Potrero Generating Station

In a press conference announcing the closure, Newsom stated that "this is a monumental step towards cleaner air, environmental justice and our future of renewable energy and healthier communities.

At full power approximately 10 m3/s (226 million gallons per day)[5] of water were pumped from the subsurface of the Bay, passed through screens and filters to remove debris and prevent biological uptake.

For many years an effort had been made by Mirant to expand or upgrade the Potrero Point facility, while many in the local community felt the site should be closed due to health and pollution concerns.

At that time, the plant was tentatively scheduled to be shut down sometime in 2007 so that a more modern replacement of similar size could be built at the site,[7] but subsequently plans were scaled back and called only for the diesel peaking power generators to be upgraded.

In 2009 the City of San Francisco and Mirant agreed to close down the plant, pending approval from the California Independent System Operator.

[9] CAISO ruled a month later that the plant must stay on line at least through 2010, and only after upgrades to the electrical transmission grid going into San Francisco were completed and the city was able to import sufficient power from other parts of the state to meet all of its needs.

[11] On December 21, 2010, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that the Potrero plant would cease operations by the end of the year.

Anchored by a 300-foot stack, the project will feature 6.66 acres of parks and open space, a boutique hotel adapted from a former steam power facility, and restaurants, cafes, shops and stores.