Recipients of the 2022 Climate Action Leadership Awards include senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, and congressmen Jared Huffman and John Garamendi

MCE’s annual Climate Action Leadership Awards celebrate policymakers and advocates who have made significant contributions in California’s fight against climate change through clean energy policies.

The 2022 Climate Action Leadership Award honorees are senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein, and congressmen Jared Huffman and John Garamendi. The four recipients championed MCE’s first-ever, community-directed spending requests and helped to secure $3.25 million in federal funding to expand access to clean energy programs.

Senator Alex Padilla

Senator Padilla was appointed in January 2021 to replace Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. He is the first Latino to represent California in the United States Senate and was recently elected to a full six-year term. He serves on several key committees, including Environment and Public Works, and has emerged as a champion for working families, climate action, and other value-driven priorities. Padilla recently collaborated with MCE to secure funding to increase the adoption of energy storage in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Prior to his appointment to the US Senate, Senator Padilla served as California secretary of state, and two terms in the California State Senate, where he chaired the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications for six years. During his first term Senator Padilla was instrumental in advancing grid modernization and developing California’s ambitious renewable energy and climate policies.

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Senator Feinstein has served California in the Senate since 1992, where she has championed several climate and clean energy policies that increase automotive fuel efficiency, conserve and restore natural lands, improve California’s water infrastructure, and reduce the threat of wildfires.

Over the last 30 years, Senator Feinstein has served in key leadership roles on several Senate committees. Prior to her election to the Senate, Senator Feinstein served as a San Francisco County Supervisor for nine years, and as San Francisco’s mayor for eight. In 2022, Senator Feinstein submitted two community-directed spending requests of $500,000 on behalf of MCE’s energy storage and Healthy Homes programs. Senator Feinstein recently announced that she will not seek reelection when her term ends in 2024.

Congressman Jared Huffman

Congressman Huffman represents Marin County and was first elected to the United States Congress in November 2012. He has built a record of leadership on climate action and resiliency, and protecting California’s coastlines, inland waters, and wildlife. In 2022 he submitted a community-directed spending request for $2 million on behalf of MCE to expand  our EV charging program.

Before being elected to Congress, Congressman Huffman represented the North Bay in the California Assembly, where he played a leading role in crafting landmark water reforms. He also authored several key pieces of legislation, including California’s first lighting efficiency standards and the Nation’s largest program for solar water heating. He previously worked as a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and served as director for the Marin Municipal Water District.

Congressman John Garamendi

Congressman Garamendi was first elected to the California state legislature in 1974, where he authored the Nation’s first solar, wind, and energy conservation tax credit. Garamendi was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Interior in 1995 and led significant environmental restoration efforts in California. He continues to be a leading advocate for a comprehensive statewide water plan.

Congressman Garamendi has been a long-standing champion for domestic jobs, climate action, infrastructure investments, rural communities, and family farmers. Within MCE’s service area, Congressman Garamendi’s new district includes parts of both Solano and Contra Costa counties. Most recently, Congressman Garamendi submitted a community-directed spending request for $1 million to expand the impact of MCE’s Healthy Homes program.