Hunters Point Power Plant

The site which would be occupied by the Hunters Point Power Plant was first used to build ships and barges in the early 1900s; it is bounded approximately by Jennings (to the northwest), Pier 96 (to the northeast), Evans (on the southwest), and San Francisco Bay / India Basin (on the southeast), although there were numerous fuel storage tanks near the intersection of Jennings and Evans, outside these nominal site boundaries.{{rp|Fig. 3-3}}

The first unit used a steam turbine drawing from a fuel oil-fired boiler; it was built in 1928–29 by the Great Western Power Company. Great Western Power advertised a construction contract in September 1928 for {{USD|150000|1928|round=-4}} to build the foundations for an electric generating plant "between Evans, Jennings and Burke avenues, India and Hawes streets".{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=OLSF19280929.2.65 |title=Building Contracts: San Francisco County |date=September 29, 1928 |newspaper=Organized Labor |access-date=5 March 2021}} By December, a "new building near Hunter's {{sic}} Point" was being built for Great Western Power, as mentioned in a news article,{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=OLSF19281222.2.51 |title=Building Trades |date=December 22, 1928 |newspaper=Organized Labor |access-date=5 March 2021}} the contract for the building was advertised at {{USD|630000|1929|round=-4}} in March 1929.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=OLSF19290302.2.68 |title=Building Contracts: San Francisco County |date=March 2, 1929 |newspaper=Organized Labor |access-date=5 March 2021}} The total cost of the San Francisco Bay Steam Plant, scheduled for completion in summer 1929, was {{USD|3500000|1929|round=-5}}; as completed, the plant had a capacity of 35 MW electric power and plans were being prepared to expand generation to 170 MW.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19290311.2.6 |title=New Office Structure Of Power Company Is Planned For F Street |date=March 11, 1929 |newspaper=Madera Tribune |access-date=5 March 2021}} PG&E purchased the plant from Great Western Power on June 1, 1929.{{rp|4-1}}

File:Hunters Point - San Francisco Bay shoreline with power plant.jpg

Units 2 and 3 were added in 1948/49 along with three aboveground fuel storage tanks, and some additional land was reclaimed from San Francisco Bay in the southeast part of the site. Unit 4 was added in 1958, along with three more aboveground fuel tanks. A breakwater was added to separate the cooling water intake and outfall in 1968, and a dike was completed between the breakwater and Pier 96 in 1975, completing an enclosed cooling water intake lagoon. Tanks 8 and 9 were built in 1975 and 1977, respectively; in between, a new Unit 1, using two diesel-fired gas turbines for peaking operations, was added in 1976, replacing the original (1929) Unit 1, which had been decommissioned in the early 1970s.{{cite web |url=https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report.asp?global_id=38490002 |title=PG&E Hunters Point (38490002) |website=EnviroStor |publisher=California Department of Toxic Substances Control |access-date=4 March 2021}}

It was one of the oldest and dirtiest oil-fired power plants{{cite web |url=http://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/engineering/title-v-permits/a0024/a0024_2004-11_renewal_02.pdf?la=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029030204/http://www.sparetheair.org/~/media/Files/Engineering/Title%20V%20Permits/A0024/A0024_2004-11_renewal_02.ashx?la=en |archive-date=29 October 2014 |title=Final MAJOR FACILITY REVIEW PERMIT, Issued To: Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Hunters Point Power Plant Facility #A0024 |date=9 November 2004 |publisher=Bay Area Air Quality Management District |access-date=16 February 2018 |url-status=live}} in the state and was a major source of pollution; studies showed that neighborhood residents were more than twice as likely to suffer from asthma, congestive heart failure, and certain cancers.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/High-Rates-Of-Disease-In-Bayview-Study-lends-2837125.php |title=High Rates Of Disease In Bayview / Study lends weight to pollution fears |author=Rojas, Aurelio |date=June 9, 1997 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=5 March 2021}} In the 1990s, the state began studying Hunters Point as a potential site for a new power plant; the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to block development of the new plant in June 1996, which Mayor Willie Brown hailed, saying "the people of Bayview–Hunters Point have been dumped on enough."{{cite news |url=https://baynature.org/article/hunters-point-power-plant-controversy/ |title=Hunters Point Power Plant Controversy |author=Locke, Scarth |date=April 1, 2006 |work=Bay Nature |access-date=5 March 2021}}

Residents and community activists next pushed to have HPPP shut down.{{cite news |url=http://abc7news.com/archive/6401882/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618030413/http://abc7news.com/archive/6401882/ |title=Hunters Point power plant demolished |author=Garcia, Teresa |date=19 September 2008 |work=ABC 7 News |access-date=16 February 2018 |archive-date=18 June 2014 |url-status=dead}} California utilities were requested to voluntarily divest at least 50% of their fossil fuel-fired generating assets as that state began deregulation of its electric market in 1996, and HPPP was one of the first four plants that PG&E intended to sell, along with Morro Bay, Moss Landing, and Oakland.{{cite press release |url=http://www.pge.com/whats_new/news/releases/latest/961022r.html |title=PG&E plans sale of four power plants |date=October 22, 1996 |publisher=Pacific Gas and Electric |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970131193748/http://www.pge.com/whats_new/news/releases/latest/961022r.html |archive-date=January 31, 1997 |url-status=dead}} However, HPPP was dropped from the list when the auction began in September 1997.{{cite press release |url=http://www.pge.com/whats_new/news/releases/1997/quarter04/971118r.html |title=PG&E board approves sale of three power plants to Duke Energy subsidiary |date=November 18, 1997 |publisher=Pacific Gas and Electric |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202143320/http://www.pge.com/whats_new/news/releases/1997/quarter04/971118r.html |archive-date=December 2, 1998 |url-status=dead}} Because San Francisco is at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, its grid was designed to be isolated from the rest of the PG&E system by opening breakers at a substation in Daly City; PG&E argued that the demand for San Francisco could not be met by transmission alone so generation was still required within the "electrical island" to ensure system reliability.{{cite report |url=https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/esa/divest-pge-two/eir/chapters/deir_toc.htm |title=Pacific Gas and Electric Company's application for authorization to sell certain generating plants and related assets (Application No. 98-01-008) {{!}} Draft Environmental Impact Report |chapter=IV: Environmental Setting, Impacts and Mitigation {{!}} Section 12: Utilities and Service Systems |chapter-url=https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/info/esa/divest-pge-two/eir/chapters/04-12utl.pdf |publisher=California Public Utilities Commission |date=1998 |access-date=8 March 2021}}

PG&E announced its intent to sell both Hunters Point and Potrero in June 1997,{{cite web |url=http://www.pge.com/about_us/divestiture/index.html |title=Divestiture |publisher=Pacific Gas and Electric |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981205191020/http://www.pge.com/about_us/divestiture/index.html |archive-date=December 5, 1998 |url-status=dead}} as part of a second auction of fossil-fired and geothermal assets to start in March 1998, also including Contra Costa, Pittsburg, and The Geysers.{{cite press release |url=http://www.pge.com/whats_new/news/releases/1998/quarter01/980115r.html |title=PG&E announces second auction of power plants |date=January 15, 1998 |publisher=Pacific Gas and Electric |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981203111637/http://www.pge.com/whats_new/news/releases/1998/quarter01/980115r.html |archive-date=December 3, 1998 |url-status=dead}} The City of San Francisco began negotiations with PG&E to purchase HPPP and Potrero, forming a partnership with two private companies; PG&E stated it intended to auction the sites to the highest bidder instead, and the City then threatened to begin eminent domain proceedings on Hunters Point.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Power-Plant-Sale-Draws-S-F-Wrath-PG-E-won-t-3004063.php |title=Power Plant Sale Draws S.F. Wrath / PG&E won't delay auctions |author=Johnson, Jason B. |date=June 3, 1998 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=5 March 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/PG-E-Approves-Hunters-Point-Plant-Closure-3000661.php |title=PG&E Approves Hunters Point Plant Closure / Surprise move averts legal battle with S.F. |author=Howe, Kenneth |date=July 14, 1998 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=5 March 2021}} The California Public Utilities Commission ruled an environmental impact report would be required before PG&E could accept bids, shutting down the planned auction.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Bidding-Halted-on-S-F-Power-Plants-3004616.php |title=Bidding Halted on S.F. Power Plants / Environmental issues to be heard |author=Johnson, Jason B. |date=June 9, 1998 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=5 March 2021}} In July 1998, the City of San Francisco entered an agreement with PG&E to shut down HPPP "as soon as the facility is no longer needed to sustain electric reliability in San Francisco and the surrounding area and the FERC authorizes PG&E to terminate the Reliability Must Run agreement for the facility".{{cite report |url=http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/sanfrancisco/documents/applicant/AFC_CD-ROM/supplement-a/Volume_1/Sec_3_Purpose_and_Need.pdf |title=San Francisco Electric Reliability Project |chapter=Section 3.0: Purpose and Need |publisher=California Energy Commission |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223094204/http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/sanfrancisco/documents/applicant/AFC_CD-ROM/supplement-a/Volume_1/Sec_3_Purpose_and_Need.pdf |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |url-status=dead}} In return, the City agreed to not interfere with the sale of Potrero; the uncertainty caused by San Francisco's negotiations had been causing some prospective buyers to hold or delay their bids.

Activists continued to hold protests at HPPP{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/health/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Protest-against-PG-E-plant-2629929.php |title=Protest against PG&E plant / Hunters Point residents say it's sickening their kids |author=Goodyear, Charlie |date=December 9, 2004 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=5 March 2021}} until on May 15, 2006, PG&E permanently shut down the plant; the shutdown had been delayed pending a reliable source of replacement power, which had required upgrades to transmission lines along the Peninsula (Jefferson-Martin Transmission Project){{cite report |url=https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/Info/aspen/jefferson_martin/feir.htm |title=Final Environmental Impact Report: PG&E Proposed Jefferson-Martin 230 kV Transmission Project (Application No. A-02-09-043) |chapter=A. Introduction/Overview |chapter-url=https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Environment/Info/aspen/jefferson_martin/feir/text/a_introduction_overview.pdf |date=September 30, 2002 |publisher=California Public Utilities Commission |access-date=8 March 2021}} and under San Francisco Bay (Trans Bay Cable).{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Hunters-Point-power-plant-to-2536079.php |title=Hunters Point power plant to close May 15 |author=Lagos, Marisa |date=May 3, 2006 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=5 March 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Big-victory-for-Hunters-Point-activists-As-PG-E-2534998.php |title=Big victory for Hunters Point activists / As PG&E closes its old, smoky power plant, the neighborhood breathes a sigh of relief |author=Fulbright, Leslie |date=15 May 2006 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=16 February 2018}}{{cite press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208221052/http://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/Files/Communications%20and%20Outreach/Publications/News%20Releases/2006/pge_060515.ashx?la=en |archive-date=8 December 2012 |url=http://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/communications-and-outreach/publications/news-releases/2006/pge_060515.pdf |date=15 May 2006 |title=PG&E Hunters Point Power Plant Officially Closes |publisher=Bay Area Air Quality Management District |access-date=16 February 2018 |url-status=live}} It was demolished in 2008 and cleanup of the site was nearing completion in 2014.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029021424/http://www.pge.com/en/about/environment/taking-responsibility/power-plants/index.page |title=PG&E Hunters Point Site |publisher=Pacific Gas & Electric |archive-date=October 29, 2014 |url=http://www.pge.com/en/about/environment/taking-responsibility/power-plants/index.page}} PG&E has retained the former switchyard (now used as a substation) along the north side of Evans, and the parcel known as Area I, north of the intersection of Evans and Jennings, which previously was the site of Tanks 1 and 2.{{cite report |title=Remedial Action Plan Amendment: Area I Soil Remediation, Former Hunters Point Power Plant, 1000 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, California |url=http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/shared/environment/taking-responsibility/power-plants/HPPP-archive-documents/area_%20I_%20RAP_%20amd_final.pdf#page=7 |date=July 5, 2012 |author=URS Corporation |page=2-2 |publisher=Pacific Gas & Electric |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919211455/http://www.pge.com/includes/docs/pdfs/shared/environment/taking-responsibility/power-plants/HPPP-archive-documents/area_%20I_%20RAP_%20amd_final.pdf |archive-date=September 19, 2015 |url-status=dead}} Developers were slow to propose new uses for the site.{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2015/06/hunters-point-pge-coal-plant-waterfront-develop.html |title=Massive industrial S.F. site preps for prime time |author=Weinberg, Cory |date=June 29, 2015 |work=San Francisco Business Times |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 March 2021}} By 2017, the shoreline path around the former power plant site had been incorporated into the San Francisco Bay Trail.{{cite news |url=http://www.pgecurrents.com/2017/11/16/san-francisco-hunters-point-power-plant-cleanup-nears-completion/ |title=San Francisco: Hunters Point Power Plant Cleanup Nears Completion |author=Marvin, Karen |date=November 16, 2017 |work=Currents |publisher=Pacific Gas and Electric Company |access-date=5 March 2021 |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319113748/http://www.pgecurrents.com/2017/11/16/san-francisco-hunters-point-power-plant-cleanup-nears-completion/ |url-status=dead }} The site is used currently as a pop-up community space hosting neighborhood events.{{cite web |url=https://www.sfparksalliance.org/our-parks/parks/pge-hunters-point-power-plant |title=PG&E Hunters Point Power Plant |website=San Francisco Parks Alliance |access-date=5 March 2021}}

In 1996, the plant had two diesel-fired aeroderivative combustion turbines (collectively known as Unit 1) and three steam turbine-generators (Units 2, 3, and 4) using steam from five boilers (Boilers 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) that burned natural gas, but which historically had operated on no. 6 fuel oil.{{rp|3-1}}

The three steam turbines used approximately {{convert|400|e6USgal/day|e6m3/day|abbr=on}} of water drawn from the lagoon in a once-through cooling scheme; cooling water was chlorinated with sodium hypochlorite, circulated through the condenser, then de-chlorinated with sodium bisulfate before being discharged into India Basin.{{cite report |url=https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/final_documents2?global_id=38490002&doc_id=6014530 |title=Hunters Point Phase I Environmental Site Assessment |author=Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. |date=1997 |publisher=Pacific Gas & Electric |chapter=3 {{!}} Site Description |chapter-url=https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/deliverable_documents/3192289054/Hunters%20Point%20Phase%20I%20Environmental%20Site%20Assessment_Part%201%20of%203.pdf#page=8 |access-date=5 March 2021}}{{rp|3-1}} A breakwater was built in 1969 to prevent the heated discharge water from mixing with the lagoon intake; the lagoon was completely enclosed by 1975, when a dike was built between the site and Pier 96.{{rp|4-1}}

The site was expanded through extensive filling of the Bay north of Evans and east of Jennings between 1947 and 1958, adding approximately {{convert|80|to|100|acre}} of land.{{rp|4-1}}

Aboveground tanks were used to store fuel oil on-site in three closely-spaced sites near the intersection of Evans and Jennings: (1) containing Tanks 1 and 2, in the block north of the intersection; (2) containing Tanks 3, 4, and 8, in the block east of the intersection; and (3) 5, 6, 7, and 9 south of Evans.{{rp|3-2}}

Tank 3 was identified in aerial photographs as early as 1935 and may have been part of the original construction.{{rp|4–5}} Tanks 1, 2, and 4 were built in 1948 and 1949, when Units 2 and 3 were added.{{rp|4-1}} Tanks 5, 6, and 7 were added in 1958 with Unit 4.{{rp|4-1}} Tank 8 was identified in a 1975 aerial photograph, and Tank 9 was identified in a 1977 aerial photograph.{{rp|4-2}}

Tank 3 also was used to store dielectric oil waste, possibly containing PCBs, from HPPP and other PG&E sites in the 1970s; overflow from Tank 3 was sent to Tank 8 and potentially could have been burned during power plant operation.{{rp|5-5}} Prior to 1986, fuel was shipped to Pier 90 by oil tankers and transported to the site through an underground steel pipeline along Cargo Way.{{rp|5-3}} By 1996, the only tank still being used for (diesel) fuel storage was Tank 9;{{rp|5–11}} Tanks 1-8, previously used for fuel oil storage, had been empty since 1994.{{rp|5-2}}

The original Unit 1 was commissioned on December 3, 1929 as Station P, with a generating capacity of {{convert|62|e3HP|MW|order=flip}}; the two boilers which served the original Unit 1 were abandoned in place in 1972.{{rp|4-2}}

Units 2 and 3 drew from four boilers (designated S3 through S6) with a collective thermal power of {{convert|2680|e6Btu/hour|MW|abbr=out}}; their collective electric output was {{convert|235|MW|e3HP|abbr=on}}, including two smaller turbines designated to serve "house" loads associated with power plant operation.{{rp|3-2}} PG&E first announced plans to expand Station P in 1946; although plans for expansion had dated back to 1941, they were delayed by wartime material shortages.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=OLSF19460727.2.48 |title=P.G. & E. to Spend 19 Million Enlarging S.F. Steam Plant |date=July 27, 1946 |newspaper=Organized Labor |access-date=5 March 2021}} Units 2 and 3 were constructed in 1948 and 1949;{{rp|4-1}} when they were completed and dedicated on February 8, 1949, they were collectively the largest power plant owned by PG&E.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=OLSF19490211.2.20 |title=Hunters Point PG&E Station Dedicated; 360,000 H.P. |date=February 11, 1949 |newspaper=Organized Labor |access-date=5 March 2021}} Units 2 and 3 and were shut down permanently in 2001.{{cite report |url=http://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/engineering/title-v-permits/a0024/a0024_2004-09_renewal_03.pdf?la=en |title=Permit Evaluation and Statement of Basis for Renewal of Major Facility Review Permit for Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Hunters Point Power Plant, Facility #A0024 |date=September 2004 |publisher=Bay Area Air Quality Management District |access-date=16 February 2018}}{{rp|5}}

PG&E filed a permit application to construct what would become Unit 4 in 1955.{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=BLA19551208.2.42 |title=PG&E Planning Hunters Point Plant Expansion |date=December 8, 1955 |newspaper=Blue Lake Advocate |access-date=5 March 2021}} Unit 4 drew steam from a single large boiler (designated S7) with a thermal power of {{convert|1720|e6Btu/hour|MW|abbr=out|lk=on}} and generated 170 MW electric output.{{rp|5;10}} S7 was permitted to burn natural gas or fuel oil, but the oil-burning capability was deleted in the 2004 permit application, since continued oil burning would have required the boiler to be retrofitted with selective catalytic reduction equipment to meet tightening NOx emissions requirements beyond 2005. Unit 4 began operation in 1958.{{rp|3-3}}

PG&E was granted permits to build four peaking power plant units in San Francisco in 1975;{{cite news |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SBS19750529.1.24 |title=Gas turbines will power utility's new generator |agency=AP |date=May 29, 1975 |newspaper=San Bernardino Sun |access-date=5 March 2021}} one was built at HPPP and the other three were built at Potrero.{{rp|3-3}} HPPP Unit 1 was reused as the collective designation for the two diesel-fired peaking turbines (designated S1 and S2), each rated at {{convert|364|e6Btu/hour|MW|abbr=out}} thermal power{{rp|5;10}} and 26 MW electric. The redesignated Unit 1 began operation in 1976.{{rp|3-3}}

• List of power stations in California
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company
• Bayview-Hunters Point, San Francisco

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141029021424/http://www.pge.com/en/about/environment/taking-responsibility/power-plants/index.page PG&E Hunters Point Site]
• {{cite web |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=MT19471007.2.31.2 |title=MEN at work all along the line! |date=October 7, 1947 |newspaper=Madera Tribune}} Advertisement for PG&E, publicizing expansion plans.
• {{cite web |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SN19480722.2.82.1 |title=1000 men rush expansion of P. G. and E.'s greatest power plant |date=July 22, 1948 |work=Sausalito News}} Advertisement for the 1948/49 "Station P" expansion project.
• {{cite web |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=HTES19481112.2.55.2 |title=One of nation's heaviest freight loads for P. G. and E. power project |date=November 12, 1948 |work=Healdsburg Tribune, Enterprise and Scimitar}} Advertisement for the 1948/49 "Station P" expansion project.
• {{cite web |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19580520.1.5 |title=P. G. and E. booms ahead with the West's biggest building program, creating jobs for thousands |date=May 20, 1958 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel}} Advertisement including photographs from the 1958 expansion project. Similar advertisements: [https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=NVR19580602.1.7 June 2, 1958] and [https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SCS19580715.1.14 July 15, 1958]
• {{cite web |url=http://sflib1.sfpl.org:82/record=b1013851 |title=Workmen easing a steam turbine rotor into position at a new power plant in the Hunters Point district |date=May 22, 1958 |author=PG&E |publisher=San Francisco Public Library}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Power_Plant_Along_India_Basin%E2%80%94Before_and_After |title=Power Plant Along India Basin—Before and After |website=Found SF}}

Category:1929 establishments in California

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Category:Bayview–Hunters Point, San Francisco