Power Play

America's greenest utility isn't happy about all this. PG&E reps have publicly and repeatedly called CCA a "hostile takeover." (Fenn might agree with the "hostile" part; he calls the traditional power companies "Neanderthals" and "gorillas" that are "ruthless" and "medieval.") And California's attorney general is reportedly investigating whether PG&E has lobbied against CCA in violation of antitrust prohibitions. But PG&E spokeswoman Darlene Chiu refuses to confirm that the firm opposes CCA and the 51%-renewable mandate. "We question that it can be achieved," she says. "The biggest obstacle is finding the amount of renewable energy at prices that are affordable for the customers in San Francisco."

"What they're really saying is that it's not affordable for PG&E," Fenn says. He believes San Francisco will become the nation's premier showcase for cost-effective green power. Savings from efficiency and "smart grid" innovations -- "even cheaper than coal," he says -- will pay for pricier renewables, while the scale of citywide demand will make new technologies more affordable. "We're like vegan power," he says. "Local and green is greener than green."