Environmental leadership
We're working to create a sustainable future for our community.
Investing in clean power
By utilizing more renewable resources, we’re helping to improve local air quality.
By supporting energy efficiency, electrification of buildings and transportation and increasing our clean power sources, we’re helping improve the air quality throughout the Sacramento region.
SMUD’s goals are even more ambitious than those outlined by California’s legislature. Not only do we have strong existing targets, but we have also continually exceeded expectations.
Looking toward the future, we’re working hard to make sure we’re ready for the evolving ways our customers receive and use electricity. This preparation helps us continue our commitment to our customers and the environment.
Learn more about our clean power sources, where they are and the number of homes we’re able to power with each.
We strive to have a balanced and sustainable energy mix and are always adding to our green energy sources.
Did you know 35% of our power comes from hydroelectric generation? We maintain 11 dams and 9 powerhouses in the Sierras.
We're in a prime location for wind generation. In 2020, over 100 turbines will take advantage of Delta breezes to power 82,000 homes.
We use organic matter, like cow manure, to create electricity using dairy digesters. One-third of California’s dairy digesters are in SMUD territory.
Green programs
We provide programs that help build a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
SMUD has been introducing new solar technology and programs to our community for more than 30 years.
Highlights
- Developed the world’s first commercial-scale solar power plant (PV) in 1984
- Installed the first solar-powered electric vehicle charging station in the western United States in 1992
- Partnered with developers to build the first net-zero energy community in midtown Sacramento, featuring rooftop solar and batteries
Solar for your home
Our solar experts want to help you decide if solar is a smart choice for your home. Use our solar system estimator tool and run a free analysis for personalized information.
If you decide to go solar, we can help you understand your financing options, how to find a contractor and even do a final safety inspection on your system.
We also offer educational videos and classes to help you make an informed choice.
SolarShares®
Our SolarShares program launched in 2008 and was the first of its kind in the nation, helping commercial and residential customers receive the direct benefits of solar energy without having to install rooftop solar panels.
We’re helping the State of California and City of Sacramento dramatically decrease their carbon footprint through our Commercial SolarShares program. The program has also allowed the Golden One Center to be one of the greenest arenas in the country.
Community programs
As your community-owned, not-for-profit electric utility, we educate students about electricity through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math)-based projects and programs.
Solar Regatta: Students design, build and race their own solar-powered boats. They’re judged for speed, distance, maneuverability and more. Learn about the Solar Regatta.
Solar Car Race: Working together in teams, students compete for not only the fastest car but also the best design, most sustainable and best engineering. Learn about the Solar Car Race.
Electricity as a transportation fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 70% versus standard gasoline vehicles with SMUD’s clean energy mix. We’re a leader locally, nationally and internationally in electric vehicle (EV) and alternative fuel investment, programs and research. We’ve had an active electric vehicle program for over 30 years.
Highlights
- There are over 17,000 EVs in our service area, growing by about 300 a month.
- Through our efforts and partnerships, we’ve brought electric vehicles to underserved communities, electric school buses to local districts, mobile battery charging stations and more.
- In 2021, we’ll invest $14 million in EV infrastructure and programs.
- Our sedan fleet vehicles are all-electric or hybrid plug-in electric. We’re moving towards a full, all-electric fleet, including our work and service vehicles.
Drive electric and save
To help customers save even more, we offer an EV charging discount. EV drivers end up paying less than $1 per “gallon” when they charge their EV from home between midnight and 6 AM.
Is an EV right for you?
There’s a lot to consider before you buy or lease an EV. How far and how often do you drive? How much money can you save on gas? What kind of incentives are available?
We have tools available like our EV Estimator and PlugStar to answer your questions and compare costs to buy and drive an EV versus a gas engine vehicle.
Our green power pricing program, Greenergy, was the first of its kind when it launched in 1997.
While the program has changed throughout the years, it’s still focused on the same goal – giving customers options to get up to 100% of their electricity needs from renewable sources like wind and sun.
SMUD offers three levels of participation in Greenergy.
- Greenergy Standard: A portion of your electric usage (200 kWh) will come from renewable resources. A $3 charge will be added to your monthly electric bill.
- Greenergy California renewable: 100% of your electric usage will be met with California-based renewable resources. A $10 charge will be added to your monthly bill.
- Greenergy local renewable: 100% of your electric usage will be met with renewable resources from the Sacramento region. An $18 charge will be added to your monthly bill.
Choose green energy. Together we can make a difference.
Customers are looking for ways to consume more of the solar electricity they're producing. Battery storage lets customers store excess electricity and use it later.
Bill savings and a positive impact on the environment are some additional benefits of battery storage. We offer 2 incentive programs for customers interested in, or currently using, battery storage.
Learn more about battery storage
If you're considering battery storage, we’re here to help. Use our solar system estimator, which includes a battery storage option, to help determine if installing battery storage is right for you.
Since 1990, SMUD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation have planted more than 600,000 shade trees in the Sacramento area.
With our Shade Tree program, customers can choose up to 10 free trees and from over 30 varieties. As the temperatures increase in our region, the need for sustainable urban and community forests also increases.
Get free shade trees
2030 Clean Energy Vision
We support California's climate strategy initiatives
We're leading the way to a more sustainable energy future
We’ve set an ambitious goal to eliminate 100% of our carbon emissions from our power supply by 2030. Addressing the pressing issue of climate change is imperative. In addition, we strive to put Sacramento on the map as a region where our community can experience improved air quality and overall health and where innovative, climate-friendly businesses want to be. We will do this while continuing to provide safe and reliable power with rates among the lowest in the state.
Learn about the 2030 Clean Energy Vision
Protecting birds
As part of our commitment to the environment, we also protect our feathered friends.
The project is part of our 50-year license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to operate the Upper American River Project (UARP), SMUD’s hydroelectric system in the Sierra. We are committed to monitoring the nesting status of bald eagles at several of our Crystal Basin Reservoirs annually as part of the UARP license and a larger natural resource monitoring program.
2020 Nesting
In February, the bald eagles returned to Union Valley Reservoir and began preparations to nest. They repaired their nest from the year prior and added soft greens to blanket it. In early March, the female laid eggs and the pair took turns sitting on the nest. Then, a major storm over the weekend of March 13-15 buried the nest in about 4 feet of snow. It was too much for the eagles to stay on the eggs and they were forced to abandon the nest. They returned later and it appeared they might try again but it never materialized.
2021 Nesting
Unfortunately, the eagles did not lay eggs and are only seen intermittently at the nest. We hope they will return to lay eggs in February 2022.
Our cameras have captured some beautiful shots of the eagles in their nest.
Diverse bird populations reside year-round in our service territory. They are at risk of coming in direct contact with electric wires or colliding with power lines when flying. This might cause a disruption to electric service, damage equipment or start a fire.
As part of our long-term relationship with the conservation community and regulatory agencies, we developed an Avian Protection Plan (APP) to reduce bird mortality and outages. It includes:
- Employee training
- Providing alternative nest structures
- Installing perch deterrents
- Adding insulation on wires
- Installing markers to make power lines more visible to birds in flight
- Increasing space between electrical lines
Contact us
Please help us – and our feathered friends – by calling SMUD’s Avian Protection hotline at 1-916-732-5657 to report outages caused by birds, or to report birds that are building nests on utility poles or substations.