The City of San Mateo joined the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition as a way to jump-start the implementation of its Climate Action Plan, which was formally adopted in 2015. Staff says the competition provides a framework for the city to track its progress in improving energy efficiency in its community. Because Climate Action Plan implementation is the city’s primary goal, San Mateo has focused on implementing measures in its plan, including public outreach and education, promoting Property Assessed Clean Energy financing and moving forward with municipal energy-efficiency improvements.

City officials say the key to success is leveraging as many resources as possible. Mayor Joe Goethals says, “The Georgetown University Energy Prize is a fun way for local governments, come together to engage and motivate our residents to achieve a common sustainability goal.”

San Mateo is working with the Home Upgrade Program, which is run by the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability and El Concilio, a community-based nonprofit organization. Both serve a support role for public outreach and education in the city’s efforts to participate in the Georgetown University Energy Prize and the CoolCalifornia Challenge, a statewide program focusing on energy efficiency. The city is not devoting specific resources to the competition, but rather leveraging capital funds and other dollars set aside for Climate Action Plan implementation to pay for some of the larger projects, such as LED streetlight replacements and upgrades to municipal facilities. In addition, Pacific Gas and Electric provided $20,000 in dedicated funds to San Mateo and the other five communities in its service territory that are competing for the Georgetown University Energy Prize.

This story is part of a Western City article on the Georgetown Energy Prize. Click here to access the full article.