Localize will be monitoring the Stormwater Ordinance as it moves toward a final vote at the Board of Supervisors, We are also  tracking the GreenFinanceSF program as a policy vehicle for promoting green roofs.


Thanks again to everyone for your support -- 2010 is off to a roaring start!

Toward a just, vibrant, and resilient Bay Area,



- Aaron

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