Local Jurisdictions

The Sustainability Department offers a range of resources and programs to help local jurisdictions and special districts in San Mateo County advance energy efficiency and climate action. We support jurisdictions in developing climate action plans, implementing greenhouse gas reduction projects, and improving energy efficiency across municipal, community, and school district buildings. To foster collaboration, we host working group meetings and workshops, develop research and policy templates, and create case studies and communication campaigns that staff can use directly. Additionally, we connect jurisdictions with incentive programs from regional partners to help fund sustainability efforts.

For school administrators and facility staff, explore our electrification and energy efficiency resources specifically for schools.

Featured Resources

Explore resources available for Municipalities and Special Districts. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at energy@smcgov.org.

energy efficiency tiers chart with stack of coins representing savings potential

Financing Options for Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Our team can connect finance staff with funding options for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects. PG&E provides 0% interest On-Bill Financing for local government projects over $5,000. Contact the Energy Watch team to learn more.

Energy Benchmarking Services

We can benchmark the energy use of all of your facilities for no cost using Energy Star Portfolio Manager and will then help you analyze energy use and identify savings opportunities. The Portfolio Manager tool provides a 12-month energy assessment and a customized action plan for efficiency improvements.

technicians deliver and install hybrid hot water heater at San Mateo County facility

Planning for Decarbonization

Looking to convert methane gas equipment in your facilities to all-electric? We can help inventory the gas-powered equipment in your facilities, identify priority upgrades, estimate costs, and calculate potential greenhouse gas emissions reductions. We can also show you how to use an Excel-based tool to complete your own assessment. We also offer no-cost support for energy efficiency and decarbonization projects, including energy assessments, project identification, bid selection, and implementation assistance.

Peninsula Clean Energy

Peninsula Clean Energy’s Public Organization Program provides financial, technical, and planning resources, as well as project coordination for local government, public agencies, and school districts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to clean energy.

Working Groups

Identifying collective problems and collaborating on solutions countywide.

climate action workshop meeting with several people sitting at tables

RICAPS Climate Collaborative

The San Mateo County RICAPS Climate Collaborative helps the county’s 21 jurisdictions develop and implement climate action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet climate goals. It provides a collaborative space and planning tools for all 20 incorporated cities and the County to advance climate action efforts.

RICAPS offers resources for jurisdictions to create or update climate action plans, including a template for 2030 goals, a menu of measures, and a forecasting tool, with technical assistance from Rincon Consultants, Inc. RICAPS staff also host monthly working group meetings to support collaboration and problem-solving.

Learn More

Facilities Working Group

Facilities staff from public agencies across the county are invited to learn about decarbonization strategies from your peers and hear industry leaders share insights about a wide array of energy topics.

The Public Sector Facilities Working Group meets quarterly to promote collaboration. Participants work with industry professionals and program managers on energy management strategies. They also learn about financial incentives and training opportunities that will help them reduce energy consumption and costs at their facilities.

Please email energy@smcgov.org to join future meetings.