California Climate & Energy Collaborative

14th Annual California Climate & Energy Forum

Investment, Innovation, and Inclusion: Locals Leading a Clean Energy, Climate-Stable Future for All

June 13-14, 2023 • Santa Rosa, CA

2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Achieving Equitable Decarbonization: Lessons from International Local Government Perspective

With state and federal imperatives to decarbonize through electrification in the midst of steadily rising electricity rates, local governments are being looked to as critical change agents. The panel will discuss how California is not alone in struggling to address climate change, outline a series of roles local governments could take to help lead the way, and discuss a possible high distributed energy resources future. The session will culminate with a discussion on the best role for local governments, and how the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition is supporting equal decarbonization. Topics include European Union directives for smart local energy markets, California regulatory opportunities, local resilience and decentralized energy, and perspectives from a local elected official on the path forward. 

Speakers

  • Marc Costa, The Energy Coalition, Director of Policy and Planning
  • Steven Moss, M. Cubed, Partner
  • Arlis Reynolds, City of Costa Mesa, Councilmember
  • Lorenzo Kristov, PhD, Independent Consultant
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: Statewide
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Distributed Energy Resources, Partnerships
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Building Local Resilience Models – BayREN Resilient Libraries Network Pilot

The BayREN Resilient Libraries Network seeks to develop a network of local libraries to also function as Community Resilience Centers. Libraries play critical roles especially for disadvantaged communities. Six sites were selected. BayREN is providing engineering technical assistance for each site to assess necessary upgrades to improve energy efficiency and provide access to cooling, heating, and clean air and potential for battery back-up and storage. Pilot participants will be matched with funding and financing experts to provide tailored guidance to identify relevant funding sources for both CRC building upgrades and the specific programming and services that each site intends to provide to their communities year-round. Pilot participants who will share current challenges and lessons learned from their work to build a CRC based on community needs. Information about how the pilot is funded, how BayREN is working with partners and how this pilot could be replicated will be provided.

Speakers

  • Jenny Berg, BayREN, Energy Section Director
  • Aleka Seville, Collective Strategies Consulting, LLC, Founder and Principal
  • Nick Kordesch, City of Oakland, Energy Program Manager
  • Veronika Cole, City of Oakland, Resilient Communities Analyst
  • Laura Wong, County of San Mateo, Sustainability Coordinator
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Energy Resilience
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Building Resilience – Efficiency’s Role in Decarbonization at Home

Event Date: 6/13/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

California Energy Design Assistance: K-12 Carbon Footprint

Event Date: 6/13/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

California Public Agency Fleet Electrification Funding and Challenges

In this session, Prospect Silicon Valley will highlight the efforts of several City Governments to electrify their vehicle fleets. Speakers will cover planning challenges including funding programs, charging infrastructure, and organizational change from senior executives to departmental vehicle users.

Speakers

  • Ilse Villacorta-Alatriste, ProspectSV, Senior Project Associate
  • Toto Vu-Duc, City of Watsonville, Senior Environmental Projects Analyst
  • Hilary Ego, City of La Mesa, Environmental Program Manager
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: Central Coast, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility, Financing/Funding
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Call to Action: Let’s Build Climate Equity through Regenerative Economics

A moderated Solutions Room panel exemplifying local leaders in the area of climate equity that promote a regenerative economic framework. Our solutions room will be organized in a sacred circle. We will hear from panelists about their good work projects, ask critical questions of all participants, facilitate break out groups, and close with a call to action. We will focus on understanding basic principles of regenerative (circular) economic frameworks, and how it can be developed across climate and energy industries to improve BIPOC career pathways, improve public health outcomes and build economic stability for climate impacted communities. All panelists and participants will have an opportunity to share their vision for creating climate equity and economic justice during an unprecedented time in climate equity funding.

Speakers

  • Anita Lopez, California Eco Network, Co-Founder
  • Yvette Marí Robles, Pathfinder Wellcare, Curandera
  • Dominic Allamano, Urban Agroforester
  • Teresa Almaguer, PODER, Environmental Justice Organizer
  • Sister Maria A. Muhammad, I Am Green, CEO
  • Fatima Malik, Del Paso Heights Growers’ Alliance, Lead Organizer
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: Statewide
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Nonprofit
Topic Areas: Environmental Justice, Public Health, Workforce Development
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Catch Them Early – Educating Los Angeles’ Youth about Opportunities in the Green Economy

In March of 2023 SoCalREN held a Future Green Leaders Summit to build awareness about different career pathways in Sustainability and Energy Efficiency that students may not be introduced to otherwise. The summit was attended by over 1,800 6th, 7th and 8th grades students from disadvantaged/low-income communities around LA. The summit featured over 18 workshops, 40 exhibitors (including Microsoft and Google) and several highly interactive displays designed to inform the audience about opportunities in the Green Energy Sector with the intent of generating interest and guiding the development of future leaders.

This panel will discuss the vision for the summit, the incredible support the summit gained throughout the public and private sector and present key outcomes and feedback. Additional discussion will be provided around the immensely challenging logistics of event coordination and lessons learned.

Speakers

  • Tessa Charnofsky, County of Los Angeles, Workforce Education and Training Program Manager
  • Lujuana Medina, County of Los Angeles, Environmental Initiatives Manager
  • Shanette Anderson, Emerald Cities Collaborative, Southern California Senior Program Manager
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Workforce Development
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Competition, Recognition, and Innovation: What Really Motivates Participation?

Event Date: 6/13/2013
Region: Greater Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Topic Areas: Outreach and Engagement
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Consult a CBO: Tips for Collaborating on Climate Investments

Join us for an engaging and interactive Q&A session on how local governments and program administrators can effectively engage with community-based organizations (CBOs) to develop more inclusive and impactful policies, programs and outreach. CBOs serve as a critical link between government, program administrators and the community, providing valuable insights and feedback to inform decision-making processes.

This session will explore best practices and lessons learned for building strong partnerships with CBOs, including strategies for effective communication, collaboration, and capacity building. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from experts in the field and engage in discussions on topics such as identifying and leveraging the strengths of CBOs, fostering trust and mutual understanding, and measuring the impact of CBO, local governments and program administrators  partnerships.

Whether you are a local government representative, program funder, a CBO leader, or simply interested in community engagement, this session will provide valuable insights and practical guidance for achieving meaningful and sustainable outcomes through effective partnerships.

Speakers

  • Maggie Singleton, Center for Sustainable Energy, Equity Associate Manager
  • Vivian Rahwanji, Community Housing Development Corporation, Director of Operations
  • Kevin Hamilton, Central California Asthma Collaborative, Executive Director
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, Statewide
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Nonprofit
Topic Areas: Partnerships
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Decarbonizing Homes while Creating Quality Jobs in your Community

Join us for a panel discussion on home electrification or “decarbonization” initiatives and the complementary creation of good jobs in the community – with a focus on economic justice, equity, and environmental health. The panel will explore incorporating high road labor standards into public incentive programs, working with unions and the apprenticeship training programs they provide, and promoting a more sustainable future. The discussion will showcase the Bay Area High Road Training Partnership, which aims to transform the residential retrofit industry from low road to high road, generating family-sustaining jobs while supporting climate sustainability. The panel will feature representatives from a city, a union organization, and public program administrators to discuss strategies for ensuring decarbonization jobs are high road and promoting sustainability efforts while benefiting workers and the community.

Speakers

  • Chiara Arellano, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, High Road Initiatives Manager
  • Jennifer West, Program Manager, StopWaste
  • Jordan Ackerman, Construction Trades Workforce Initiative, Policy and Public Affairs Manager
  • Billi Romain, City of Berkeley, Energy and Sustainable Development Manager
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Workforce Development
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Designing the Right Building Performance Standards for Your City

All-electric building codes are decarbonizing new buildings throughout the state, but the majority of emissions come from existing buildings. Implementing Building Performance Standards (BPS) is an important strategy to cut emissions by targeting the largest polluters. BPS policies help building managers and owners identify inefficiencies and require performance improvements over time. This session will explore lessons learned from cities with experience developing and implementing BPS policies and allow participants to co-create equitable and effective policies for a range of city sizes and characteristics.

Representatives from the cities of Santa Monica, Berkeley, and San Diego will provide an overview of BPS policies in place and under development. Participants will split into breakout groups to design BPS policies based on the characteristics of the city presented at their table and consider companion policies to address any foreseeable consequences on underserved communities and stakeholders.

Speakers

  • Ariana Vito, City of Santa Monica, Senior Sustainability Analyst
  • Shelby Buso, City of San Diego, Chief Sustainability Officer
  • Ammon Reagan, City of Berkeley, Sustainability Program Coordinator
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Electrification and Permitting: It’s Complicated!

Event Date: 6/13/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Electrify Everything (Except for …): Understanding Reach Code Exemptions

An important and often overlooked part of a reach code is the exemptions. Exemptions can be put in place for a variety of reasons, ranging from recognizing situations where reach code requirements are not feasible to political concessions needed to enact a reach code. As such, exemptions can help a reach code to work smoothly and avoid unintended consequences but can also provide a loophole for those who don’t want to comply. In addition, exemptions can be specific (does not include pools) or general (anything that is not feasible).

Although many jurisdictions have adopted reach codes to require all-electric new construction projects, decarbonizing existing buildings is critical to achieving local, state, and federal emissions reductions goals. The variety of buildings, construction methods, site features, and infrastructure in existing buildings can present implementation challenges for some projects that require special consideration, sometimes warranting an exemption from the reach code requirements. Common challenges include funding limitations for permit applicants, a potentially undesirable impact to local industry, technical/technology-related issues (no commercially available replacement), or site-related constraints (no suitable location for equipment). This session will delve into the options and trade-offs involved in developing and enforcing reach code exemptions that address these challenges while preserving benefits. In addition to introductory presentations, we will use role-playing, audience participation, and facilitated group discussion to engage attendees with the key issues. The session will enable attendees to better understand the options and issues related to exemptions as well as the perspectives and constraints of key stakeholders.

Speakers

  • Misti Bruceri, Misti Bruceri and Associates, LLC, Principal
  • Katen Kristiansson, BayREN, Codes and Standards Program Manager
  • Lawrence Garber, Building Decarbonization Coalition, Local Government Associate
  • Greg Mahoney, County of Sacramento, Chief Building Official
  • Bill Kelley, County of Marin, Deputy Director of Building and Safety
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: Statewide
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Equitable Electrification for Multifamily Properties

As California jurisdictions seek to decarbonize their building stocks while simultaneously addressing the state’s housing crisis, the challenge of how to retrofit existing multifamily buildings without displacing residents looms large. This session will tell the story of how low-income multifamily properties in the Bay Area layered multiple funding sources to complete comprehensive clean energy and electrification retrofits. Attendees will learn how the projects came together, what technical challenges had to be overcome, and how residents were engaged throughout the process. It will also touch on how incentive programs are evolving to more holistically serve owners and residents.

The panelists will then discuss lessons learned for both local jurisdictions and multifamily property owners, including solutions to common barriers to electrification, how to make the financials of multifamily retrofits pencil out, and how to incorporate resident voices.

The following programs were leveraged and will be discussed: BAMBE, SOMAH, LIWP, TECH Clean CA

Speakers

  • Marisa Villarreal, GRID Alternatives, SOMAH Program Director
  • Sheetal Chitnis, Association for Energy Affordability, Senior Program Manager
  • Ben Cooper, StopWaste, Program Manager
  • Emma Barker, Eden Housing, Inc., Associate Project Developer
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Residential
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Existing Building Electrification: A Message of Hope and Action

We bring a message of hope. Hope that electrifying existing buildings is possible when led by local leaders and decision makers like you. Panelists will cover the California Scoping plan and roadmap to zero emissions, code, programs focused on electrification, and innovative actions local government and community-based organizations are taking. Panelists will integrate equity and environmental justice, while exploring opportunities and partnerships that provide the path to zero that we are reaching for.  

Attendee participation will be encouraged. We will provide a space for the panelists and participants to discuss current state policy, regionalized resources, lessons learned and tools/mechanisms to advance local building electrification priorities. Participants will leave the session with a better understanding of California’s scoping plan, how code will be integrated, program opportunities, and community level strategies that promote innovation and investment.

Speakers

  • Lou Jacobson, Willdan, Director
  • Vivan Malkani, Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc., Senior Consultant
  • Jordan Garbayo, County of San Luis Obispo, Energy Program Manager
  • Jaime Alonso, GRID Alternatives Inland Empire, Executive Director
  • Rochelle Butler, San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization, Energy Manager
  • Lindsey Tillisch, Pacific Gas & Electric
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: Statewide
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Environmental Justice
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Grassroots Community Carbon Conversations: An Important Ingredient toward Achieving Community Decarbonization Goals

Event Date: 6/13/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Nonprofit
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Outreach and Engagement
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

How the California Energy Storage Permitting Guidebook is Accelerating Adoption of Customer-Side Energy Storage Systems

Event Date: 6/13/2023
Region: Statewide
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Renewable Energy & Storage
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Investing in a Climate-Safe Future: Business and Government Roundtable

Nonprofits and governments advocate for policies and programs to achieve social, economic and environmental goals.  But the clean energy economy will be built by the private sector. This is true whether we are talking about efficient, all-electric homes, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, or farms and ranches that grow our food and wine. All these enterprises are privately held, and privately operated. This session will bring together top business leaders from the North Bay to share their programs and practices, and engage in conversation with a cross section of activists and government representatives to better understand how the public and private sectors can better collaborate in creating a future that is clean, affordable, resilient, equitable and safe.

Speakers

  • Doron Amiron, The Climate Center, Business Program Manager
  • Ardi Arian, Renewable America, President & CEO
  • Brad Baker, SOMO Group, CEO
  • Jane Elias, County of Sonoma, Energy and Sustainability Manager
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Local Governments
Topic Areas: Partnerships
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Let’s Co-Create a Roadmap to Equitably Retrofit Buildings!

You already have a foolproof building retrofit strategy for aligning federal, state, and regional resources to achieve your climate goals and deliver equitable community benefit, right? Wait, you don’t!? Well, then… let’s get together for 75 minutes to work on this problem together! We’ll start with brief overview presentations from the Building Decarbonization Coalition, City of Berkeley, and City of San Luis Obispo. Then we’ll break into small groups facilitated by staff from Central Coast Community Energy, The Switch is On, 3C-REN, Building Decarbonization Coalition and the cities of San Luis Obispo and Berkeley to develop programs for the fictional City of Heatpumptopia. By the end of the session, you’ll learn important program design considerations from your peers, make new connections, and head home inspired and ready to get to work on your own programs. 

Speakers

  • Lucia Pohlman, County of San Luis Obispo, Sustainability and Natural Resources Analyst
  • Panama Bartholomy, Building Decarbonization Coalition, Director
  • Rebecca Milliken, City of Berkeley, Sustainability Outreach Specialist
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Making Equity Real in Climate Mapping Tools and Platforms

Mapping tools such as the CalEnviroScreen and the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) are used to allocate millions of dollars of climate funding. The Greenlining Institute has advocated that these tools are designed to identify communities that are most affected by climate change, economic hardships, and racism. This session provides a practical framework for technologists, government officials, and advocates to go beyond ideals and make equity real in every stage of designing, utilizing, and improving their tools and platforms. This session will touch on limitations with existing tools, such as race not being a factor or tools not including the cumulative impacts of multiple factors, and opportunities for local stakeholders to fill those holes in their planning particularly when it comes to the evaluation of equity goals and benefits.

This workshop draws from Greenlining’s decades of experience in climate justice and racial equity advocacy and technical assistance. We will provide examples from our experience working with communities and government agencies on local, state, and federal tools that are used to allocate funding to disadvantaged communities. We will then move into an interactive discussion where participants come up with strategies on how their jurisdictions use mapping tools and data to advance racial and environmental justice. Participants will have the chance to share their findings and strategies with the group.

Speakers

  • Sneha Ayyagari, The Greenlining Institute, Clean Energy Initiative Program Manager
  • Nicole Wong, The Greenlining Institute, Climate Resilience Program Manager
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: Statewide
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Nonprofit
Topic Areas: Data Requests and Analysis, Environmental Justice
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Meeting the Moment: Building Inclusive Energy Action Across the Central Coast

This session will follow the ever-changing story of an energy program that adapted its approach to serve the unique needs of communities and sectors across California’s Central Coast. CC-LEAP, a regional utility-funded efficiency program, has had to pivot, navigating a pandemic launch and understandably strained public agencies and businesses. The program approach quickly shifted from a large-scale energy projects approach to innovative program offerings that catered to small businesses and small local governments with limited budgets and staff capacity. Through community involvement and strategic partnerships, CC-LEAP has overcome regional energy efficiency challenges and driven equitable energy and climate action. In this session, our team, along with partners and member agencies, will share best practices and encourage discussions on customized energy services and strategic partnerships to meet regional needs and goals.

Speakers

  • Ivana Dorin, The Energy Coalition, Program Manager
  • Annie Secrest, County of San Luis Obispo, Energy and Water Coordinator
  • Lindsey Tillisch, Pacific Gas & Electric, Expert Program Manager
  • Rachel Pennington, The Energy Coalition, Acting Assistant Director of Energy Services
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: Greater Los Angeles, Central Coast
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Partnerships
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Navigating Parallel Universes: Why Translation Alone Isn’t Enough

How do you conduct effective outreach to communities where English is a second language? Engaging thoughtfully with these communities requires an understanding of their unique institutions, norms, and information networks, which is often not represented in traditional communication resources. Diving in deeper, the way people receive information, who they trust, and how they take action can vary widely even within sub-groups of populations that speak the same language.

In this session, BayREN will share insights on how to effectively engage with communities where English is a second language. We will discuss our successes, failures, and lessons learned in our experiences working with a range of communities and discuss how our process entails collaboration with our own mothers to internationally recognized celebrities.

Speakers

  • Jennifer West, Program Manager, StopWaste
  • Jeffery Liang, BayREN, Single Family Program Manager
  • Yeymi Rivas Reyes, BayREN, Communications Coordinator
  • Tonya Veitch, County of Santa Clara, Senior Sustainability Analyst
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Topic Areas: Outreach and Engagement
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Organize, Fund, Act – Sonoma County Government Collaboration for Climate Solutions

In 2001, local climate activists launched a campaign to mobilize Sonoma County governments to fight climate change. This initiative created an innovative partnership that produced countywide greenhouse gas inventories, climate targets, and climate action plans; started a local community choice energy utility; and, in 2009, founded the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority (RCPA). RCPA facilitates collaboration among Sonoma County’s local governments, helps set goals, pools resources, formalizes partnerships, and works across policy areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build climate resiliency. RCPA became California’s first Climate Resilience District with the passage of SB 852 in 2022. The purpose of the session is to share Sonoma County’s successful model of local government collaboration on climate, learn about RCPA’s work to develop new sources of local funding for climate action centered in environmental justice, and explore how collaborative models like RCPA’s could help other regions achieve their climate goals.

Speakers

  • Tanya Narath, Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, Director of Climate Programs
  • Suzanne Smith, Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority, Executive Director
  • Tasha Wright, Santa Rosa Water, Energy and Sustainability Coordinator
  • Eris Weaver, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition, Executive Director
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Partnerships
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Rural Building Decarbonization Readiness and Resiliency: Vulnerabilities, Solutions, Barriers and Successes

This session will bring together varied perspectives on the experiences of rural Californians in their quest to decarbonize and build resiliency for their communities. Panelists will present how they’re working to overcome challenges, highlight innovative projects, identify barriers that exclude participation in funding opportunities and programs, and make recommendations on how to alleviate obstacles to provide greater opportunities to impact their communities.

Many rural communities are faced with extreme weather and their remote nature amplifies the needs for resiliency and their lack of resources, especially in light of goals to rapidly decarbonize building stock and address transportation needs. This panel will highlight programs and projects that will help deliver an equitable and clean energy future for rural Californians.

Speakers

  • Pam Close Bold, High Sierra Energy Foundation, Executive Director
  • Lou Jacobson, Willdan, Director
  • Stephen Kullmann, Redwood Coast Energy Authority, Director for Demand Side Management
  • Meredith Anderson, Sierra Business Council, Climate and Energy Project Manager
  • Amaury Berteaud, Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments, Sustainability Program Manager
Event Date: 06/14/2023
Region: Central Coast, North Coast, Sierra Nevada
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments, Residential
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Climate Planning, Environmental Justice
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

The Future of Virtual Power Plants: Empowering Underserved Communities

Sarah Delisle, Vice President, Government Affairs & Communications of Swell Energy; Ed Hamzawi, Director, Advanced Energy Solutions of Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD); and Achini Bandara, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships at GRID Alternatives North Valley will discuss how aggregating distributed energy resources en masse in the form of a virtual power plant (VPP) lowers the cost of ownership for consumers and helps utilities manage demand while increasing individual reliability and resilience across the electric grid. They will demonstrate how Swell is working to help SMUD deliver on its 2030 Zero Carbon Plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from its power supply, including how the success of programs like SMUD’s My Energy Optimizer Partner+ is based not only on total enrollment but also on the additional job opportunities created for local installers, new revenue opportunities, and grid resilience benefits, as well as the socially equitable impacts of these programs.

Speakers

  • Sarah Delisle, Swell Energy, Vice President for Government Affairs and Communications
  • Ed Hamzawi, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Advanced Energy Solutions Director
  • Achini Bandara, GRID Alternatives North Valley, Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: Sacramento Valley
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Resilience
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Unlocking Electrification Opportunities in Southern California’s Multifamily Housing Market

Event Date: 6/13/2023
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Local Governments, Nonprofit, Residential
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Upsizing Electrification Potential, Not Panels: Addressing Barrier of Panel Upgrades

For many homes the electrical transformation does not need to be as daunting as is commonly thought. They will understand that many homes are capable of transitioning away from gas appliances without electrical service upsizing and be provided the tools and strategies to minimize the need to upsize electrical panels. We will share a suite of existing technologies and strategies that work within the constraints of existing panel capacity, including ‘watt-diet’, circuit sharing, low wattage appliances, and whole building controls among other options. We will also discuss electrification plans to provide options and alternatives to specific scenarios that a homeowner, contractor or utility needs to address to avoid panel upsizing as much as possible. Last, attendees will learn how policy changes and program design can drive a better-optimized approach to panels and service upsizing, as well as, how to employ limited finances, time, and services effectively and equitably across communities.

Speakers

  • Jenny Low, Build It Green, Program Manager
  • Abhijeet Pande, TRC, Vice President for Research and Technology Commercialization
  • Laura Feinstein, SPUR, Sustainability and Resilience Policy Director
  • Emily Alvarez, StopWaste, Program Manager
Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Presentation Slides
2023 CCEC Forum Resources

Zero Emission Fleet Transition: Roadmap

Event Date: 06/13/2023
Region: San Diego
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Local Governments
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Presentation Slides

  • Search

  • Topic Area

  • Regions

  • Sectors Targeted

  • Additional notes of interest