School Programs & Resources

Community

School initiatives

From environmental literacy to campus electrification projects, Peninsula Clean Energy’s school initiatives contribute to our mission of addressing climate change.

  • $1.8 million since 2016: Peninsula Clean Energy has committed over $1.8 million in financial support for environmental and energy-related programs in schools and community colleges since 2016.

  • $400k in 2024-2025: Peninsula Clean Energy is partnering with education leaders and allocating more than $400,000 in the 2024-2025 school year for educational programs and other efforts to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions.

Peninsula Clean Energy event led by Kirsten Andrews-Schwind, Associate Director of Community Relations and Climate Equity, with Vanessa Shin, Associate Manager of Community Relations
High school students attending a Youth Climate Ambassadors panel discussion featuring Rafael Reyes and other expert speakers, sharing insights on climate leadership and sustainability

Youth Leadership

Developing student climate leaders

Through our Youth Climate Ambassadors program, high school students gain the tools and knowledge to lead climate action projects in their schools and communities. They learn from experts, collaborate with peers, and develop skills for real-world impact on sustainability.

Hands-On Learning

Green career awareness

We work with the San Mateo County Office of Education and Los Banos schools to offer middle and high school students the chance to learn about clean energy careers through experiential field trips and solutions-based curricula.

A group of students wear bright yellow vests as they learn about green career opportunities
A large group of teachers sit at tables as they discuss an exercise about teaching students about wind power

Education

Support for teachers​​

We help teachers educate students about clean energy and climate action. We work with the San Mateo County Office of Education and their partners to develop curriculum and train teachers to integrate clean energy concepts into their classroom.

Featured partnerships

Peninsula Clean Energy is proud to support a variety of innovative projects that empower students, educators, and communities to take action on climate change. From hands-on learning experiences to career development opportunities, our initiatives are designed to inspire and equip the next generation of environmental leaders. These projects are shaping a future where sustainability and clean energy are part of every student’s education.

Three female students stand behind oversized statues of letters that read "M-O-T" in front of a large building labeled "College Center."

Creating Local Heroes

Launching the Sustainability Career Center

In partnership with the San Mateo County Community College District, PCE is proud to support the new Sustainability Career Center at Cañada College, which opened in Spring 2024. Five student interns are developing interactive exhibits focused on clean energy and sustainability. These engaging exhibits, inspired by the Museum of Tomorrow, aim to deepen community commitment to sustainable living and inspire change.

A middle school aged girl wears an orange space jumpsuit and gestures towards her science project board that reads Ellen Ochoa
Photo credit: Gene Lieb/TheWestsideExpress.com

Get Involved

Clean energy science education in Los Banos

Peninsula Clean Energy has partnered with Pacheco High School on interactive, hands-on science education. We sponsor the Science Wax Museum, where high school students educate more than 1,000 elementary school students about important scientific discoveries. Separately, students from both Los Banos and Pacheco High Schools learned about solar energy and clean energy technologies on a PCE-sponsored field trip to UC Merced.

Energy Dashboard

Two graphs demonstrate the amount of CO2 emissions and energy use over time from 2018-2024. The graphs demonstrate that the use of electricity has increased while methane gas emissions have decreased.

Green Schools

Helping schools with cleaner air

We fund school districts to help them replace fossil fuel appliances with electric equipment. Participating school districts receive support with collecting facility-level data and identifying fossil fuel equipment. These partnerships also provide school districts with tailored recommendations for reducing harmful emissions on their campuses.

Classroom Resources

Tools for teachers

Now more then ever, students are aware of climate change and the challenges our society will face. Since it is their generation that will be the most impacted, educating students about climate change and its causes and effects is essential. We also need to teach about the powerful local actions we are taking to help their generation and how they can get involved.

To help educators, Peninsula Clean Energy has created a math and science activity packets designed to make teaching about climate change more accessible and easy. 

Are you a teacher looking for ideas for your energy curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students? See our ready-made resources and download them for free.

Student Activity Packet

Learn how climate change impacts San Mateo County, and calculate the impact of everyday energy choices. This activity is ideal for middle and high school students.

Make Your Own Clean Energy

Find instructions and templates for our fun and interactive pinwheel activity.

Infographic

Where does your electricity come from? Learn more from this fun infographic for students.

Newsletter

Keeping up with PCE

Would you like to stay informed about PCE’s efforts to bring clean, affordable electricity to your home?

Illustrations of clean energy initiatives: a business owner, solar-powered home, and EV charging station.