REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Recognition of the Recipients of the Fourth Annual Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures Scholarship Program in Partnership with Santa Clara University
Report
BACKGROUND
The Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures Program provides scholarships and fellowships to up to 35 future leaders in sustainability, clean energy, climate action and related fields. On May 19, 2026, the City Council will recognize the Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures Program fellows from Santa Clara University.
DISCUSSION
On June 7, 2022, the City of Santa Clara City Council unanimously approved the Silicon Valley Power Sustainable Futures Program, which will provide scholarships and fellowships to up to 35 leaders in sustainability over 5 years, clean energy and related fields. Each year there are four scholarship recipients and three fellows. The goal of the program is to develop a pipeline future leaders in sustainability and clean energy.
The innovative, five-year program is funds an annual grant of $75,000 per year for a total of $375,000 from Silicon Valley Power (SVP). Selected students will use the funds to attend and receive advanced opportunities at Santa Clara University and its award-winning environmental and sustainability curriculum.
The program is designed to improve students’ skill sets to compete for emerging green jobs. The skill requirements are expanding rapidly, particularly in the Bay Area, where energy, sustainability and climate drivers are leading the way in accelerating this field.
On July 18, 2025, the City of Santa Clara funded an additional grant of $138,720 for the creation of a two-year Postbaccalaureate Fellow position. Leonie Casper was hired for this role in August 2025 and has since connected program recipients with sustainability careers through mentoring current scholars and fellows, providing project-based oversight, and facilitating professional development opportunities. She has also contributed to hosting relevant events and liaising while identifying future projects relevant to the City’s Climate Action Plan, and supporting the implementation of completed fellow project deliverables and policy recommendations into practice.
In this fourth year of the SVP Sustainable Futures Program, the City had the pleasure of collaborating with three fellows. The fellows have prepared summaries of the projects they have been working on this year to share with the City Council. The City Council will recognize and hear from the following SVP Sustainable Futures Program, Santa Clara University fellows:
• Isabella Gomez is a junior studying Philosophy and Environmental Studies. As a fellow, she has been analyzing the most effective ways to promote widespread implementation of native plants. Through benchmarking and interviews with local stakeholders, Isabella has researched ways to incentivize Santa Clara residents, businesses, and parks to plant more native plants over introduced plants, while ensuring that the city has active engagement with local native communities over discussions on native plants and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
• Gigi Jones is a senior studying Environmental Studies and Entrepreneurship. As a fellow, she has been researching barriers to retrofitting from gas to electric stoves, using equity considerations to inform decision-making and reduce energy burdens. Through a survey of City of Santa Clara homeowners, Gigi's results will help Silicon Valley Power assess how to best encourage stove retrofitting upgrades, and accompanying human and electrification benefits, into the future.
• Ximena Garcia-Isabelli is a senior studying Environmental Science and Biology. As a fellow, she has been using mapping and analytics software to research which communities in Santa Clara will be most affected by Urban Heat Islands, and to examine feasibility of various heat adaptation solutions in these zones so vulnerable areas can be targeted for green infrastructure investment.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an information report only and no action is being taken by the City Council and no environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) is required. Accordingly, the action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this project was authorized on June 7, 2022 under Council item 22-655 and funds are budgeted in SVP's Electric Utility Fund in the advertising and community promotion operating budget.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
Staff
Reviewed by: Reena Brilliot, Director of Economic Development and Sustainability
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager