Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects in California

Silicon Valley Power, the municipal electric utility serving the City of Santa Clara, California, offers the Student Grants for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects or Awareness Campaigns to engage local high school students in sustainability outreach. The utility is dedicated to delivering environmentally responsible power and supporting community efforts to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. As part of its broader commitment to public education and sustainability, Silicon Valley Power provides financial support for student-led initiatives that promote awareness and action around energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. This grant program supports high school students residing in or attending school within the Santa Clara city limits. Individual students or teams can apply for funding of up to $5,000 to design and implement educational campaigns or projects focused on energy efficiency or renewable energy. Project formats may include educational videos, public art displays, digital content, print outreach, live demonstrations, or workshops. Funded activities must be original and tailored to engage and inform the local community on sustainability themes. All materials developed under the grant become the property of Silicon Valley Power and must comply with copyright and content release requirements, including signed model releases for any individuals featured in visual content. The funding can be used for project-related expenses such as materials, supplies, transportation, or technology directly needed for implementation. However, the grant does not cover labor or personal time spent on the project. Applicants are required to submit a detailed application including a project description, budget, key messages, target audience, estimated outreach scale, and a timeline. Projects should be completed within six months from award date. Progress payments are issued based on submission of status reports and receipts, with 20 percent of the funding provided upfront and the remaining funds distributed incrementally as milestones are met. Eligibility is restricted to high school students either living in Santa Clara or attending a school located within city limits. Teams must also meet this condition in full. To ensure equity, students may receive only one grant within a 12-month period, and in team applications, at least half the members must not have received funding in the past year. Projects that incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion components will be prioritized during the evaluation process. Applications are reviewed based on multiple criteria including the clarity of project objectives, relevance and strength of key messages, intended audience engagement, community reach, and cost-effectiveness. Completed applications must be mailed to Silicon Valley Power at 881 Martin Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95050. Two submission deadlines are offered annually, on June 30 and December 31. Up to five projects are funded per cycle, with the number dependent on available funding and application quality. Interested applicants must also sign a release form transferring all rights to the developed content to the City of Santa Clara. This allows Silicon Valley Power to reproduce and distribute the content across its educational and outreach platforms. The grant is designed to not only educate the community but also to empower students to actively participate in local sustainability efforts through creativity, leadership, and innovation.

Projects with diversity, equity, and inclusion components receive preference.