San Francisco Wins U.S Conference of Mayors' Top National Climate Award

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced that San Francisco has won a top national climate honor from the U.S. Conference of Mayors 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.

San Francisco was one of the first cities in the United States to develop a sustainability plan nearly three decades ago—now called the Climate Action Plan—which has led to sustainability innovations at the greenest airport in the nation, the three-bin waste system that is now a global standard, and the city's award-winning CleanPowerSF program. Under Mayor Lurie’s leadership, the city has continued to lead climate solutions, hosting Climate Week in April with more than 30,000 attendees and 1,000 organizations present. The mayor has also celebrated the launch of several San Francisco companies leading the way in clean energy innovation—including It’s Electric, which unveiled the city’s first curbside EV charging stations, Redwood Materials, which announced a new research and development facility focused on lithium-ion battery recycling and production, and Revel, which opened its first West Coast charging station in the Mission District.

“San Francisco has long been a leader in climate protection and a hub for innovative climate solutions. Our CleanPowerSF program helps hundreds of thousands of households and businesses access clean, reliable electricity while reducing our city's emissions and building a more sustainable future,” said Mayor Lurie. “It's an honor to receive this recognition for our program—thank you to the U.S. Conference of Mayors and to all my fellow cities and mayors for this Mayors Climate Protection Award.”

CleanPowerSF is operated by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and began serving customers in 2016. The program has a mission to provide San Francisco residents and businesses with clean, renewable electricity at competitive rates. With an initial enrollment of 7,800 customer accounts, the program 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 Dennis Herrera, SFPUC General Manager. “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 procures clean energy from different producers, including through long-term contracts. It 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, such as its Solar Inverter Replacement Program, which helps low-income residents repair rooftop solar systems. 

Along with CleanPowerSF, 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 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.

This top national climate award is the second environmental honor that San Francisco has earned just this month. On June 9, San Francisco was named to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) A List as an international climate action leader. These awards and recognition continue to secure San Francisco’s role as an environmental leader. San Francisco will continue to implement its bold Climate Action Plan and make the city a top-tier destination for climate technology and innovation.

The Mayors Climate Protection Awards from the U.S. Conference of Mayors 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 goals.