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Building a Greener Future: Inside SFPUC’s Efforts to Combat Climate Change

View of Golden Gate from Baker Beach
  • Raven La

 

Raven La (left) and Donovan Gomez (right) at the Southeast Treatment Plant in 2025
Raven La and Donovan Gomez at the Southeast Treatment Plant, 2025

My name is Raven La and I'm a rising freshman at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) and a Project Pull intern. Project Pull is an internship focused on connecting students to careers that will help them grow, while also introducing young San Franciscans to the public sector.

This past summer, I interned with the Communications department at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). During my time with the Communications department, I worked on digital communications and outreach events, improving my professional skills along the way. Throughout my time at the SFPUC, I gained valuable insight into how the SFPUC delivers essential water, power, and sewer services to the community. In addition, I also learned how to strengthen my communication skills and navigate a professional environment.

One thing that stood out to me during my internship was how the SFPUC is taking action to protect San Francisco from the growing impacts of climate change. From water waste to carbon emissions, the choices we make every day is contributing to the impact of our environment. These actions have intensified global warming, leading to rising sea levels, coastal flooding, and erosion that threaten our city’s infrastructure. In response, the SFPUC is leading innovative projects and sustainability efforts to build a cleaner, more resilient future for our community.
 

Sewer: Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project

The Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project aims to create new public open space, while simultaneously meeting the objectives of the Coastal Act and the Clean Water Act and protecting key assets from being damaged by erosion. Here are some of the main objectives if this project:

  • Protect essential infrastructure such as a pump station, wastewater treatment plant, recycled water facility, and other key infrastructure by constructing a seawall.
  • Reroute Great Highway traffic between Sloat Blvd and Skyline Drive away from the narrowest part of the beach.
  • Replace the sand to improve beach health.
  • Create a multi-use public trail.

Construction plans to start around late 2027 and will take roughly 4 years to complete. The project will not only protect key water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, but it will also provide the public with improved access to a safer and cleaner Ocean Beach.

Power: EV Charge SF Program and Electrify My Ride

Gas-powered transportation is a major contributor to climate change. To address this, San Francisco is hoping to achieve two ambitious climate goals. The first is 80% of all trips taken in the City will be low-carbon (e.g. transit, walking, biking) by 2030. The second is all new registered private vehicles are electric by 2040. The SFPUC is helping the City reach those goals through various programs like Electrify My Ride and EV Charge SF.

Electrify My Ride Participant tests out an electric bike at the Electrify My Ride event in Sep 2025 at Southeast Community Center

Electrify My Ride provides a $1,000 coupon for a new electric bike (e-bike) to SFPUC customers with low incomes. So, why e-bikes? In addition to being a great source of exercise, e-bikes contribute to cleaner air and healthier communities as a low-carbon travel option. Electrify My Ride helps make eco-friendly transportation more accessible to those that need help and are often impacted the most by air pollution and climate change.

EV Charge SF

EV Charge SF is a program that provides multifamily and commercial buildings with up to $120,000 in financial incentives to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The program also offers technical assistance for many projects. EV Charge SF is helping to make EV charging stations more accessible for everyone.

Water: Water Quality

SFPUC pledges to provide high-quality drinking water to all their customers. Even during the uncertainty of climate change, the SFPUC continues to deliver the highest quality of water to over 2.7 million residents and thousands of businesses in the Bay Area. This past year, the SFPUC conducted over 100,000 water quality tests and found that our water meets all federal and state standards. Learn more in the SFPUC’s Annual Water Quality Report.

Climate change continues to destroy animal habitats, killing off entire species. The SFPUC prides itself in maintaining and protecting watersheds to preserve habitats for animal species, keeping their ecosystem intact. The SFPUC’s water quality team monitors the system 24/7/365, employing advanced technologies and rigorous protocols to safeguard public health. The agency also manages more than 60,000 acres of watershed lands to protect water sources and preserve habitats for endangered species. Through innovation, dedication, and environmental stewardship, the SFPUC remains committed to ensuring safe and reliable water for future generations while protecting the natural ecosystems that we all depend on.

What’s Next?

From conserving water to transitioning to 100% renewable energy, you can also make an impact. Advocate against climate change and let people in your community know about programs like these that promote a cleaner, greener climate for all.