San Francisco’s Forgotten Power Plant: The Potrero Power Station Tower

The Potrero Power Station Tower stands as a towering relic on the southeastern edge of the San Francisco Bay. While it commands attention from passersby, many locals overlook the now decaying facility at its base. In its prime, the power station played a crucial role in meeting the city’s electricity needs, generating power for up to one-third of San Francisco at maximum capacity. Operating on natural gas and diesel, the plant left behind a legacy of environmental impact—its natural gas steam turbine caused pollution and ecological harm in the surrounding area over decades of service.

When a boiler burns natural gas, it creates steam to power turbine blades, generating electricity. At the Potrero Power Station, the boiler itself was over seven stories tall, drawing bay water to cool its systems before releasing the heated water back into the bay. This process, along with emissions from burning diesel, contributed to the facility's environmental footprint. Despite these drawbacks, the station was integral to the city's energy grid, providing vital power to San Francisco for the many years of its use.

The History

Over 50 years ago, the Potrero Power Station was at the heart of San Francisco's energy infrastructure, helping meet the city's growing demand for electricity. But by 2010, concerns over pollution and the station's environmental impact led to its closure under then-Mayor Gavin Newsom’s administration. Although there were proposals to transition from diesel to natural gas as the station's primary fuel source, those efforts ultimately failed, and the power plant was permanently shut down. The closure marked a pivotal moment in San Francisco’s ongoing push toward cleaner, more sustainable energy alternatives to power its expanding population.

The Plans for the Power Station

Since its closure, the Potrero Power Station has remained largely dormant, a shadow of its former self. However, plans are now in motion to transform the site into a vibrant waterfront destination. The surrounding Dogpatch neighborhood has seen significant gentrification, which has brought with it a pressing demand for more housing, office space, and public amenities. This has led to a vision for the power plant's redevelopment: to breathe new life into the area by converting the station into a mixed-use hub with residential buildings, offices, and a public park overlooking the bay.

The vision for the site is an ambitious one, aiming to create a bustling urban environment that will attract not only nearby residents but also visitors from across the city. In 2020, the project’s final planning phase was approved, with the go-ahead to initiate more work. While there is no concrete timeline for when construction will begin, the redevelopment of the Potrero Power Station is expected to take several years. Once completed, the site could serve as a destination for weekend getaways, offering a scenic park, a place to relax by the water, and a new, vibrant community space for both locals and tourists alike.

A standout feature of the new plan is the proposed hotel located within and around the iconic steam tower that once powered the station. Once considered an unconventional choice, a hotel in this industrial space is now seen as a fitting complement to the surrounding park and redeveloped area. The new project is also expected to generate numerous job opportunities, adding another layer of economic benefit to the community.

While the Potrero Power Station may have been all but forgotten during its years of disuse, the upcoming redevelopment offers a chance to transform this historic site into a dynamic, modern space. The project promises to not only honor the station’s legacy but also create a unique destination that blends San Francisco’s past with its future.