CleanPowerSF 2026 Climate and Clean Energy High School Video and Writing Contest

Current San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) 9th through 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. 

• All enrolled SFUSD students in 9th through 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 5:00pm on Tuesday, May 5, 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 and K2CSF.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.

• Information provided would be used by SFPUC/K2C for purposes of the program only and would not be shared with anyone other than those implementing the contest.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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?

Citywide Honorees

• Grade ranges - 9th through 12th will be awarded the following:

  • $500 scholarship.

  • Award certificate as a citywide honoree.

  • Recognition on the SFPUC and K2C social media platforms and websites. 

  • Poems and persuasive speeches will be displayed on Muni buses.