Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures Program

Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures Program

Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures (SVPSF) Program enhances college access through scholarships and support for project-based learning for undergraduate students pursuing sustainability-focused studies and careers. The innovative, five-year program is funded by a $375,000 grant from Silicon Valley Power (SVP), the City of Santa Clara's not-for-profit municipal electric utility. Selected students—especially those transferring from local community colleges—will use the funds to attend and receive advanced opportunities at Santa Clara University and its award-winning environmental and sustainability curriculum.

The Fellowship experience is designed to enable students to explore intersectional issues surrounding the global climate crisis as well as the application and scaling of climate solutions at the local level, using the City of Santa Clara as a living laboratory. Some topics may be more theoretical, while others may be highly applied in areas such as technology development, behavior change, and data collection and analysis. Interested fellowship applicants propose a project of interest in a relevant area of the City of Santa Clara's Climate Action Plan. By Spring Quarter, fellows wrap up their data collection and analyze their findings to develop policy recommendations. The Fellowship concludes with a City Council presentation and policy brief, sharing findings and recommendations for specific projects.