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Power

CleanPowerSF’s Outreach Program Helps Students Plug into the Future

Person explaining clean energy jobs to SFUSD students in a classroom setting with educational posters on the walls.
The SFPUC and SF Environment designed the bilingual curriculum.
  • Antonio Almaguer

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is powering the next generation of learners. During the 2025–2026 school year, the CleanPowerSF team partnered with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the San Francisco Environment Department (SFE) to educate students about climate change and renewable energy. Through hands-on activities, these kids discovered how we transform everyday sunshine into grid-ready power and how local communities are building climate resilience.

Designed in collaboration with SFE, the Renewable Energy Outreach Program introduced sustainability-focused lesson plans to 255 students in elementary, middle, and high schools. The eight SFUSD schools that were involved all had rooftop solar systems installed by the SFPUC. Students dived into the social and environmental issues around the climate crisis, learned about hydroelectric generation and public power, and discovered that their own schools were powered by solar.

Students assembling small solar-powered cars on a red table near a window in a classroom setting.
Students charge up their solar-powered model cars.

SFE staff taught the renewable energy curriculum, which emphasized interactive learning. For example, elementary school students used mini solar panels to power a small walking bug toy and to build solar-powered model cars. Meanwhile, high school students applied their growing knowledge of public power and wrote letters to Mayor Lurie and other elected officials in support of the movement.

“By pairing hands-on learning with real-world context, this pilot program helped students see themselves as playing an integral part of San Francisco's clean energy future,” said Elisa Rodriguez Furey, Communications Specialist for the Power Enterprise. “I’m grateful to Blair Randall, Education Manager, for his expertise as we developed this idea. Thanks also to SFE for developing thoughtful, clean energy-focused lessons and to the SFUSD schools and teachers for their collaboration in this initial launch.”

One unique aspect of the curriculum was that it was delivered in English and Spanish. Said Elisa: “Many schools have newcomer students. In conversations with teachers, we saw the need for these lessons to be offered in Spanish as well. For those classrooms, a Spanish speaker was present to translate.”

Based on early feedback from the teachers and students, the Renewable Energy Outreach Program significantly raised awareness about the City’s clean energy initiatives and about the SFPUC’s role as a green hydroelectric and solar power provider. The CleanPowerSF team is already planning the next iteration of the program for the upcoming school year.