FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19, 2025
U.S. Conference of Mayors Honors San Francisco with Top National Climate Award
San Francisco earns first place for cutting emissions, delivering 100% clean power, and expanding access through CleanPowerSF
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Conference of Mayors has awarded San Francisco its top national climate honor in the 2025 Climate Protection Awards. San Francisco received first place in the Large City category for cutting emissions, delivering 100% renewable electricity, and expanding access to clean affordable energy through its CleanPowerSF local electricity program.
CleanPowerSF began serving customers in 2016 with an initial enrollment of 7,800 customer accounts. Since then, CleanPowerSF has grown into San Francisco’s community-based, not-for-profit electricity provider, now serving over 380,000 customer accounts with renewable and greenhouse gas-free electricity. CleanPowerSF has contributed to San Francisco reducing emissions from electricity use by 98% from 1990 levels and reached the City’s Climate Action Plan target for 100% renewable power two years ahead of schedule. Over the past two years, CleanPowerSF has saved its customers approximately $50 million per year compared to the local investor-owned utility.
“Local solutions are a path to addressing the climate crisis, and I’m proud that CleanPowerSF is being recognized for the role it plays in San Francisco’s climate leadership,” said SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera. “As San Francisco’s public power program, CleanPowerSF has cut emissions by 98%, reached 100% renewable power ahead of schedule, and made clean, reliable, affordable electricity available to the entire City. This award reflects the hard work and dedication to build a clean energy future in San Francisco—today.”
CleanPowerSF has steadily expanded its customer base and its clean energy portfolio while keeping rates affordable. The program has secured contracts for more than 600 megawatts of new solar, wind, and geothermal energy, as well as over 300 megawatts of battery storage – enough clean energy to power more than 500,000 homes annually. Most recently, CleanPowerSF finalized the City’s largest wind energy development agreement, which will add 150 megawatts of new wind power and 50 megawatts of energy storage to the system.
In addition to growing its clean energy supply, CleanPowerSF reinvests revenues into local programs that support climate action and equity, such as its Solar Inverter Replacement Program, which helps low-income residents repair rooftop solar systems.
The United States Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities of 30,000 or more, representing over 1,400 cities nationwide. The Mayors Climate Protection Awards recognize cities for their outstanding and innovative local actions that reduce carbon emissions and advance climate resilience. As part of the award, San Francisco will receive a $25,000 grant, which the City will direct to a local nonprofit organization supporting climate and equity goals.
About CleanPowerSF and Hetch Hetchy Power
CleanPowerSF began serving customers in 2016 with a mission to provide San Francisco residents and businesses with clean, renewable electricity at competitive rates. CleanPowerSF procures clean energy from different producers, including through long-term contracts.
Along with CleanPowerSF, the SFPUC operates Hetch Hetchy Power, which generates and delivers 100% greenhouse gas-free energy to approximately 7,500 customer accounts, including municipal buildings and facilities, such as San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco International Airport, schools, libraries and the Muni transit system. Hetch Hetchy Power also provides electricity to some commercial and residential developments, including affordable housing sites.
In 2023, CleanPowerSF and Hetch Hetchy Power collectively saved customers more than $170 million on electric bills compared to for-profit utility PG&E.
About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and meets 75% of the electricity demand in San Francisco. The SFPUC’s mission is to provide customers with high-quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests, and sustains the resources entrusted to the agency's care. Learn more at sfpuc.gov.