The City of Pico Rivera is proud to announce it has been selected as the 2026 Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Sustainability Award winner in the Climate Leadership category. The SCAG Sustainability Awards celebrate regional excellence across nine diverse categories, and Pico Rivera is proud to stand out as the sole municipal winner in the category.
This prestigious award recognizes the City’s forward-thinking efforts to build a cleaner, more resilient community following the adoption of its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan in January 2025, making Pico Rivera one of only three cities among the 27 municipalities in the Gateway Cities region to adopt a plan of its kind.
“Winning the SCAG Sustainability Award for Climate Leadership is a testament to the City’s unwavering commitment to not just setting goals, but taking immediate, decisive action,” said Pico Rivera City Manager Steve Carmona. “Through the dedicated efforts of our City staff and the foundational role played by Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy (PRIME), we are actively shaping a sustainable, equitable future for all our residents.”
The SCAG Climate Leadership award specifically honors programs and policies that demonstrate exceptional leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting environmental stewardship. For Pico Rivera, this award recognizes a comprehensive suite of initiatives outlined in the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, including:
- GHG Emissions Reductions: Accelerating the transition to clean energy through PRIME and its innovative Power Choice program, which provides residents with accessible solar and battery storage solutions.
- Urban Greening: Expanding the City’s tree canopy through its Tree Adoption Program, a partnership with the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps made possible by a $150,000 Bezos Earth Fund grant. Through this program, the City planted over 200 trees across the City while simultaneously providing job training and career development for local youth through the GreenWorks program.
- Community Equity: Administering a Bill Assistance program, in partnership with United Way, to provide financial relief and utility support to low-income families.
- Youth Engagement: Launching the Youth Climate Ambassador program, an initiative dedicated to educating and shaping the next generation of local climate leaders.
“Our ability to move quickly into implementation after adopting our Climate Action and Adaptation Plan has been the driving force behind our recent successes,” continued Carmona. “We are incredibly grateful to be recognized and know that this is just the start for a cleaner and greener Pico Rivera.”
This recognition builds upon Pico Rivera’s growing track record of environmental excellence. In recent years, the City’s sustainability initiatives have earned top-tier recognition, including the Platinum Energy Action Award from the Gateway Cities Council of Governments two years in a row and a Gold designation from the national SolSmart program, the first Gateway City ever to achieve that designation.
The SCAG Sustainability Awards were presented at the 2026 Regional Conference and General Assembly on May 7 in Palm Desert.
ABOUT Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera is a thriving community that offers opportunities to all who live, work, and relax in the City. Situated on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin and the southern edge of the area known as the San Gabriel Valley, Pico Rivera is approximately 13 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Formed by merging two historic communities, Pico and Rivera, the City was officially incorporated in January 1958 as the 61st city in Los Angeles County. Originally an agricultural area, the community evolved into a residential and industrial area following the end of World War II. Pico Rivera is governed by a Council-Manager form of government. The voters of Pico Rivera elect a five-member City Council, which in turn appoints a City Manager to carry out its policies and serve as the administrative head of the city organization.
ABOUT Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy
Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy (PRIME) is a locally-run, not-for-profit, public energy service created and operated by the City of Pico Rivera. As the city’s energy provider, PRIME purchases clean, renewable electricity power on behalf of residents and businesses for the benefit of the community.