Powering Clean Energy: Inside the Official SFCW Energy Summit
The Official SF Climate Week Energy Summit 2025 was inspired by one of the most powerful tools we have to decarbonize our planet: clean energy. As a flagship event of SF Climate Week, the summit brought together leaders across policy, innovation, and industry for a full day of bold conversations and breakthrough ideas.
Hosted at Swissnex in San Francisco, the event featured deep dives into Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) integration, and clean energy policy—along with a fireside chat exploring PG&E’s evolving role in grid innovation. The day concluded with powerful closing remarks from California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild, reminding us that the path forward must be bold, equitable, and urgent.
Whether you joined us in person or are tuning in now, this recap includes full video recordings of every session and a complete list of speakers and panelists who helped make the day unforgettable.
Full Panel Recording: Virtual Power Plants - Rethinking Energy Scalability
In this insightful panel discussion, clean energy experts dive into the emerging role of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) in modernizing our electricity grid. The session explores how aggregating distributed energy resources—like rooftop solar, home batteries, electric vehicle chargers, and smart thermostats—can be coordinated via digital platforms to act as a unified power source. Panelists unpack real-world benefits from these systems—such as smoothing grid demand, earning revenue through wholesale and ancillary services, and reducing emissions by shifting usage to clean, off‑peak times. The conversation weaves together technical innovation, regulatory dynamics, and customer incentives, offering a compelling vision for how VPPs could enable a cleaner, more resilient, and cost-efficient energy future.
Panelists
Full Recording: Fireside chat - Energy Innovation and Equitable Electrification
“With innovation and partnerships, what we really look at is how to incubate the next big idea—and support the societal imperatives of affordability, reliability, and a climate-aligned future.”
In this thought-provoking fireside chat, Michael Delaney, Vice President of Utility Partnerships & Innovation at PG&E, sits down with Jeff St. John, Chief Reporter & Policy Specialist at Canary Media, to explore how California’s largest utility is evolving to meet the demands of a rapidly changing energy landscape. From virtual power plants (VPPs) and EV integration to the challenges of wildfire resilience and permitting reform, Delaney shares a candid and hopeful look at how PG&E is partnering with innovators, regulators, and communities to accelerate decarbonization. The conversation highlights the critical role utilities play in enabling an equitable, scalable clean energy transition—and why now is the time to lean into bold, systems-level solutions.
Full Panel Recording: Plugged In – Unlocking the Power of V2X (Vehicle to Everything)
In this engaging panel on Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, experts from PG&E, GM Energy, and The Mobility House explore how electric vehicles can serve as flexible, bidirectional energy assets—powering homes, buildings, and even feeding energy back into the grid. Moderated by Ben Shapiro of RMI, the discussion delves into real-world pilot programs, utility partnerships, and the technical and regulatory challenges that must be addressed to scale V2X. Panelists share insights on how customer behavior, infrastructure readiness, and utility collaboration are shaping the future of vehicle-grid integration. Together, they paint a practical and hopeful vision of how V2X can support grid resilience, reduce emissions, and unlock new value for drivers and communities alike.
Panelists
Full Panel Recording: Resilient Clean Energy Policy and Political Winds
In this wide-ranging and dynamic panel, Congressman Kevin Mullin moderates a discussion on the shifting landscape of clean energy policy—spanning federal legislation, state leadership, permitting reform, carbon removal, and the role of AI in accelerating climate solutions. Panelists Julio Friedmann (Carbon Direct), Caroline Spears (Climate Cabinet), and Christina Baworowsky (CRES) share perspectives from across the political spectrum, emphasizing the importance of bipartisan cooperation, pragmatic policy design, and grassroots innovation. With insights into the Inflation Reduction Act, utility reform, and the urgent need for workforce development, the panel offers a frank and forward-looking view into what it will take to build an abundant, decarbonized energy future—one that is equitable, competitive, and politically durable.
Panelists
Closing Remarks: CA Energy Commissioner
“This is a moonshot moment. We are building a clean energy future not for some distant generation, but for ourselves, right now—and the pace of progress must match the urgency of the challenge.”
In this inspiring close to the SFCW Energy Summit, California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild reflects on California’s leadership in clean energy—and the collective effort it will take to meet the challenges ahead. With clarity and conviction, he underscores the scale of the transition required and the importance of maintaining momentum, public trust, and bipartisan resolve. From the pivotal role of community engagement to the urgency of modernizing the grid, Chair Hochschild’s remarks leave the audience with a clear message: we have the tools, the talent, and the will—now we must accelerate with purpose and unity toward a decarbonized future.
Thank you to our community and sponsors
The Official SFCW Energy Summit would not have been possible without the incredible community of partners, panelists, and attendees who brought their energy, insights, and collaboration to the table. A special thank you to our sponsors—PG&E, Advanced Energy United, Carbon Direct, and Asuene—for their generous support and commitment to accelerating a clean energy future. Together, we’re not just imagining what’s possible—we’re building it.
Inspired by the conversations like these? Turn your energy into action!
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