History of The Sustainability Department

Formed in July 2014 as part of the County Manager’s Office, the Sustainability Department (formerly the Office of Sustainability) has focused our work on renewable energy, resource conservation, alternative transportation, and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

The Board of Supervisors’ commitment to the department reflects its focus on both the greening of County operations and broader sustainability of the community.

Historical Work

Peninsula Clean Energy

In 2016, the Sustainability Department led the County to significantly reduce emissions by launching Peninsula Clean Energy which provides clean, renewable energy at lower rates throughout the County. Peninsula Clean Energy is a community-controlled, not-for-profit, joint powers agency formed as a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program by San Mateo County and all 20 of its cities and towns in 2016.

Learn more about Peninsula Clean Energy

OneShoreline – Sea Level Rise Resiliency District

In 2020, the Sustainability Department helped launch the San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District (“OneShoreline”) to coordinate countywide efforts to combat the harms of sea level rise caused by climate change. OneShoreline is an independent government agency that works across jurisdictional boundaries to secure and leverage public and private resources for the long–term resilience of our region.

Learn more about OneShoreline

Livable Communities

Livable Communities was a program of the Sustainability Department that led programs and initiatives to facilitate increased transportation alternatives and housing choices for all income levels in San Mateo County. The programs within Livable Communities have been reassigned to other programs in the Sustainability Department, Public Works, and Housing to better align work plans and resources throughout the County.

As of September 2024, the Active Transportation program has been reassigned to the Department of Public Works. Past studies include the North Fair Oaks Bicycle and Pedestrian Railroad Crossing and Community Connections Study and the Coleman Ringwood Avenues Transportation Study.
The Home for All Initiative is being dissolved and the resources supporting this effort have been deployed to the Department of Housing to expand work in the areas of affordable housing and engaging communities in ongoing conversations on housing efforts.