Apply to Win $500 in Scholarships!
Contest Flyers (Coming soon)
Contest Timeline
Start Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Submission Deadline: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Contest guidelines
The 2026 CleanPowerSF Climate and Clean Energy High School Video and Writing Contest with the theme “Powering San Francisco’s Future “is here!
This contest is a collaboration between San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the San Francisco Kindergarten to College (K2C) program in celebration of the 10-year anniversary for CleanPowerSF.
Current 9th to 12th grade San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) students and SFUSD-affiliated charter schools 9th to 12th grade students with an active K2C account are invited to participate in the contest by creating a video, a poem or a persuasive speech. Students are encouraged to participate in their preferred language. SFPUC will select up to 80 citywide honorees and award scholarships of $500 each. Watch our short video below to learn more about CleanPowerSF, renewable energy, and climate change.
About CleanPowersf
CleanPowerSF is a local solution to the climate crisis, offering renewable, affordable, and accessible energy to 385,000 customers across San Francisco. A program of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, we empower residents and businesses to choose a more sustainable future, today. Read more on our about page.
About K2C
The City and County of San Francisco automatically opens a college savings account with an initial $50 seed for every K-12th grade student enrolled with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Students and their families can save for higher education by making personal contributions and receiving program awarded incentives. Learn more about San Francisco’s Kindergarten to College (K2C) at K2CSF.org.
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Current San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), and SFUSD-affiliated charter schools, 9th-12th grade students with active Kindergarten to College (K2C) savings accounts.
For general K2C questions, email k2c@sfgov.org.
For contest specific questions email EiRodriguezFurey@sfwater.org or HCantiller@sfwater.org.
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Create an original video that conveys the theme “Powering San Francisco’s Future.”
All entries should begin with a short (e.g., 5 seconds) “title screen” that includes the following information:
Student full name
School name
Grade
Title of video
Video submissions should be about 1 minute in length (not including the 5 second title screen).
Submit your video to our Google Form with your information. For large files too large to email or upload, send it using a file sharing service (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox). For support, email EiRodriguezFurey@sfwater.org or HCantiller@sfwater.org.
Copyright images are not permitted.
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Write an original poem or persuasive speech that conveys the theme “Powering San Francisco’s Future.”
Poems should not exceed 32 lines in length (written).
Persuasive speech should not exceed 750 words.
Submit your poem or persuasive speech to our Google Form with your information.
For any questions or support, you can email EiRodriguezFurey@sfwater.org or HCantiller@sfwater.org.
Copyright material is not permitted.
Use of Artificial Intelligence to write your poem or persuasive speech is not allowed.
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All enrolled SFUSD, and SFUSD-affiliated charter students in 9th-12th grade are invited to participate, however awards will only be given to students with an active K2C savings account.
Students can only submit one entry – video, poem or persuasive speech.
All students’ submissions must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Submissions must include student name, grade, school, school ID number and contact information (personal email and phone number).
Decisions by SFPUC will be final - awards will be announced on CleanPowerSF.org by May 20, 2026. A celebratory reception for winners will be hosted by SFPUC in late May.
By participating you are agreeing that SFPUC can use your submissions in its own materials supporting clean energy by displaying them on Muni buses, sharing them on social media, or using them in other promotional materials.
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Interpretation of theme - does the video, poem, or persuasive speech clearly show a representation of what “Powering San Francisco’s Future” means to them?
Creativity - does the video, poem or persuasive speech show imagination, originality, and expressiveness?
Connection to CleanPowerSF – does the video, poem, or persuasive speech demonstrate:
Ways to inspire environmental stewardship within their communities and among high school peers?
Creative ways for how clean energy from programs like CleanPowerSF work and can help fight climate change in San Francisco or their community?
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Citywide Honorees
Grade ranges - 9th-12th will be awarded the following:
$500 Scholarship deposited in their Kindergarten to College (K2C) account.
Award certificate as a citywide honoree.
Recognition on the SFPUC and K2C social media platforms and websites.
Poems and persuasive speeches could be displayed on Muni buses.
Share your work at the upcoming Climate Action Youth Summit hosted by the SF Environment Department! Practice your public speaking skills, connect with likeminded youth, and inspire your community! Interested students are invited to screen, recite or read their submissions at the Summit bringing together youth from across the city around climate action. Student presenters will be accepted on a rolling basis as long as space is available - to participate contact eirodriguezfurey@sfwater.org.
*Participation in the event will not impact your chances of winning.
