San Mateo eyes costs related to electrification

The San Mateo Sustainability and Infrastructure Commission meeting on Sept. 13 highlighted cost details and provided information on the types of rebates available to offset it, with city staff arguing that while costs for electrification are higher, parity could be reached with existing rebates. A city staff report showed the total cost to electrify without rebate incentives would be around $24,000 to $31,000. Staff noted commercial building electrification costs remain highly variable, with different sizes and systems preventing an accurate analysis. Marginal costs of full-home electrification after rebates could range from around $4,800 more to $700 in cost savings, with incentives often needed to achieve parity.

The commission noted costs remain the biggest impediment for people, with Chair Susan Rowinski calling for having a city rebate case manager to help people navigate the convoluted process of applying and being eligible for electrification rebates. City staff said around $21,600 is available to support home electrification, although the number could fluctuate.

“Rebates are very spontaneous and can change with or without notice and, frankly, the best thing people can do is get a quote in terms of the current pricing of their hardware and what rebates are available,” Rowinski said. “I think that’s the best we can do.”

Several speakers wanted more details and city planning for associated costs that come with replacement and how the city would help deal with potential expenses. Fernando Peña, with the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, said significant questions remained about cost estimates on residential electrification and grid reliability.

“What assistance will there be for low-income and middle-income households through rebates and incentives?” Peña said.

Several commissioners called for contacting different neighborhoods, construction and community groups to reduce distrust and show how switching could work financially. Commissioner Kimiko Naritai called for more specific information on electrification compliance dates and ensuring there was community outreach to prevent misinformation and disinformation from being disseminated. Commissioner Cliff Robbins noted the city had to be mindful of pushback, noting it would take time and outreach to overcome it.

“It’s a public benefit, it’s not just a private benefit, but there are tradeoffs and competing interests, the principle one being cost and the general acceptance of mandates,” Robbins said.

Proponents of electrification and moving forward, like Dashiell Leeds, a conservation organizer with the Loma Prieta Sierra Club, noted methane emissions reductions are needed in the long run to reduce risks to children and families for asthma. According to a staff report, building emissions make up 38% of the city’s total and gas accounts for 85% of building-related emissions, while 59% of all residential gas use is for water heating, and 32% is for space heating. The city is requiring all new construction to be all-electric starting in 2023.

“We are glad to see the commitment from staff on equity and community engagement. We glad they recognize the need to educate community members and decision-makers on building electrification and incentives,” Leeds said.

Bike infrastructure improvements continue to progress, with the public praising city efforts to reduce car use and calling for more bike lanes at the meeting. Making the city more bike-friendly has been a priority of the City Council as it works to reduce greenhouse gas and increase safety. Since 2020, the city has completed bike infrastructure projects on Fifth and 28th avenues, in the North Central neighborhood, and Pacific Avenue, with ongoing work to improve elsewhere. The city recently adopted a school zone speed limit that calls for 15 mph within 500 feet of the school and 25 mph between 500 to 1,000 feet. The current speed limit at San Mateo schools is 25 mph.

Jon Felder, a teacher at Aragon High School, praised the city for recent successes in bike infrastructure, like bike lanes along Humboldt Street between Fourth and Ninth avenues, downtown and Fifth Avenue west of El Camino. He wanted to see more green-painted bike lanes on Aragon Boulevard.

“I think the city of San Mateo should think about prioritizing bike safety and improving on two really important crosstown streets, and those would be Fifth Avenue and Ninth Avenue slash Aragon Boulevard,” Felder said.

Others called for speed humps to reduce car speeds. Cooper Wong, a senior at Aragon High School, said he was worried about bike safety for his family and people who ride to the school.

“I sometimes bike or walk to school because I don’t always have a car to use, but I am nervous when I do it because cars drive so fast on Alameda,” Wong said.