Balancing Oakland's Budget
Closing the city’s structural deficit to move toward fiscal solvency and economic growth
The Red Tape Holding Back Heat Pump Adoption, and What to Do About It: Q&A with Sam Fishman
News / Heat pumps can heat and cool buildings, reduce greenhouse gasses, and improve indoor and outdoor air quality. So why aren’t they more common in California? A web of complex requirements, restrictive zoning and planning codes, excessive documentation requirements, and high fees have hindered adoption. SPUR’s Sam Fishman explains current permitting headaches and walks us through how to smooth the way to a gas-free future for buildings.
SPUR 2025 Annual Report
Annual Report / This year, SPUR's work included successfully persuading Governor Newsom to propose a new state housing agency, inspiring a reorganization to make the San Francisco Mayor’s Office more effective, leading progress on transitioning Bay Area buildings to clean energy, and helping pass local laws that support small businesses and make it easier to convert office buildings into much-needed housing. We invite you to learn more about the impact that your support made possible.
Timing Is Money: Transitioning Homes to Electric Energy When the Financial Burden Is Lightest
News / SPUR supported a recent Berkeley ordinance that motivates investments in zero-emissions home retrofits by taking advantage of home sales to require energy upgrades. Berkeley’s time-of-sale approach balances consistent investment with flexible compliance pathways for retrofits. It’s just one approach cities can take to expand their decarbonization toolboxes.
Greenlighting Clean Heat
Policy Brief California and the Bay Area are using zero-emission appliance rules, building codes, and climate action plans to move the heating appliance market and consumers toward a gas-free future for buildings. But fragmented and outdated permitting systems are posing a barrier to adoption of electric appliances and delaying their health and climate benefits. SPUR offers five recommendations to streamline and standardize permits to improve safety, lower costs, reduce burdens on contractors and consumers, and create a fairer, more efficient system.
Balancing San Francisco’s Budget, Part 3: Closing the Structural Deficit
News / San Francisco faces an unprecedented fiscal crisis as rising costs and stagnant revenues drive a growing structural deficit. With a projected $1.47 billion deficit by FY 2029–30, city leaders must now make tough choices, including cutting costs, redefining core services, improving budget management, and updating the city charter. The third article in our series looks at structural solutions that can help the city avoid future instability and ensure a sustainable fiscal future.