At CCEC, we know communities are at different stages of working on various local climate and energy priorities. Whether you’re building EV charging infrastructure, helping property owners afford energy upgrades, or developing electrification plans and codes, you need a way to find all the best information when you’re ready to use it to inform your work. This resource library is designed to give you multiple ways to access the broad array of resources CCEC continuously compiles immediately. Here are a few examples of how you might use the search box or the filters to query our content:
You’ve been directed to initiate a new energy or climate project and hope to advance your knowledge and accelerate the process by accessing relevant best practices, case studies, technical assistance, guides, learning events, reports, and tools;
Your organization wants to expand its initiatives but lacks sufficient resources, and you need to identify possible funding sources;
You want to get an idea of the kinds of initiatives other communities are doing, especially in your region or for a particular sector;
and many more!
Don’t see an important resource or have one to share? Let us know by contacting eecoordinator@civicwell.org.
Learning Event
Accelerating Clean Energy in Rural and Disadvantaged Communities
Energy efficiency works the same in rural and disadvantaged communities as it does anywhere else, right? The short answer is, not exactly.
Implementing clean energy projects in these communities comes with its own unique set of challenges, some of which include fiscal, geographical, and political. During this breakout session, we will take a closer look at how people in these communities are able to achieve success in implementing clean energy projects despite their many obstacles.
To illustrate these challenges and successes, this panel will explore energy efficiency from each perspective including small cities with a population of less than 20,000, a larger city with a population of more than 500,000 as well as the energy efficiency program implementer in their service territory. All of the cities represented are classified as disadvantaged and 2 of the 3 are classified as rural as per the CalEnviroScreen 4.0 tool.
Speakers
Ann Kloose, City Of Fresno Sustainably Division
Mark Staples, City of Taft, Director of Planning and Development Services
Christine Viterelli, City of Arvin, Grants Manager
Rochelle Butler (Moderator), SJVCEO, Energy Manager
Michelle Villa (She,Her), Willdan Energy Solutions, Account Manager
Name: Rochelle Butler
Title: Energy Manager
Organization: San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Poster
Learning Event
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
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Distributed Energy Resources, Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event
Advanced Community Energy
UC Irvine’s Advanced Power and Energy Program partnered with the City of Huntington Beach, Altura Associates, Southern California Edison, and Southern California Gas, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop tools to optimally design and operate an Advanced Energy Community in Oak View community.
Organization: UC Irvine's Advanced Power and Energy Program
MCE, The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), BayREN, Napa County, and PG&E have joined efforts to help property owners in Napa County who lost homes in the October 2017 and 2018 wildfires. Advanced Energy Rebuild Napa will provide incentive to support homeowners in rebuilding energy efficient, sustainable homes to 2016 code.
TerraVerde recently supported one of their clients in buying out their solar PPA. This client, a Water Agency served by Southern California Edison (SCE) negotiated a buyout by leveraging available capital, monetizing renewable energy certificates and increasing energy production by re-powering the system. The agency Increased their utility bill savings, made revenue from energy certificates and will have a net financial outcome of 7.9% IRR.
SoCalREN’s Architecture, Construction, Engineering Students (ACES) Pathway Program encourages middle school and high school students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). Currently, six high schools participate in ACES, with nearly 400 students enrolled in the program. Students have access to earning transferable college credits through their local community college and paid summer internships. The goal of this program is to provide students hands-on experience to enter the architecture, engineering, sustainability, fuel cell technologies, advanced manufacturing, construction, renewable energy, hydrogen technology, and surveying industries. This program addresses the gaps seen in these industries of people of color and community members.
An Individual local government professional offering peer knowledge to other local government professionals, who has the willingness, capacity, and expertise to be contacted by local government energy and climate peers/professionals to share knowledge in the following types of programs, projects, or policies: Energy efficiency program design and implementation; information about creation of a Regional Energy Network (REN); successful models of local government collaboration. The elegibility restrictions are the following: None.
Name: Jennifer Berg
Title: Energy Programs Manager
Organization: Association of Bay Area Governments - BayREN
An Organization offering free technical assistance to local government professionals, who has the willingness, capacity, and expertise to be contacted by local government energy and climate peers/professionals to share knowledge in the following types of programs, projects, or policies: . The elegibility restrictions are the following: None.
Name: Amaury Bertead
Organization: Association of Monterey Bay Area Government
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Email: aberteaud@ambag.org
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility, Energy Efficiency
While large metropolitan cities have been working on climate change mitigation projects for years, many of California’s smaller jurisdictions are in much earlier stages of grappling with greenhouse gas emissions. Many of these cities and counties lack the necessary staff and funds to devote to greenhouse gas reduction projects, and as a result, the vast majority of AMBAG’s 21 jurisdictions had not quantified their baseline GHG emissions as of 2009. Recognizing the need for more support with local climate change efforts, AMBAG designed a program that would yield the following results: • completion of local government operations inventories in 100% of AMBAG jurisdictions at NO COST to the municipal governments; • capacity-building for jurisdictional staff; • community capacity-building in the field of climate change mitigation; and • standardized greenhouse gas inventories for regional comparability.
Organization: AMBAG
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2011
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
At the Table: Local Governments’ Role in Energy Regulation
How to decarbonize, maintain affordability, enhance resilience and address historic environmental injustices, among other critical issues in the energy sector are determined largely through regulatory processes under the California Public Utilities and Energy commissions. Join the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition (LGSEC) for a Regulatory Primer to better understand how regulatory policies create opportunities and threats for local governments. Hear from members about regulatory successes that have helped achieve local climate and energy goals, and exposed community-based problems for which state decision makers were unaware. Learn how collaborating with other local governments can tailor statewide decision-making to address local needs while filling capacity gaps.
Speakers
Steven Moss, M.Cubed, LGSEC Regulatory Consultant, Partner
Alelia Parenteau (she/her), City of Santa Barbara, Sustainability & Resilience Director
Jennifer Berg (She/Her), BayREN, Director, Energy Programs
Garrett Wong (he/him/his) (Moderator), County of Santa Barbara, Climate Program Manager
Name: Sarina Soor
Title: Project Manager
Organization: Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition
Atlanta Georgia leveraged tax-increment financing (or in their case, a tax allocation district) to finance the Atlanta Beltline. This mechanism operates on the assumption that the property values of an area will rise as a consequence of development. The increase in value from developed properties is considered city revenue and, after the city fulfills obligations investors and bond-holders, can be used to support sustainability staff and projects. This $4.8 billion urban development project provides transportation access in addition to resilient revenue streams for the area and is expected to create 30,000 permanent jobs and 5,600 units of affordable workforce housing, among a number of other community and environmental benefits.
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) convened a community steering committee and developed the Community Emissions Reduction Program: South Central Fresno (Program) in coordination and consultation with the community steering committee. At the request of the community steering committee, SJVAPCD also organized a community air monitoring subcommittee composed of community steering committee members interested in participating in more detailed discussions and planning regarding the Community Air Monitoring Plan. The Program focuses on reducing exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), toxic air contaminants (TAC), as well as oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
Name: Ashley Werner
Title: Directing Attorney
Organization: Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability
The Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancements Program administered by SF Environment helped Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation save energy and money resulting in rent reductions for some renters. Find out how this program helped with San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development goals of making homes more affordable.
SunShares pools the buying power of all 9 Bay Area counties to negotiate significant discounts on solar + storage. Sunshares makes it simpler and more affordable for Bay Area residents to go solar with the goal of accelerating clean energy adoption and building regional resilience to climate change. For a limited time each year (Sept. 1 – Nov. 30), Bay Area Sunshares offers significant discounts on solar + storage from pre-vetted installers that serve the entire Bay Area. In addition to significant discounts, Bay Area Sunshares provides educational resources and events to make it easier to understand your clean energy options, and decide what’s best for you.
Organization: Bay Area Sunshares
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding, Renewable Energy & Storage
This rebate program from BayREN offers homeowners up to $5,000 for doing things like insulation, weatherization, and other energy saving updates. The process for homeowners is to go through their county and get connected to Participating Contractors. If homeowners lack information on energy savings and processes, BayREN offers their Home Energy Advisor Hotline – (866) 878-6008 – which helps homeowners understand the step by step process. Another benefit from this service is that advisors will refer homeowners to complementary programs (financing, solar). BayREN encourages local governments to share these services so homeowners feel more prepared to install and retrofit their homes.
An organization offering free technical assistance to local government professionals, who has the willingness, capacity, and expertise to be contacted by local government energy and climate peers/professionals to share knowledge in the following types of programs, projects, or policies: BayREN provides free engineering technical assistance to help local governments save energy and money while reducing their carbon footprints. The Municipal ZNE/ZNC Assistance program helps municipalities retrofit or construct buildings to meet zero net energy (ZNE) or zero net carbon (ZNC) goals by providing engineering analysis and recommendations for projects. We can review individual buildings or larger portfolios of buildings and provide recommendations for broader policies as well.
The elegibility restrictions are the following: jurisdictional.
Name: BayREN Municipal Zero Net Energy/Zero Net Carbon Assistance
After reviewing the recommendations from the Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancements program, John Gianaras was able to asses and implement water and energy upgrades that were able to save money for himself as well as his residents.
Noble Tower, an affordable senior housing community, participated in the Bay Area Regional Energy Network’s multifamily rebate program. This project aims to provide residents with better, more efficient equipment and lower energy bills.
Thanks to the Bay Area Multi-family Building Enhancements (BAMBE) program which provides flexible rebates and project support, and the programs energy partner, Association on for Energy Affordability, Prometheus, a company that owns and manages 55 properties on the West Coast, was able to transform this giant 766-unit property into a welcoming, efficient place to live. The multi-year renovation, which was completed in 2017, included adding ENERGY STAR® washers and dryers, low-E windows, new toilets, appliances and finishes while updating air circulation on in hallways, heaters and boilers.
The Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancements Program administered by SF Environment helped Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation save energy and money resulting in rent reductions for some renters. Find out how this program helped with San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development goals of making homes more affordable.
Rebates for energy efficiency measures in single-family homes. Rebates available for Heat Pump Water Heater, Heat Pump HVAC, Heat Pump Clothes Dryer, Induction Cooktop
In today’s Regional Forum held by the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN), StopWaste presented on how the City of Berkeley’s Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO) was updated to the new Building Energy Savings Ordinance, or “BESO,” why it was updated, and how the new BESO, or a version thereof, could be a gentle but powerful move that could be used by many local governments to make residential energy improvements easy, accessible, and desirable – without mandating them.
Property assessed clean energy (PACE) programs allow property owners to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects on their home or business and pay the project cost back as a line item on their property tax bill over a 20-year period. This innovative financing mechanism was first piloted by the City of Berkeley in 2008-09. Berkeley’s pilot program, called Berkeley FIRST (Financing Initiative for Renewable Solar Technology), provided financing for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations and is serving as a national model. Cities and states across the country are using the Berkeley FIRST model to launch solar and energy efficiency financing programs in their communities. In California, a statewide PACE program called California FIRST is expected to launch in 2010; Berkeley will participate in the California FIRST program. California FIRST will include financing for not only solar PV, but also solar thermal, and energy and water efficiency improvements. Berkeley FIRST is a strategy of the Berkeley Climate Action Plan.
Organization: SEEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2011
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Best Practices
Best Practices for Virtual Engagement
Strategies for local agencies to gain community feedback during COVID-19. High and low tech options.
Learn more about the benefits of the Advanced Energy Community Projects and hear from other local governments who share best practices they have implemented in communities across California.
In this database, more than 200 CHP Project Profiles compiled by DOE’s CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) can be searched by a variety of characteristics.
Organization: U.S. Department of Energy
Organization Type: Federal Government/Agency
Region: Out of State
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Data Requests and Analysis
This document introduces readers to the benefits of integrating energy efficiency with other distributed energy resources to achieve resilience benefits. It describes two DOE tools that each provides high-level assessments of the size and potential cost of onsite energy systems that can power critical facilities, and presents case studies with completed analysis on potential energy investments at existing facilities managed by three partners in DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge.
Organization: U.S. Department of Energy
Organization Type: Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Efficiency, Energy Resilience
Learning Event
BPC Spotlight Event 1: How Disadvantaged Communities Can Take Advantage of Dedicated Energy and Climate Opportunities
The State of California has dedicated significant investment in energy and climate opportunities for “disadvantaged communities” (DACs), which suffer from economic, health, and environmental burdens. However, local governments representing DACs may lack the internal capacity to track and pursue these opportunities. This session will provide an overview of guiding DAC policies, definitions, and funding and technical assistance opportunities. If you’re a local government practitioner working in a community with DAC census tracts, please join a conversation with State and local speakers, facilitated by the Statewide Best Practices Coordinator, aimed at helping you better navigate the big dollar world of DACs to meet your energy and climate goals.
BPC Spotlight Event: How Local Governments Can Be Competitive in Today’s Funding Climate
Moderated by the Statewide Best Practices Coordinator, this session features experts that will review changing trends in relevant energy/climate funding sources, eligibility, and selection criteria and provide tips for how to write a competitive proposal to advance your organization’s strategic goals, including a live demo of how review a solicitation for “fit,” “deal-breakers,” and “score-boosters.” The Statewide Best Practices Coordinator will also share CCEC’s new Funding Resources website and database that can help you identify new ways to pay for your initiatives.
Name: Angie Hacker
Title: Statewide Best Practices Coordinator
Organization: Local Government Commission
Organization Type: State Government/Agency, Nonprofit Organization
In this June 2021 recording, Angie Hacker, the CCEC Statewide Best Practices Coordinator, interviews Shayna Hirshfield-Gold, Climate Coordinator with the City of Oakland, which is doing groundbreaking work to advance equity as part of its climate action efforts. As many in the State move forward from just counting carbon and kilowatts, we invite you to listen to a timely conversation on how to thoughtfully expand local climate work to effectively engage environmental justice voices and ideas and consider impacts and opportunities for historically underserved or marginalized communities. Shayna shares personal experiences and advice on pitfalls, best practices, and successes. Thanks to Oakland and Shayna for providing a leading example that other local governments can certainly learn from. https://www.youtube.com/embed/e7zpgFZ65cI?feature=oembed
Bringing Community Based Organizations to the Table to Expand EV Participation in Disadvantaged Communities
Expanding access to electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging to people in low- to moderate-income and disadvantaged communities that have borne the brunt of air pollution is critical to improving local air quality. New and used EVs, purchased or leased with the help of local, state, and federal incentives, can also decrease individuals’ commuting costs through lower costs to operate and maintain an EV. The Center for Sustainable Energy will lead a panel discussion with well-respected leaders from community based organizations (CBOs) across California that work directly with disadvantaged communities. They will share best practices and examples of successful outreach methods that bring their audience in closer to better understand the benefits and funding incentives available. We will review why and how it is important for program administrators for EV and EV infrastructure programs to develop a deep and lasting relationships with trusted CBOs that understand their community needs and the issues to reduce barriers to EVs and EV charging acceptance. This informative panel discussion will also cover how CBOs help inform policy and program design through their understanding of their communities’ challenges and concerns. We hope you will join us for this impactful presentation.
Speakers
Lauri Walker (she/her/hers) (Moderator), Center for Sustainable Energy, Senior Manager, Equity
Flora Barron (She/Hers), Metropolitan Area Advisory Committee, Director of Economic Development
Christian A. Torres (He/him), Comite Civico del Valle, Special Projects Manager
Name: Lauri Walker
Title: Senior Manager, Equity
Organization: Center for Sustainable Energy
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
The Governor’s OPR will soon release the HIgh Road Just Transition Roadmap, which aims to incorporate economic diversification, industry planning, safety net updates, workforce development and regional collaboratives in the process of transitioning justly into a sustainable California with principles rooted in equity, inclusivity and good quality jobs.
Funding for the transition will come from CERF and divided into:
– High road transition collaboratives ($50 mill for regional grants)
– High road transition implementation pilots($50 mil in Diversification grants)
– High oad transition Implementation Grants ($500 mil on economic development – job creation)
Local governments wishing to be involved in the process are encouraged to engage by getting involved with collaboratives and by engaging in sustainability activities and economic development plans within their jurisdictions. They are also encouraged to join the OPR Just Transition listserv to receive updates from this program.
Name: Sarah L. White
Title: Senior Advisor: Jobs and the Economy
Organization: Governor's Office of Planning and Research
California’s buildings produce a quarter of the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making homes and businesses a major contributor to climate change. Taking a variety of actions to reduce GHG emissions is known as decarbonization. There are many steps that building owners and renters, builders, and local governments can take to decarbonize buildings cost-effectively and support transportation electrification.
The information, guidance, and best practices shared here are intended to assist in overcoming barriers to decarbonizing buildings and installing electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment in residential and commercial buildings.
Organization: California Energy Commission
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments, Nonprofit, Residential
Learning Event, Tool
Building Decarbonization Full Throttle: CPUC Updates and Regional Implementation
There are many barriers that exist on both the policy and implementation level that must be overcome if we are to meet the state goal of total carbon neutrality by 2045. This panel will provide information on the regulatory context for some recent activities at the CPUC, the role of regional programs in the Bay Area, and using different funding sources to enhance decarbonization efforts. Topics will include the 2019 changes to the energy efficiency “three prong test” that precluded fuel- substitution measures, the BUILD and TECH programs, and the Self Generation Incentive Program, and the Bay Area Regional Energy Networkʼs residential programs and Codes and Standards efforts, along with non-ratepayer funding sources which have been leveraged to provide more value to consumers. Finally, the panel will highlight the Bay Area Air Quality Management Districtʼs regional programs that focus on the air quality and health benefits of building decarbonization.
Name: Jennifer Berg
Title: Energy Programs Manager
Organization: Association of Bay Area Governments
Organization Type: Other Local Government, State Government/Agency, Governmental Association, Nonprofit Organization
Additional notes of interest: 2020 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event, Tool
Building Decarbonization Policy Tools for California Local Governments
The Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC), in partnership with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) and the Bay Area Regional Collaborative (BARC), is launching a new comprehensive building decarbonization policy clearinghouse for local governments. This web- based tool, the Clean Building Compass, is designed for local government staff and elected officials seeking guidance on a spectrum of different building decarbonization policy pathways. The Compass intends to support local governments with the development, adoption and implementation of different building-focused strategies.
In this session, attendees will learn about how the Clean Building Compass can help their community with reducing GHG emissions from the building sector, see a demonstration of the Compassʼs functions, and explore different applications for the tool.
Name: Abby Young
Title: Climate Protection Manager
Organization: Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Organization Type: Other Local Government, Other Private Sector Business, Business or Trade Association, Nonprofit Organization
Building Electrification: Dystopian Novel or an Opportunity for Equitable Action
Real and perceived barriers to building electrification, renewable generation, and advanced energy storage paint the outline to the next hit novel chronicling a dystopian future. Imagine a world not so far off, perhaps only a few generations, where we have electrified communities, resilient to the escalating climate crisis. Who are they and will conflict emerge between those who have reliable access to resources and those who do not?
The goal is simple—to discuss how to keep this potential eventuality squarely in the fiction section of our collective future. To achieve our goal, panelists will discuss how policy, energy code and programs intersect with building electrification and equitable access to resources. Focus will be placed on discussing barriers, community messaging and recommended actions to accelerate equitable change.
Speakers
Rochelle Butler, SJVCEO, Energy Manager
Lou Jacobson (Moderator), Willdan, Senior Program Manager
Jessie Knapstein (she/her), Energy and Environmental Economics, Inc. (E3), Senior Managing Consultant
Jordan Garbayo, Tri-County Regional Energy Network, County of San Luis Obispo, Energy Program Manager
Jaime Alonso (He/Him), GRID Alternatives Inland Empire, Executive Director
Jose Buendia, Southern California Edison, Sr. Project Manager
Organization Type: Governmental Association, Other Private Sector Business, Nonprofit Organization
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
Learning Event
Building Equity into Policy & Programs with SOMAH
Join the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) team for an interactive discussion on this pioneering program and opportunities to bring its impact to your community. The team will walk through the program’s equity-driven approach to a state-level solar incentive program, with a walkthrough of how equity is integrated into the program’s policies and implementation. There will be breakout sessions focused on two of the program’s pillars: 1) community-based organization partnerships and tenant education, and 2) workforce development. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the program, its goals, and how local governments may be able to access SOMAH’s nearly $1 billion in incentives.
Topic Areas: Renewable Energy & Storage, Workforce Development
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Nonprofit
Additional notes of interest: 2021 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event
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
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event
Building Operator Certification
Learn more about the benefits of the Building Operator Certification Program and hear from other local governments who have implemented this valuable resources for their local building officials.
The Building Energy Benchmarking program requires owners of large buildings to report energy use to the California Energy Commission (CEC). These resources will help building owners and managers achieve higher building energy efficiency.
Organization: California Energy Commission
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
3C-REN’s Building Performance Training is tailored for current and prospective building professionals—with expert instruction, technical trainings, soft skills development and certifications on the latest energy efficiency methods and measures. Building Performance Training is available to designers, contractors, building and safety staff ,realtors and more. Learning units and certifications on various topics such as building science, energy code, decarbonizing technologies, passive house and more are offered through this program. To date, Building Performance Training has trained over 1,200 individuals and is currently exploring how to extend the program’s offerings to younger people and people going through career transitions.
In January 2017, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), on behalf of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), released Version 3.0 of the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen). CalEnviroScreen identifies California communities by census tract that are disproportionately burdened by, and vulnerable to, multiple sources of pollution.
Organization Administering Program: California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) Organization Type: State
Organization: California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Environmental Justice, Public Health
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments, Residential
This dataset was created to better understand the concentration of disadvantaged communities within the boundaries of cities, towns and counties in California.
One of the most important measures California uses to classify disadvantaged communities is CalEnviroScreen. This is done by census tract, but census tracts do not translate easily into municipal boundaries. A single census tract may exist within zero, one, or more, cities or towns.
Similarly, a single city, town or county often contains multiple census tracts. This makes it difficult to tell what proportion has been designated as disadvantaged.
This dataset allows users to tell what proportion of the population (in 2010) of a city, town, or county resided in census tracts at or above various percentiles in CalEnviroScreen.
*Note: This resource was not created or approved by the State of California.
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Data Requests and Analysis, Environmental Justice, Public Health
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Local Governments, Residential
California City used 0% on-bill financing, from Southern California Edison, to pay for a well pump retrofit. The improvement resulted in new infrastructure and $16,000 in annual energy savings, paying for itself in just three and a half years.
Organization: California City
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding
Learning Event
California Energy Design Assistance: K-12 Carbon Footprint
An organization offering free technical assistance to local government professionals, who has the willingness, capacity, and expertise to be contacted by local government energy and climate peers/professionals to share knowledge in the following types of programs, projects, or policies: Starting and Operating a municipal Green Business Program that can act as a vehicle to involve businesses to operate more sustainably.
The elegibility restrictions are the following: We are involved heavily in California but also collaborate nationally.
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.
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Case Study
California SGIP Program Provides incentives for batteries
TerraVerde is providing regular updates on the status and funding availability for commercial-scale battery projects. The California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), depending on location of the project and type of facility, can cover between 30-100% of the costs of a battery energy storage project. However, given the rich incentive levels, and the increased demand for energy storage, the funding available for these incentives is moving quickly. The available incentives programs are dependent on energy providers and include the Base Incentive for IOU customers, Resiliency Adder for IOU/CCA customers and in High Fire Threat Districts and the Equity Resiliency for IOU/CCA HFTD’s customers serving disadvantaged communities.
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding, Renewable Energy & Storage
Learning Event
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.
Here you will find the tools and resources used by the California Air Resources Board in order to achieve long-term carbon neutrality and building decarbonization goals. These include California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan, existing building codes, efforts being taken to go beyond mandatory building codes through Beyond Code, as well as efforts being put forward by other State departments and NGOs.
Name: Dana Waters
Title: Air Pollution Specialist
Organization: California Air Resources Board
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Email: dana.waters@arb.ca.gov
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Learn below and in this benchmarking case study how the Valley Innovative Energy Watch is serving its jurisdictions by regionalizing building energy benchmarking efforts:
Introduction
2010 was just the right time for the Valley Innovative Energy Watch (VIEW) partnership to start. All 8 VIEW local governments had accepted Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant funding for energy efficiency projects, and utilities began providing support for the California Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan through their partnerships. The VIEW partners understood that local governments need a solid understanding of their energy usage, and ideally an Energy Management System (EMS). However, the Partnership could not afford an EMS for each partner. Instead, the local government partners would make use of the implementer’s resources, and use benchmarking as a way to serve all jurisdictions equally.
Why benchmark?
Data becomes a roadmap for:
Project investment
Energy Action Plans
Targeted awareness efforts
It identifies less efficient buildings
It tracks results of efficiency measures
It helps comply with the State’s commercial building energy disclosure law
Organization: SEEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Joaquin Valley
Published in 2012
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
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
Name: Tessa Charnofsky
Title: Workforce Education and Training Program Manager
As California recovers from the COVID-19 Pandemic, local governments will be tasked with implementing cross-cutting programs that tackle issues of affordable housing, homelessness, water resiliency, and the environment altogether. Oftentimes, projects that address the issues of affordable housing, homelessness, water, and the environment are developed separately. Through local regional partnerships, these projects can be united in their goals to promote equity and climate resiliency. The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) and its regional partners will present on three regional programs that represent these ideals. The highlighted programs include the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust, the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN), and the Water Policy and Technical Advisory Committees. These programs represent the power and benefits of regional partnerships at accomplishing intersectional goals. Speakers will share strategies and recommendations for local jurisdictions, community partners, and agencies to address intersectional issues by embedding regional partners in institutional processes and practices.
Name: Samuel Pedersen
Title: Management Analyst
Organization: San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments
Organization Type: Other Local Government, Governmental Association, Electric Utility or CCA
This fact sheet provides an overview on using CHP to protect critical infrastructure, and how CHP can help create a more resilient and modern grid that keeps communities safe and protects businesses in the event of a large-scale power outage.
Organization: DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
The City of Chula Vista has long been a leader in resource conservation. As part of its multidepartmental Climate Protection Program, the City adopted the Free Resource & Energy Business Evaluation (FREBE, pronounced “Free-bee”) ordinance to encourage and assist local businesses to reduce their energy consumption and utility bills. The measure encourages commercial and industrial businesses to participate in an energy and water evaluation of their premises. It helps businesses identify energy efficiency and water conservation opportunities at their facilities and take advantage of rebate, incentive, and financing programs for improvements solely at the business’s discretion. The evaluations, which are offered at no cost, apply to licensed businesses with a physical storefront and/or office location.
Name: Patrick Stoner
Title: Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator
The Sustainable Communities Program (SCP) is one of the main components of the Chula Vista Local Government Partnership (LGP) with SDG&E. The SCP was launched in 2009 and is led by a SCP Coordinator with support from other Development Services Department staff. The SCP directly supports a number of goals in the California Long-term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, especially related to “reach” codes and energy code compliance. The program has made possible the following:
Adoption of the Reach Code – The Increased Energy Efficiency Ordinance that requires an additional 15%- 20% of energy savings (over 2008 Title 24) for new construction and some remodels was adopted in January 2010.
Expedited Plan Review – Chula Vista also offers a voluntary program that will expedite Plan Review for projects that reach the energy savings of CalGreen’s Tier 2 at 30% better than the State Energy Code.
Future Energy Efficiency Measures – new homes are required to be pre-wired for future Photovoltaics and pre-plumbed for future Solar Thermal Heating.
City of Albany proposed Measure DD to increase the UUT from 7 percent to 9.5 percent for electricity and gas and apply a tax to water service at 7.5 percent. The measure passed. The measure is estimated to generate an additional $675,600 in new revenues annually for the City.
The City of Albuquerque adopted a mandate for a 3% set aside from the General Obligation Bond Program for the 3% for Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Set-A-Side for Capital Improvements to fund projects that reduce energy consumption in municipal buildings. Building upgrades are chosen by a committee of city fiscal and technical staff based on specific criteria such as return on investment and life cycle cost analysis. Department applications for building upgrades are submitted to the committee for consideration. A project cannot use more than 40% of the funding allocated to the Set-A-Side.
The City of Berkeley got a California Energy Commission grant to do a microgrid feasibility analysis with a fully connected microgrid downtown, but decided it was too expensive. As a result they looked into solar + storage at individual facilities to meet their energy goals. They are partnered with East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) to assess which of their critical facilities in Berkeley would be appropriate. EBCE provided technical assistance and analysis, which Helped them structure a PPA and manage the project. Some products of their initiative are the Center Street Garage, one of the greenest buildings in the city – it has solar on the roof, 80+ EV chargers, bike valet parking, and stormwater catchment. Also, the West Berkeley Library Branch, which is one of the first publicly funded ZNE municipal buildings.
Name: Marna Schwartz
Title: Sustainability Coordinator
Organization: City of Berkeley
Organization Type: City or County, Electric Utility or CCA
City of Berkeley proposed Measure HH in 2020 to increase the UUT from 7.5 percent to 10 percent for electricity and 12.5 percent for methane gas.85 Despite strong community support from a survey, the ballot measure was ultimately defeated.
Organization: City of Berkeley
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Internal Funding Best Practices
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study
City of Berkeley’s climate action goals
Established a Climate Action Plan, declared a climate emergency, and is aiming to be a fossil fuel free city. Path to a clean energy future – reduce energy use, promote cleaner electricity, and electrify transportation & buildings.
The City of Brisbane adopted the Brisbane Building Efficiency Program with the goal to reduce environmental impacts of the built environment to meet climate goals. Through the development process, the first step was understanding the local market. Identifying what buildings exist in the city and establishing ordinances that could be implemented so the program can have a meaningful impact. The City established reporting requirements of energy and water for owners and tenants to work together to improve buildings. After benchmarking, buildings will be required to demonstrate building efficiency performance metrics, or conduct an audit to identify and implement savings opportunities. This compliance pathway starts 2023/2024.
Name: Adrienne Etherton
Title: Sustainability Manager Brisbane Building Efficiency Program
The City of Burlingame designed an EV Action Plan that aligns with state targets and looks to electrify municipal fleets, while prioritizing the implementation of public EV chargers and accessibility to charging stations. Burlingame aims to have 100 charging ports, 5,000 registered EV’s and 10% of all municipal fleet to be EV by the year 2030.
City of Carlsbad Emergency Services Advanced Microgrid
Benefits of project include energy savings and reduced environmental & economic impacts, improved energy resiliency and reliability, improved cybersecurity, support clean energy market transformation, shows city’s commitment to the CEC and 2030 climate and energy goals.The project has struggled due to major changes in city leadership, a lack of funding, and the time lag since the study was presented.
The City of Culver City used on-bill financing to finance a large energy efficiency project that included installation of a Energy Management System (EMS) at the Police Station, Senior Center, City Hall, Veterans Memorial Center, and Transportation Center and Interior and exterior lighting at select sites. The City received financing of $442,000, leaving $53,600 in expenses, however the project is anticipated to save at least $68,000 annually in savings, allowing the city to realize cost savings in as soon as 1-year.
This page contains resources describing in detail the process of developing and adopting reach codes for local governments. Here you will find information on the purpose and importance of reach codes and their role in new construction.
Organization: City of Cupertino
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards, Outreach and Engagement
The City of Goleta has received funding through its local government partnership with Southern California Edison (SCE) to establish a voluntary Green Neighborhood Development Floating Zone to foster green community development, and develop tools that will be used for planning and implementation of the floating zone.
As described in the grant agreement: the “floating zone” is:
“a flexible zoning technique that can be used to institutionalize green neighborhood development standards into a single zoning district by incorporating them as eligibility conditions and district regulations, which can then be affixed to appropriate locations at the request of a property owner. In creating the floating zone, a zone classification is authorized for future use, but would not be placed on the zoning map. Developers of compliant parcels could make an application to have the zone applied in a particular location.”
The City of Goleta proposed such a zone in order to build upon the adoption of a reach code in 2010 and the Green Building Program in 2012.
Per the grant agreement:
“Recognizing the additional benefits of sustainable land development and planning at the neighborhood scale, the City would consider a voluntary Green Neighborhood Development Floating Zone to foster green community development. As a starting point, the City would use a model ordinance for the floating zone developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Land Use Law Center that would establish a new zone district using the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) rating system as its standards. LEED-ND contains a set of measurable standards that collectively identify whether a development can be deemed environmentally superior, considering the development’s location and transit access, its internal pattern and design, and its use of green technology and building techniques.”
Interested in learning more about Neighborhood Development Floating Zones? Check out this report from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Guidance on using USGBC’s LEED rating system is available in a technical assistance manual here.
Organization: City of Goleta
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2014
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
City of Gonzales: Local Governments Empowering Energy Solutions
LGSEC organized a webinar with the City of Gonzales on their recently announced microgrid. Our guest speakers presented on the process and experience of advancing clean energy solutions by installing a microgrid powered by 80% renewable energy. Guest speakers from the City of Gonzales, OurEnergy and Concentric Power discussed the local government role in public utilities and essential services, infrastructure modernization, and California’s energy landscape. The webinar will present a case study on the City of Gonzales’ planned $70 million microgrid and wastewater treatment plant, then conclude with audience Q&A.
City of Hayward has a resolution requiring city buildings to be Zero Net Energy starting after 2020. All existing City of Hayward buildings which receive renovations exceeding 50% of the buildings’ value shall be ZNE. All other lesser improvements to work towards ZNE by 2030.
Organization: City of Hayward
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
The City of Irvine developed a Strategic Energy Plan to outline actions the City can take to reduce energy consumption in municipal operations, and identify effective measures the Irvine community can implement to become energy efficient and responsibly manage energy resources. The objectives of the Energy Plan included analyzing the City’s baseline energy use to project future energy needs, evaluating priorities to meet those needs, and identifying funding opportunities to implement the strategies in the Energy Plan.
Stakeholder feedback was incorporated into the Energy Plan via public workshops and quarterly updates to the Green Ribbon Environmental Committee, and helped form the vision and strategies included in the Energy Plan. Green Committee meeting details are available on our website.
The project began in November 2018 and the Energy Plan was approved by City Council on November 10, 2020. The City Council directed staff to pursue strategies related to building electrification, renewable energy, and electric vehicle charging at City facilities. The City Council also expressed support for continued efforts to work with residents, businesses, and the development community on improving energy efficiency in buildings.
Organization: City of Irvine
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study, Tool
City of Palm Springs used Explorer Tool to design their Energy Policy.
The City of Palm Springs was looking to design a policy that will produce cost and energy savings for mixed-fuel existing residential buildings undergoing renovations, with additional measures required for higher building permit values. They started with the Quick Guide and Building Stock Estimates. If your jurisdiction is in two climate zones, identify the boundary from the Climate Zone Search Tool on the CEC website. The City recommends doing a GHG inventory to have benchmarks to state GHG goals, to know the energy policy goals of your City and the CCA / IOU / POU that serves it, understanding the building stock, and the changes that need to be made and need to be filled in the updated Reach Codes.
On February 1, 2021 the Piedmont City Council unanimously approved a second reading of proposed energy reach codes. The reach codes are local building energy codes that reach beyond statewide requirements for energy use in building design and construction. Piedmont is one of the first cities nationwide to adopt reach codes for energy efficiency and appliance electrification in new and existing residential buildings.
Ordinance 750 N.S. amends Piedmont’s City Code regarding requirements for energy efficiency measures, photovoltaic systems, and all-electric construction in new or existing low-rise residential buildings. Ordinance 751 N.S. amends City Code to include requirements for the preparation of a Home Energy Audit or Home Energy Score for low-rise residential buildings.
Key components of the reach codes are as follows:
– Newly constructed low-rise residential buildings and new detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), must use all electric building appliances, and no gas lines can be hooked up to these buildings.
– Projects proposing an entire new upper level on a low-rise residential building, or that increase a low-rise residential building’s total roof area by 30% or more, are required to install solar panels on the roof.
– A renovation project on a low-rise residential building that costs $25,000 or more, will require the applicant to choose one item from a list of energy efficient insulation or heating system electrification improvements to include in the renovation. A renovation project on a low-rise residential building that costs $100,000 or more will require the applicant to choose two items.
– The energy efficient insulation or heating system requirement can be modified with a Home Energy Score of at least a 7 completed in the last five years.
– An application for an electrical panel upgrade must include capacity in the panel to accommodate future electrification of all appliances in the residence.
– An application for a kitchen or laundry area renovation must include electrical outlets for future appliance installations.
– At point of listing for sale of a property, a report from a Home Energy Audit or Home Energy Score must be provided to potential buyers and submitted to the City – unless the residential building was constructed in the past 10 years.
Piedmont is a largely residential city located in the East Bay Hills of the San Francisco Bay area with a population of approximately 11,000. City staff initiated the process for adopting the reach codes 18 months ago. Along the way, there have been two public opinion surveys, several workshops, virtual town halls, two City Council meetings, and an ongoing dialogue with community members about the proposed reach codes. These reach codes are put in place in order to reduce Piedmont’s natural gas emissions. The reach codes are intended to slow natural gas usage, while still meeting the community standards outlined in the City’s Climate Action Plan.
For more information, please visit: https://piedmont.ca.gov/government/city_news___notifications/reach_codes
Organization: City of Piedmont
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study
City of Riverside Building Electrification Reach Code Ordinance
Instead of creating a reach code ordinance through the typical legislative process, the City of Riverside aims to create such an ordinance through collaboration with local stakeholders, representatives from SoCalGas, climate advocates, and community leaders. The City of Riverside has created this ordinance, while avoiding traditional bureaucratic barriers and red tape, in order to provide bottom up solutions to address the impacts of climate change on the local level.
In late 2019, the City of San Luis Obispo tentatively proposed a greenhouse gas in-lieu fee for new construction projects that installed fossil fuel consuming appliances, ranging from $6,013 for a typical single-family residence up to $89,000 for a 54,000 ft2 office.
Organization: City of San Luis Obispo
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Internal Funding Best Practices
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Case Study
City of Santa Barbara Manage Energy and Climate Efforts
The City of Santa Barbara is managing their energy sector and building their climate efforts. So far they have been making sure to record all energy data, they have developed a robust energy plan and a CCA to manage the procurement process for the city of Santa Barbara. They are aiming to coordinate their efforts with the Councils’ carbon neutrality goal and adaptation efforts. SInce they are at the end of the Edison transmission grid, installing energy sources around the City is one of their priorities to build energy resilience.
This September, the City completed retrofitting over 16,700 street lights resulting in over 4 million kWh in annual energy savings.
Project and Agency Details:
– 19% in energy savings since enrollment
– Over 4,100,000 kWh in annual energy savings – equivalent to 620 cars off the road!
– Over $1.5 million in annual cost savings and $100,000 in annual maintenance savings
– Over 16,700 street lights upgraded to LEDs with an effective useful life of 12 years
– At project completion, the City received over $1.9 million in incentives
– Southern California Edison (SCE) rebates – over $1.6 million
– SCE Local Government Partnership kicker – over $369,000
City of Watsonville adopted a Carbon Fund Ordinance in 2015 that charges a fee to all development projects including new construction, additions, and alterations, with the exception of single-family alterations. The additional carbon impact fee is between 30 and 50 percent of the building permit fee. Projects may be refunded the fee if they install on-site renewable generation to offset the average annual electricity load.
Organization: City of Watsonville
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Internal Funding Best Practices, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Case Study
City of West Hollywood Smart City
The City of West Hollywood is embarking on an ambitious initiative to holistically weave technology into the fabric of the city and turn bold, progressive ideas into lasting innovations. The West Hollywood Smart City Strategic Plan provides the City a multi-phased roadmap to efficiently incorporate smart technologies into our urban infrastructure and leverage that technology to improve our citizens’ quality of life, health, safety, and economic prosperity, by focusing on projects that promote Sustainability, Mobility, Accessibility, Resiliency, and Transparency.
CivicSpark is a Governor’s Initiative AmeriCorps program that is dedicated to building capacity for local governments to address emerging environmental and social equity resilience challenges such as climate change, water resource management, affordable housing, and mobility. CivicSpark is administered by the Local Government Commission in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research.
Organization: CivicSpark
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Workforce Development
To ensure the All-In Sustainability and Climate Action Plan is implemented and has impact, Clark County takes a more proactive, inclusive and data-driven approach to community and stakeholder engagement.
An online tool designed to find the tools, case studies and templates to help local government navigate the climate crisis, inspire action and network with other local government staff.
In January of 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14008. The order directed the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop a new tool – the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. The tool has an interactive map and uses datasets that are indicators of burdens in eight categories: climate change, energy, health, housing, legacy pollution, transportation, water and wastewater, and workforce development. The tool uses this information to identify communities that are experiencing these burdens.
The tool ranks most of the burdens using percentiles. Percentiles show how much burden each tract experiences compared to other tracts. Certain burdens use percentages or a simple yes/no.
Organization: Council on Environmental Quality
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Environmental Justice
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments, Tribal Governments
CaliforniaClimate Mayors, a bipartisan coalition of nearly 500 mayors, and C40 Cities, a network of mayors of nearly 100 world-leading cities, recently released, “Climate Action and the Inflation Reduction Act: A Guide for Local Government Leaders,” a guidebook to help local leaders understand the landmark Inflation Reduction Act and all the resources available to them through the law. The guidebook – supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies – advises U.S. mayors and city staff on the opportunities for local governments, organizations, and businesses to implement the Inflation Reduction Act and address climate change. It highlights where funding could flow directly to cities and where cities will need to collaborate with other partners, including state governments and community organizations, to deploy funding in a way that accelerates climate action and advances equity.’s New Energy-Related Laws for 2022
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
Climate-Smart Ways to Save and Thrive in Tough Times – Interview with Howard Choy
Statewide Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator, Angie Hacker, recently invited local energy expert, Howard Choy for a remote interview on “Climate-Smart Ways to Save and Thrive in Tough Times.” We had a chance to discuss parallels between challenges local governments are facing due to the economic fallout from COVID-19 and our experiences building lasting local energy programs during the last economic downturn in 2009 with help from stimulus dollars. As we look ahead to future budget uncertainties and potential silver linings, Howard shares advice and cost-neutral strategies for local energy sustainability professionals to provide value both through operating savings and through external funding opportunities. Watch the interview.
Closing Plenary: Accelerating Climate Action and Advancing Justice… with Accountability
To close out the forum, we turn our attention squarely to this year’s theme: Accelerating Climate Action and Advancing Justice. Calls for equitable and inclusive decisions, investments, plans, and projects are reverberating throughout the climate field and in our communities. There is a growing recognition that members of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and other marginalized groups are disproportionately impacted by pollution and the impact of climate change, resulting from an enduring history of systemic racism and chronic disinvestment in their communities. As the momentum for equitable climate action continues to build, how do we ensure meaningful and lasting outcomes for communities? This closing plenary seeks to move beyond principles and frameworks to hear real stories from community organizers and advocates – on what’s working, what isn’t, and what it means to advance justice with accountability.
Speakers
Roger Lin (he/him) (Moderator), Center for Biological Diversity, Senior Attorney for Energy Justice
Battery storage is emerging as an effective new strategy for reducing electricity costs for affordable multifamily rental housing in California. Battery storage systems not only provide economic returns today, they can also preserve the value of solar in an evolving policy and regulatory environment. Because batteries empower owners of solar photovoltaics (PV) systems to take control of the energy they produce and when they consume it, storage can deliver deeper cost reductions that can be shared among affordable housing owners, developers, and tenants.
Organization: Clean Energy Group
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Published in 2016
Topic Areas: Renewable Energy & Storage
Learning Event
Co-Designing Climate Policy Solutions with Environmental Justice Communities & Workers
Co-designing equitable climate policies with government officials, environmental justice communities and the labor movement is difficult, yet necessary work. This interactive breakout session will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with co-designing climate policies and programs that center environmental and labor justice. Our panelists include a sitting City Councilmember as well as community advocates and leaders, all of whom are at the forefront of innovative, community-led climate policies throughout the state. Join us to hear their unique perspectives and vital lessons learned in pursuit of equitable climate policies that advance justice. An open discussion format will provide ample opportunity for attendees to engage directly with the expert panelists and learn how to apply those lessons in their own communities.
Speakers
Alex Jasset (Moderator), Physicians for Social Responsibility – LA
Katie Valenzuela (she/her), Sacramento City Councilmember, Environmental Justice Policy Consultant
Laura Gracia, CBE
Kameron Hurt, RePower LA
Name: Alex Jasset
Title: Nuclear and Energy Justice Program Manager
Organization: Physicians for Social Responsibility
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
Learning Event
COGs as a Key Conduit to Public Sector Efficiency Success
Angie Hacker, the Statewide Best Practices Coordinator sits down with Management Analysts Alex Fung and Samantha Matthews of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), which serves 30 member cities and other governmental agencies in the eastern Los Angeles region. Join us to hear how the COGs like the SGVCOG are serving as a key conduit for public sector energy efficiency success. Even amid the turmoil and EE funding changes of 2020, SGVCOG has grown its engagement with regional agencies through its awards program and other effective outreach efforts.
Collaborative Pathways to Equitable Decarbonization in the San Diego Region
Recognizing the need for a regional approach to addressing climate change, the County of San Diego is in the process of creating an integrated Regional Decarbonization Framework (RDF). The integrated RDF is a visionary document to address regional emissions in the San Diego region to getting to zero carbon emissions in the energy system in alignment with State and federal goals and pathways. The integrated RDF is also visionary because it seeks to provide the data-driven emissions reductions pathways to all jurisdictions, agencies, and governments to foster a collaborative approach to decarbonization and to ensure that no parts of the region are left behind. In focusing on collaboration, learning, and a data-driven approach to emissions reductions, the Integrated RDF is also centering on equity because addressing climate change will require addressing climate justice and environmental justice. This panel will discuss the integrated RDF’s initial findings and relevance for the region.
Speakers
Elise Hanson, County of San Diego, Management Fellow
Scott Anders (He/Him), Energy Policy Initiatives Center, University of San Diego School of Law, Director
Kyle Heiskala, Environmental Health Coalition, Climate Justice Policy Advocate
Gordon McCord (he/his) (Moderator), University of California, San Diego – School of Global Policy & Strategy, Associate Professor of Economics
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
Learning Event
Communities, Climate Action, and New U.S. Leadership: A Conversation with David Hayes, Special Assistant to President Biden for Climate Policy
In addition to playing a key role in Biden’s Climate Team, David Hayes has an extensive background in State and local climate matters. In this webinar he talks with us about: • How the new administration will roll out President Biden’s climate, clean energy, and environmental justice plans • How Tribal, local and other community stakeholders can prepare for, influence, or support what is to come • Ongoing ways to collaborate with the federal government on policy initiatives and best practices This event also featured brief remarks by co-hosts Kate Wright (LGC), Shasta Gaughen (TCHP), and Beth Gibbons (ASAP).
Name: David Hayes
Title: Special Assistant to President Biden for Climate Policy
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments, Tribal Governments
Best Practices, Learning Event
Community & Climate Engagement During COVID-19: What to do when in person isn’t possible
The COVID-19 outbreak has created a “new reality” in many sectors, including public participation. Ensuring inclusive public participation is more challenging than ever because of the digital divide, language needs and learning curves. Join the Institute for Local Government to learn innovative strategies for using high-tech and low-tech virtual platforms to engage residents around energy, climate, land use planning and pollution reduction without meeting face-to face. Many of these tools and techniques, while essential in this time of physical distancing, also have the potential to engage new, hard-to reach segments of the community, and will be useful beyond this current crisis.
Name: Nicole Enright
Title: Associate Program Manager
Organization: Institute for Local Government
Organization Type: City or County, Other Private Sector Business, Nonprofit Organization
Additional notes of interest: 2020 CCEC Forum Resources
Case Study, Tool
Community Energy Resilience for Local Governments
In preparation for the 2020 wildfire season and Public Safety Power Shutoffs, many local governments throughout California are exploring opportunities to advance energy resilience solutions. However, COVID-19 is creating enormous challenges for local governments in what was already a resource-constrained environment.
This webinar provided practical information about technical and financial resources available to local governments to implement clean energy resilience initiatives.
Presentations highlighted case studies and model strategies to build community energy resilience covering both the immediate-term need to keep critical facilities online, as well as long-term opportunities to simultaneously advance local climate goals and deliver tangible benefits to communities. Speakers will include representatives from The Climate Center, The Community Energy Lab, California Energy Commission, and local governments.
This webinar was jointly organized by The Climate Center and the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC). For more information about The Climate Center’s Community Energy Resilience Summit, please visit https://theclimatecenter.org/cer-summit-2020/.
Name: Ellie Cohen
Organization: The Climate Center
Organization Type: State Government/Agency, Nonprofit Organization
Additional notes of interest: 2020 CCEC Forum Resources
Case Study
Community Engagement for City of Berkeley Existing Building Electrification Strategy
As part of Berkeley Existing Building Electrification Strategy, the Ecology Center conducted outreach to get feedback from the community on electrification. The Ecology Center was intentional about who they reached out to as The City has a redlining past. Community feedback was gathered from general audiences and then also from targeted communities traditionally excluded from the planning process. The top concerns from those two audiences were different and represented climate change and housing affordability respectively. The City and consultants used feedback to create a minimum set of implementation requirements that need to be met called “Equity Guardrails”.
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event
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
Name: Maggie Singleton
Title: Equity Associate Manager
Organization: Center for Sustainable Energy
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, Statewide
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Case Study
Contra Costa County Green and Healthy Homes Initiative
This pilot program will integrate various climate and health interventions to improve outcomes for low-income high-risk asthma patients across county. The County with its partners will implement and monitor improvements in homes of select asthma patients to improve indoor air quality, remove underlying triggers and reduce GHG emissions.
Name: Abby Young
Title: Climate Protection Manager
Organization: Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Local government decision-makers are grappling with extreme budgetary impacts and difficult spending decisions in the wake of a year of unprecedented crises. This online brief, produced by the Local Government Commission through the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) – the predecessor to the California Climate & Energy Collaborative (CCEC), offers insights into how local governments that maintain sustainability staff can more effectively improve financial conditions and build long-term economic, social, and environmental resilience.
Name: Angie Hacker, Sarina Soor
Organization: CCEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Email: ahacker@civicwell.org
Region: Statewide
Date: March 2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: CCEC Original Article
This paper looks ahead to the future to try to understand what decisions local governments are grappling with as they consider what to do with both publicly and privately-owned buildings in the context of crisis recovery as well as stronger local, State, and federal commitments to climate change and equity. This report highlights how California’s buildings were affected by the COVID crisis and explores why 2021 is a chance for local governments to implement innovative and sustainable building solutions across sectors to meet current and future needs.
Name: Angie Hacker, Sarina Soor, Gabriela Yamure
Organization: CCEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Email: ahacker@civicwell.org
Region: Statewide
Date: June 2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Additional notes of interest: CCEC Original Article
Free web-based software for CA local government energy policy makers designed to help accelerate reach code adoption and support data-driven decision making. The Cost Effectiveness Explorer Tool launched in late 2020 and aggregates findings from 4 state-wide cost effectiveness studies. The software estimates residential building stock for each of 500+ CA cities and counties and helps users evaluate and develop cost-effective policy options. You can select measures that you want to explore for your code.
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards, Data Requests and Analysis
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Technical Assistance Provider
County of Marin
An Organization offering free technical assistance to local government professionals, who has the willingness, capacity, and expertise to be contacted by local government energy and climate peers/professionals to share knowledge in the following types of programs, projects, or policies: Marin Energy Management Team’s staff assist local governments and school districts in Marin County with energy management. The team acts as an extension of public agency staff, helping to reduce and manage energy use, improve the comfort and productivity of staff, and save scarce dollars. Technical assistance can include energy use data analysis, project identification, connection to available incentives, support writing RFPs, staff reports, and other tasks necessary to design and implement an energy efficiency project.. The elegibility restrictions are the following: Public Agencies, businesses of all sizes, and residential properties located in Marin County that are currently Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) or Marin Clean Energy customers can participate in the program..
Name: Energy Watch Partnership
Title: Marin County: Marin Energy Watch Partnership/Marin Energy Management Team
The County of San Luis Obispo is launching a revolving loan fund for energy efficiency projects with seed funding from a $2.2 million California Energy Commission (CEC) loan.
County of San Mateo requires new county-owned construction projects over 10,000 square feet to be LEED certified, with at least 50% of available LEED Energy and Atmosphere points. In addition, these projects are required to be Zero Net Energy if feasible.
Organization: County of San Mateo
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
The County of Santa Clara has adopted a new Sustainability Master Plan to build a livable and equitable Santa Clara county. They have prioritized action across 4 areas which are: Climate Protection and Defense, Natural Resources and the Environment, Community Health and Well-being, and a Prosperous and Just Economy. This plan aims to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG), build resilience in face of natural disasters, improve health inequities within communities, and cultivate a prosperous economy, while incorporating sustainability as a core function of all operations.
In 2014, DC Water issued the first certified green bond to finance the administrative and implementation costs of the city’s Clean River’s project. Projects funded by municipal green bonds provide numerous environmental and social benefits including improved water quality, climate resiliency through flood mitigation, and increased biodiversity.
Organization: DC Water
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Out of State
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Internal Funding Best Practices
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
Decarbonization 101
Sean Armstrong of Redwood Energy in a webinar on Decarbonization 101. In this webinar, we define decarbonization, explore why we should decarbonize locally, and share practical solutions for decarbonizing our communities now.
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Learning Event
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
This tool from EPA provides an initial “screen,” or preliminary assessment, of the economic feasibility of implementing a CHP system at a specific facility.
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization Type: Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards, Energy Resilience
Developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, the Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM) is a powerful and comprehensive decision-support tool that primarily serves to identify optimal distributed energy resource (DER) investments in the context of either buildings or multi-energy microgrids.
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL)
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources
Learning Event
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
Name: Ariana Vito
Title: Senior Sustainability Analyst
Organization: City of Santa Monica
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Climate Planning, Energy Efficiency
Case Study
Distributed Resource Adequacy Program
Program using solar PV + battery energy storage for residential & commercial customers with the added emphasis on low-income and medical baseline. The program provides resource adequacy for CCA’s and resiliency for customers.
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Resilience
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Case Study
East Bay Community Energy Critical Municipal Facilities
EBCE assessed all the critical facilities in their territory to see what potential was there for solar storage. This initiative was funded by a Air Resources Board (ARB) grant and allowed them to look at over 300 facilities, which were shared by the cities they cater to. Consultant Independent Engineers (IE) completed a preliminary review of the facility portfolio to confirm the most technically viable solar + BES sites and eliminated sites that had complex roof configurations/attributes or significant shading. EBCE then developed a standard PPA, signed by them and not the local jurisdiction to be intermediary between City and developer. A centralized convener like a CCA can really help fill gaps in bandwidth for member cities that don’t have time and allows CCAs to fund projects that previously cities weren’t able to.
Name: Jessie Denver
Title: Senior Distributed Energy Resources Manager
This guide was funded under multiple grants from the California Energy Commission (CEC). The goal of this guide is to help site hosts and others learn about, evaluate and compare the features of EV charging equipment (available as of March, 2017) to assist them in selecting a charger for their application.
Section 2 in this guide provides an overview of Electric Vehicle Charger (EVC) equipment, how it works, and considerations when making a purchase. Section 2 includes a table of EVC features available from a variety of commercially available products in the United States. Information on EVC features was collected by sending specification sheets of predetermined criteria to EVC manufacturers with a request for an email response with completed specifications for currently available AC charger models1 . Additional information, including that for DC chargers 1 , was collected using publically available technical specifications. As funding allows, the information in this guide will be updated periodically to include new models and specifications as product offerings evolve.
Click here to download the Electric Vehicle Charger Selection Guide.
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event
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
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event
Elevating and Equitable Engaging Rural Voices in the Energy Transition
California has long been a leader in the clean energy and climate transition, yet disadvantaged communities continue to be left behind. This is particularly true for rural communities, which face ever-increasing challenges with fragile grid systems, a lack of distributed generation, complications responding to public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events, disparate geographics, and local government capacity limitations.
This panel will link utility, government, and implementation to present solutions for engaging rural California voices in the energy transition, including:
Community approaches to energy programs. California community choice aggregators (CCAs) are load serving entities with unusual latitude in initiatives to address local needs. Josh Brock, Vice President of Calpine, will discuss lessons from CCAs throughout the state, drawing upon extensive research and evaluation of programs serving disadvantaged communities.
Enhanced customer communications. James Riley, Partner at Appos Advisors, will draw upon decades of experience working with investor-owned utilities to share lessons in how to qualify and engage customers in assistance programs, and best methods for supporting rural communities during PSPS events.
Local and inclusive energy and climate solutions. The Town of Truckee is a local jurisdiction that is quickly becoming a leader in community-based climate and sustainability solutions. Anna Klovstad, Former Mayor, will define successful local stakeholder engagement strategies, agency collaboration tactics, and changes to the Town’s policies and priorities to support climate solutions.
Panelists will discuss specific approaches to working with underserved communities and how these approaches have translated into program designs and solutions that can be applied in rural communities throughout California.
Speakers
Josh Brock (He/Him), Calpine Energy Solutions, Vice President – CCA Commercial Operations
James Riley, Appos Advisors, Partner
Anna Klovstad, Town of Truckee, Former Mayor
Courtney Henderson (Moderator), Resource innovations, Head of Market Strategy
Sherry Hao (she/her), Sierra Business Council, Climate & Energy Program Director
Name: Courtney Henderson
Title: Mayor
Organization: Town of Truckee
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Statewide
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Energy Resilience, Environmental Justice
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
An Organization offering free technical assistance to local government professionals, who has the willingness, capacity, and expertise to be contacted by local government energy and climate peers/professionals to share knowledge in the following types of programs, projects, or policies: Increased adoption for DERs, Best Practices for Procurement, and Electric Fleet planning. The elegibility restrictions are the following: Consultation to determine a procurement gap required before engaging in the Empower Procurement program.
Empower Procurement is excited to launch their new E-building Procurement Initiative. This program aims to tackle six initiatives: energy efficient products, expert energy services contractors, fuel switching resources: planning and installation, targeted specifications for low-energy building systems, new approaches to procurement operations, and training on organizations benchmarking and procurement metrics. The goal of this initiative is to build a collaborative network with local governments that provides opportunities for streamlined and cooperative procurement, while identifying challenges for electrification – particularly in existing government buildings. The product of this initiative will be represented in developed resources and best practices that are useful to the network.
The E-Fleet Accelerator offers school districts, higher education, governments, and select fleet operators support for the transition to electrified fleets. Transforming asset classes represents unique procurement barriers for institutional buyers. Fleet electrification is a prime example of this, and this PI will focus on addressing common gaps to improve the adoption of electric fleets for various purposes across diverse sectors. Our team provides customized insights to identify new opportunities to adopt electric fleets, and ensure successful fulfillment of electrification plans.
This Initiative provides free assessment to troubleshoot procurement processes. You will find tailored resources to help with procurement barriers. It has streamlined access to DERs product information as well as guidance on technology solutions to help make informed DERs purchasing decisions. The Products Procurement Initiative is designed to provide an opportunity for buyers to learn more about energy-efficient products and possible opportunities for cost savings.
The City of Encinitas Green Building Incentive Program provides financial incentive, priority plan check, and City Council recognition for projects that register and achieve certification with Build It Green (BIG) GreenPoint Rated and/or US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ®. Once registered with the City’s program, all plan checks for construction-related permits will receive priority in the City’s plan check process. On completion of the project and certification by BIG or LEED®, the project will be eligible for reimbursement for the costs of providing green building measures to achieve final certification up to a maximum of $2,000 per project. Additionally, certified projects will be recognized at a City Council meeting.
Organization: City of Encinitas
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Diego
Published in 2011
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
3C-REN’s Energy Code Connect program makes it easier for building professionals to use, comply with, and enforce California’s complex and ever-changing energy code. Energy Code Connect offers various services for public and private-sector building professionals, including: Energy Code Coach, Trainings, and Regional Forums. The Energy Code Coach is available to provide mentorship and support directly from local experts to building professionals. The program also offers free training on various topics including compliance, ADU requirements, and PV requirements. Lastly, Energy Code Connect offers 3-4 forums annually to provide a space for building professionals to network and explore how critical policy issues affect energy code.
A Guide for Public Health and Health Care Professionals on Connecting Medically Vulnerable Residents with Energy Efficiency Services
Public health and health care professionals can help residents and communities have healthier housing and better health by connecting them with weatherization and energy efficiency programs. This document provides guidance for successfully establishing a referral program for people receiving health services to receive weatherization and energy efficiency services.
Organization: Public Health Institute
Organization Type: State Government/Agency, Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2018
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency, Public Health
The Tri-County Regional Energy Network is dedicated to a continued understanding of the energy efficiency workforce on the Central Coast to grow, diversify, and upskill the region’s workers. To this end, 3C-REN in partnership with In Balance Green Consulting established the Higher Performance Building on the Central Coast series. This series began by looking at strategies to address how to design and build for safety, health, and cost savings on the Central Coast while moving to electric construction.
Organization: 3C-REN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Workforce Development
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Best Practices
Energy Reach Code Ordinance
Reach codes that exceed state standards, either voluntary or mandatory.
Name: Misti Bruceri
Title: Principal
Organization: Cities of Palo Alto and Chula Vista
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Email: mistib@comcast.net
Phone: 707-477-1768
Region: Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area
The Statewide EE Best Practices Coordinator is pleased to share a brief response to a recent Technical Assistance Request on the topic of Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC). (Question from July 22, 2020)
This fact sheet on engaging elected officials was presented as part of the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) Best Practices Forum on June 19, 2014 in San Diego by Liz Yager from Sonoma County.
As the Energy and Sustainability Program Manager at the County of Sonoma, Liz works with elected officials from both Sonoma County and each of the nine cities within the county implementing energy related program across the region. As a Division manager Liz oversees the Sonoma county Energy Independence Program, the Sonoma County Energy Watch local government partnership with PG&E, in addition to her responsibility for internal utility and sustainability programs in County operations. SCEIP is one of the most successful and long running PACE financing programs in the country. Because energy efficiency programs are complex and historically have not been a core function of local government, Liz and her team lave had to learn how to properly engage elected officials on the topics in order to retain support for these programs. Her years of experience working with elected officials coming from different jurisdictions with different agendas are reflected in the fact sheet.
To date, the community facing aspects of the SCEW and SCEIP programs together have been responsible for over $70 million in local investment activity and have created or supported over 900 jobs.
Name: Liz Yager
Title: Energy and Sustainability Program Manager
Organization: County of Sonoma
Organization Type: City or County
Region: North Coast
Published in 2014
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Outreach and Engagement
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
Ensuring That Electrification Benefits Impacted Communities in San Jose
In this October 2021 interview with Elena Olmedo, Climate Advisor to the City of San Jose, Natural Resources Defense Council, she shares how San Jose is designing the City’s Building Electrification Plan, which outlines options to electrify the City’s existing buildings equitably. Through deep data analysis and community engagement, the City of San Jose and a broad set of partner organizations are working to ensure that its impacted communities benefit from electrification. We thank Elena for taking the time to share her work, experience, and advice. We hope this conversation provides inspiration to other local practitioners as they consider ways to equitably electrify their building stock. You can learn more about the City of San Jose’s ongoing electrification efforts here.
AVERT is a free tool with a simple user interface designed to meet the needs of state air quality planners and other interested stakeholders. Anyone can use AVERT to evaluate county, state, and regional changes in emissions from electric power plants and displaced fuel-burning vehicles resulting from energy policies and programs such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. AVERT is designed to use public data that are accessible and auditable.
Organization Type: State Government/Agency, Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Tribal Governments
EPA’s Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit aims to inform and support state and local government decision makers who are exploring adopting policies focused on reducing energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from existing commercial and multifamily buildings in their communities.
As more state and local governments seek to adopt BPS and other polices for existing buildings, this toolkit can offer:
Key considerations for policy design
Opportunities for cross-jurisdictional coordination
Strategies for using EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® tool
Organization Type: Other Local Government, State Government/Agency, Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Tribal Governments
EPA’s CO–Benefits Risk Assessment (COBRA) screening model is a free tool that helps state and local governments:
Explore how changes in air pollution from clean energy policies and programs, including energy efficiency and renewable energy, can affect human health at the county, state, regional, or national levels.
Estimate the economic value of the health benefits associated with clean energy policies and programs to compare against program costs.
Map and visually represent the air quality, human health, and health-related economic benefits from reductions in emissions of particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX), ammonia (NH3), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that result from clean energy policies and programs.
Organization Type: Other Local Government, State Government/Agency, Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Public Health, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Tribal Governments
The Energy Savings and Impacts Scenario Tool (ESIST) Version 1.1 is a customizable and transparent Excel-based planning tool for analyzing the energy savings and costs from customer-funded energy efficiency programs and their impacts on emissions, public health, and equity. ESIST enables users to develop, explore, and share energy efficiency scenarios between 2010 and 2040. ESIST focuses primarily on energy efficiency savings in the electricity sector.
Organization Type: Other Local Government, State Government/Agency, Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Public Health
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Tribal Governments
EPA has developed a set of values that help state and local government policymakers and other stakeholders estimate the outdoor air quality-related public health benefits of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy (EE/RE). These monetized values were developed using methods consistent with those EPA uses for health benefits analyses at the federal level.
The health benefits-per-kWh (BPK) screening values are reasonable approximations of the monetized health benefits of state EE/RE investments that can be used for preliminary analysis when comparing state and local policy scenarios to indicate direction and relative magnitude of impacts.
Organization Type: Other Local Government, State Government/Agency, Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Public Health, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Tribal Governments
State Inventory and Projection Tool
Use this tool to develop state GHG emissions inventories and create a simple forecast of emissions through 2050. Updated February 2023.
Local Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool
Use this tool to compile a GHG inventory for your entire community or for local government operations in particular. Updated October 2022.
Tribal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool
Use this tool to compile a GHG inventory for your entire tribe or for tribal government operations in particular. Updated October 2022.
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Tribal Governments
Learning Event
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
EVFleet Tools is a collection of resources designed to help municipal staff identify and implement opportunities for robust decarbonization of their organization’s fleet and facilities. On this website you will find tools developed based on analyses done for the City of Fremont Fleet Electrification Study and informed by a Regional Working Group of public and industry stakeholders in the Bay Area. Materials from the Regional Working Group’s meetings and further resources to help you make an informed transition to an electrified municipal fleet are also available.
Organization: City of Fremont
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
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
Name: Lou Jacobson
Title: Director
Organization: Willdan
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Date: 06/14/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Environmental Justice
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event
Exit Interview with Jenny Berg: Capturing Takeaways and Insights from the Retiring Manager of BayREN
We welcome you to listen to an “exit interview” with BayREN’s retiring manager, Jenny Berg. As a key energy leader and knowledge holder in our State, and a successful proponent of regional administration, we asked Jenny to reflect on the development of regional energy networks, how administering programs has changed over the last decade, and what’s needed next, along with many other unique takeaways and insights.
Name: Angela Hacker
Title: Statewide Best Practices Coordinator
Organization: California Climate and Energy Collaborative
The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) has released a report of the work completed by their Permit Resource Opportunity Program, or PROP. The report contains an analysis full of best practices, challenges, and opportunities for improvement in compliance enforcement with California energy code.
As shared on BayREN’s website, the PROP report “represents the collaborative efforts of the nine San Francisco Bay Area Counties and 15 Bay Area building departments to learn about energy code enforcement barriers and challenges, identify successful enforcement strategies, and gather data about the impact of discrepancies on building performance.”
“BayREN’s Codes & Standards Permit Resource Opportunity Program (PROP) sent building code experts to Bay Area building departments to study energy code compliance and enforcement practices and to identify successful enforcement strategies. Those best practices are collected in the report.”
Why are best practices on compliance and enforcement of California’s building energy code (currently the 2013 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, or BEES) so significant? The report provides a great summary of the energy efficiency opportunities presented by compliance, shared in part below.
Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2015
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Case Study
Extreme Heat Resilience Among Disadvantaged Communities in Stockton
Extreme heat events are becoming more common with global climate change. The general population is often unaware of the dangers posed by extreme heat events. This danger is most acute for vulnerable members of the population. This danger is heightened for disadvantaged communities, who are made vulnerable to extreme heat risks due to aging building stocks, with poor maintenance, and a lower incidence of installed air conditioning. At the same time, there are many low-cost/no-cost measures which people can adopt to protect themselves from the dangers of extreme heat. Indicia Consulting, led by principal investigator Dr. Susan Mazur-Stommen and project director Haley Gilbert, concluded a project with Rising Sun Opportunity Center to investigate extreme heat resiliency among vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
In 2019, Rising Sun conducted 823 Green House Calls in the Stockton area of Northern California. Indicia Consulting developed questions to learn more about extreme heat risks in homes. Residents were also offered a choice to take a pledge to make a beneficial change to a behavior associated with energy, water, or heat resilience. From the data gathered during the Green House Calls, Indicia Consulting developed two composite scores to characterize and analyze households and homes: a Household Vulnerability Score, and a Home Heat Risk Score. Using these, we identified those most in need of assistance via programs to reduce home heat risk. Taxpayer dollars are thus used more effectively to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with extreme heat.
After the last major economic downturn, the federal government adopted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which provided stimulus funding for priorities including energy efficiency retrofits through the DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative. In California, three regions received millions of dollars to support new building efficiency incentive and assistance programs that targeted privately owned buildings and spurred economic opportunities for the hard-hit building trades. Twelve years later, those regions are now operating as Regional Energy Networks, with stable ratepayer funding authorized by the CPUC to continue offering services like BayREN’s Business programs. Recognizing that incentives and other financial mechanisms are critical for making the investment in energy efficient infrastructure more affordable and accessible to businesses, the BayREN Business program offers rebates, financing, and one-stop-shop technical assistance to ensure small and medium businesses can leverage all available energy saving programs and minimize out-of-pocket expenses. While this is an old example, it may help local governments consider how to take advantage of major State and federal stimulus efforts to create long-lasting support for building retrofits that also strengthen economic recovery. They may also consider how to design new or increased upgrade incentives for small or distressed businesses.
The Fremont Green Challenge is an online platform with all the information Fremont residents need to find out how to lower their impact on climate change, save energy and water, and save money. The platform offers various “actions” you can take in your daily life, and includes all the rebates, financing and community programs available for each action. Actions that range from “easy” to “challenging”, with information on the impact for each action as well as the annual savings and upfront costs.
Fremont has defined its own smart city agenda based on a series of conversations and cross-functional, collaborative workshops. The city started by looking at its existing efforts currently underway — smart traffic signals, EV charging stations, the Pulse Point smart app, and roadway video surveillance.
Organization: City of Freemont
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility, Energy Efficiency
The Fresno County Employees’ Retirement Association allocated millions of dollars from the pension fund, which is being leveraged to invest in community projects with social benefits, such as affordable rental construction, disaster recovery, and green infrastructure. The City continued this effort in the wake of COVID-19 after anticipating greater need for local capital during recovery.
Organization: Fresno County Employees' Retirement Association
Organization Type: Governmental Association
Region: Sacramento Valley
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Internal Funding Best Practices
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study
Funding EE upgrades in municipal buildings
City of San Diego is the process of identifying, prioritizing & executing energy projects across 500+ facilities owned & operated by other “Asset Managing Departments”, guided by their CAP.
Funding Equitable Residential Decarbonization in Berkeley
Decarbonizing existing buildings is imperative to achieving our climate goals but has a large price tag. Absent the ability to access substantial incentive dollars, many building owners will not be able to afford these investments or will pass these costs on to tenants, exacerbating displacement risk and the housing affordability crisis. Building on Berkeley’s cutting-edge climate policies, city staff and the Building Electrification Institute wanted to understand how to fund the decarbonization of Berkeley’s housing stock while preserving housing affordability. They commissioned a funding gap analysis, which analyzed the cost to decarbonize Berkeley’s residential buildings by 2045; identified federal, state, regional, and local funding sources that support equitable decarbonization; quantified the remaining funding gap; and explored fundraising opportunities to fill that gap. Members of the project team will share their approach, provide key findings from this analysis and offer a roadmap for other jurisdictions to conduct similar assessments.
Speakers
Dani Makous (she/her)(Speaker)Building Electrification Institute, Assistant Director
Bridgett Neely(Moderator)Firefly Energy Consulting, President
Catherine Campbell-Orrock(Speaker)Building Electrification Institute, Deputy Director
Nick Dirr(Speaker)Association for Energy Affordability, Senior Director, Programs
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
Learning Event
General Plans Guidelines Update
Michael McCormick, Senior Planner with the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research present on the General Plan Guidelines Update, summarizing the changes made in 2017 and the new guidance for 2018.
Name: Michael McCormick
Organization: Governor's Office of Planning and Research
The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) and Geo-Exchange Organization (GEO) have developed a guide specific to the state of California for consideration of geothermal energy development. The guide walks through the benefits and uses of three major types of geothermal applications: power generation, direct use and heat pumps. For more information and to review the guide, visit this interactive feature on Renewable Energy World‘s website.
Organization: Renewable Energy World
Region: Statewide
Published in 2016
Topic Areas: Renewable Energy & Storage
Learning Event
Going Beyond 2022 Building Standards to Continue Accelerated Climate Action
With the effective date for the new 2022 statewide Building Energy Efficiency Standards only a few months away, many active reach codes will be revisited in the context of the new requirements. What will remain a “reach” over state minimums? What actions can local jurisdictions take to continue accelerating progress on their own climate action plans? How can existing buildings be a bigger part of the progress? This session tackles the challenge, focusing on how local experience both informs development of the state code, and provides a platform that jurisdictions may use to leapfrog beyond these minimums. First, the presenters will share the results of a survey conducted by Building Decarbonization Coalition, BayREN and Acterra that connected with local government staff from jurisdictions with a building electrification ordinance. This will offer insights on the effects that reach codes are having on jurisdictions with permitted residential and commercial projects and the number of those projects that were designed all-electric. Then, panelists and attendees will share insights and experiences from the 2019 cycle, including lessons learned and opportunities to continue advancing climate-related policies by local leadership in the next code cycle. Together, the session participants will explore ordinance options, from the general policy structure, building types, and targeted activities and measures.
Speakers
Danuta Drozdowicz (she), California Energy Commission, Energy Specialist Efficiency Division
Crystal Najera, City of Encinitas, Sustainability Manager
Demian Hardman-Saldana, Contra Costa County, Department of Conservation and Development, Senior Planner
Misti Bruceri (She/Her/Hers), (Moderator) Statewide Reach Codes Program, Coordinator and Technical Lead
Lawrence Garber, Building Decarbonization Coalition, Program Associate
Cora Panturad, Monterey County, Sustainable Infrastructure Analyst
The Goleta Load Pocket Community Microgrid (GLPCM) provides a unique opportunity to bring a disaster-prone region indefinite renewables-driven backup power — providing the area an unparalleled trifecta of economic, environmental, and resilience benefits. Significant efforts are being made to align appropriate stakeholders, including property owners, policymakers, community leaders, solutions providers, and the monopoly electric utility, Southern California Edison (SCE), toward this goal. This deployment of clean local energy will showcase the grid of the future.
The Environmental Insights Explorer (EIE) uses exclusive data sources and modeling capabilities in a freely available platform to help cities measure emission sources, run analyses, and identify strategies to reduce emissions — creating a foundation for effective action.
GRIP is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic coalition of congregations from varied faiths working together as a diverse and inclusive coalition dedicated to helping those of our community in need to transition to self-sufficiency. Our mission statement: “Responding to the Call to Service, GRIP transforms the lives of homeless, hungry and disenfranchised people.” Over the years, GRIP, in keeping with its mission, has evolved from a small community food pantry to a multiservice agency, which serves 15,000 homeless, and low-income consumers annually. GRIP is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors drawn from member congregations, the business community and public-sector agencies.
The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) is dedicated to breaking the link between unhealthy housing and unhealthy families. Formerly the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, GHHI replaces stand-alone housing intervention programs with an integrated, whole-house approach that produces sustainable, green, healthy and safe homes. Through this model, Marin County is improving health, economic and social outcomes for low income eligible families across the country.
Organization: Marin County
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Public Health
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study
Green District Program
Program using battery, EVSE, thermostats and water heaters for residential, commercial & municipal customers. Provides wholesale market revenue & procurement cost savings to CCA, cost savings & resiliency benefits to customers
The City of Hayward’s Green Hayward PAYS® program allows multifamily property owners to get immediate savings on their water and energy utility bills by installing efficiency improvements with no up-front cost.
The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) has partnered with the Rising Sun Center for Opportunity to help determine residents’ personalized energy and water efficiency needs through the Green House Call Service. Residents can sign up for a Green House Call by completing a 10-minute survey. After completing the survey, a free energy and water efficiency kit with installation instructions will be delivered directly to their door.
Each kit includes:
Up to 16 LED light bulbs, standard and floodlight,
A smart power strip ($70 value),
High-efficiency bathroom and kitchen sink faucet aerator(s),
High-efficiency showerhead(s),
Toilet leak detection tablets, and
Information on other energy-saving and green programs.
Organization: Rising Sun Center for Opportunity
Organization Type: Other Local Government, Nonprofit Organization
This webpage provides an overview of how to lower building energy demand needs and provides additional resources for further explanation.
Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Organization Type: Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide, Out of State
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Case Study, Tool
Green Labeling
BayREN’s Green Labeling program helps homeowners better understand the energy efficiency of their homes through a simple assessment that results in a Home Energy Score from 1 to 10 and a customized report and recommendations for energy efficiency upgrades. Homeowner’s scores can also provide good information to future buyers of the home by offering a simple and consistent evaluation tool.
The Green Region Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Indicators Map serves as a tool for jurisdictions within the SCAG region to measure and track sustainability progress in the region across 12 categories and 29 sustainability indicators. The map aims to foster collaboration through the sharing of best practices across the 191 cities and six counties in the SCAG region. GRI Version 4.0 is the most recent iteration of the tool, providing an improved user experience through updated map designs, links, and resources. GRI Version 4.0 includes 3 updated maps, one new indicator and one new topic: Electric Vehicle Permitting Streamlining and Urban Greening.
Organization: Southern California Council of Governments
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Greater Los Angeles, San Diego
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Data Requests and Analysis
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
Grid Modernization: Part 1
Rick Brown, President of TerreVerde Energy, will describe changing energy policy, market conditions, and evolving technologies to prepare local governments for a modernized grid.
Part 1: Solar, Battery Storage, and Choice Aggregation
Rick Brown, President and founder of TerreVerde Energy, will describe changing energy policy, market conditions, and evolving technologies to prepare local governments for a modernized grid.
Part 2: Energy Efficiency, Electrification, Microgrids, and Prop 39.
The Guide to California Climate Zones is a reference for designers interested in designing bioclimatic buildings. The files listed at right include climate descriptions, design strategies, and climate data (temperature, relative humidity, degree-day, design-day, extra-terrestrial radiation, wind speed and direction) for the California climate zones as defined by Title 24. Suggestions and guidelines for appropriate passive designs are shown on a bioclimatic chart.
Organization: Pacific Gas & Electric
Organization Type: Electric Utility or CCA
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Best Practices
Guiding constituents from education to energy services
It is important for local governments to raise awareness about the current programs available to conduct energy updates. BayREN has identified that interagency collaboration is the key to navigate the complex landscape of programs offered by many organizations. We recommend LG’s should aspire to have successful guidelines that include knowledge sharing, a seamless user experience, and scaling for constituents. BayREN identified that useful tools to share knowledge include meeting people where they are at, partnering with complimentary programs, identifying your target audience and determining the best method of outreach based on their needs. This, followed by partnerships to present various EE programs from varying agencies will make for a seamless user experience. Finally, BayREN recommends combining rebates and financing to achieve savings greater than monthly payments so constituents can implement energy savings and reach renewable goals.
2016—Hayward leads again! The Hayward City Council recently directed staff to assure that all new municipal buildings, as well as significant retrofits of existing municipal buildings, be zero net energy (ZNE) buildings. Hayward will have buildings that produce as much energy as they consume over the course of a year and be “off the grid”. This goal depends on a significant use of solar photovoltaic panels and other technologies.
The California Public Utilities Commission’s Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan includes the following goals:
all new residential buildings will be ZNE by 2020
all new and 50% of existing state-owned public buildings will be ZNE by 2025
all new and 50% of existing commercial buildings will be ZNE by 2030
Staff is already aggressively addressing this policy through construction of the new Library & Community Learning Center, which will be ZNE; and the retrofit of existing fire stations, most all of which will be retrofit with solar photovoltaic. However, Hayward’s policy takes formal effect beginning with new buildings and significant retrofits that are designed and constructed after January 1, 2017 – well in advance of the state’s goals.
“This is just one more way that Hayward is leading the way and working to achieve our climate action goals”, said Mayor Barbara Halliday. “If we are going to meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2050, all of our buildings will need to be ZNE.”
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Best Practices
Highlights and Horizons: An Interactive Forum Closing
This interactive session will give CCEC Forum participants a chance to reflect on what they have learned during the 12th Annual Forum and key takeaways that will advance local and state clean energy and climate actions. Together we will highlight what is on the horizon for local governments as they lead the way in a promising new era for climate, equity, health, and prosperity. This event will feature roundtable remarks by LGC and REN representatives, breakout discussions, and a facilitated listening session where you can share insights and help drive what we do next.
Name: Angie Hacker
Title: Statewide Best Practices Coordinator
Organization: Local Government Coalition
Organization Type: Electric Utility or CCA, Nonprofit Organization
Additional notes of interest: 2021 CCEC Forum Resources
Technical Assistance Provider, Learning Event
How Disadvantaged Communities Can Take Advantage of Dedicated Energy and Climate Opportunities
The State of California has dedicated significant investment in energy and climate opportunities for “disadvantaged communities” (DACs), which suffer from economic, health, and environmental burdens. However, local governments representing DACs may lack the internal capacity to track and pursue these opportunities. This session will provide an overview of guiding DAC policies, definitions, and funding and technical assistance opportunities. If you’re a local government practitioner working in a community with DAC census tracts, please join a conversation with State and local speakers, facilitated by the Statewide Best Practices Coordinator, aimed at helping you better navigate the big dollar world of DACs to meet your energy and climate goals.
Name: Angie Hacker
Title: Statewide Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator
Organization: Local Government Commission
Organization Type: City or County, State Government/Agency, Nonprofit Organization
Changes in how Administrators of EE programs (IOUs, RENS, and eligible CCAs) plan and make programming accessible under the “rolling portfolio” process.
The implementation of building benchmarking and energy use disclosure requirements (assigned to the CEC) under AB 802.
Organization: SEEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2016
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
How Local Governments Can Seize the Moment: 2021 State Budget and Policy Updates
At a federal and State level, pandemic recovery efforts are meeting stronger commitments to equity, health, clean energy, and climate change. This intersection may result in an unprecedented wave of opportunity for local governments to tackle multiple needs and goals at once, but it also means that local governments will have to stay on their feet to take advantage of all the changes. This opening day lunch session will feature a state budget and energy policy review from Nuin-Tara Key with the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and Roger Dickinson, Policy Director with the Local Government Commission.
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Learning Event, Case Study, Tool
Identifying, Prioritizing, Financing Projects
In a time where competing interests and limited resources abound, it can be difficult to know where to start in order to identify, prioritize, fund, and implement energy projects. This panel will explore how several diverse jurisdictions and organizations have approached this dilemma and address critical factors that informed their pathway to success.
Whether you are a small, medium or large sized city and regardless of the amount of resources you have to direct at energy projects, this panel will have some valuable suggestions for you. You will learn about:
• innovative methods for project identification • key internal and external stakeholders and their role in decision making • organizations whose expertise you can leverage • how to communicate the project benefits and opportunities to decision makers in order to build system-wide support for your work.
Innovative interactive tools will also be used to make the session intimately relevant to this audience.
Name: John Rossi
Title: Program Manager, C&I Programs
Organization: TRC Companies
Organization Type: City or County, Business or Trade Association, Nonprofit Organization
Region: Central Coast, San Diego, San Joaquin Valley, Statewide
The cities of Fremont, Mountain View, and South San Francisco have each engaged with the ESCO Syserco to implement ESPCs for their municipal building stock. To learn more about their respective projects, visit their case study pages.
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
Incorporating Environmental Justice Priorities into Regulatory and Enforcement Policy
While investments in clean energy opportunities for environmental justice communities is a critical component to a just transition, influencing decision-making and conducting robust environmental enforcement are equally necessary for rectifying environmental injustice. In this session, we will hear from leaders at the CA Public Utilities Commission, the California Department of Justice, and Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability about their approach to incorporating environmental justice into regulatory and enforcement policy, some early successes, and where the State has room to grow. Participants will leave with a deeper knowledge of how an equity approach can be incorporated into enforcement practices and concrete examples of communities accessing decision-making power.
Name: Monica Palmeira
Title: Analyst
Organization: California Public Utilities Commission
Additional notes of interest: 2021 CCEC Forum Resources
Best Practices
Increasing EV Adoption: From Paper to Production
Electric vehicles have received more attention than ever in California in recent years and are continuing to gain more market share in the U.S. auto industry, with ripple effects on the energy industry. To support greater EV adoption, local governments are transitioning their own public fleets to EV while targeting EV infrastructure investments towards the populations and locations that need them. This session will feature a moderated panel of local EV experts that will share thoughts on the current progress and opportunities for EVs in California, and innovative approaches to planning, procurement, and implementation of local EV initiatives that can effectively curb emissions and drive equity.
Name: Michael Chiacos
Title: Director of Energy and Climate Programs
Organization: Community Environmental Council
Organization Type: City or County, Nonprofit Organization
Research and present indicators in periodic reports describing how California’s climate is changing and how these changes are affecting the state. Indicators are scientifically-based measurements that track trends in various aspects of climate change.
Organization: California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
ILG’s Beacon Program provides recognition and support for California local agencies that are working to build more vibrant and sustainable communities. Beacon honors voluntary efforts by cities, counties and special districts that are reducing greenhouse gas emissions, saving energy and adopting policies that promote sustainability.
Organization: Institute for Local Government
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Policy
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event
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
SOMAH in increasing access to solar jobs. 50% of participants in their training programs are either local hires (living in the community that the project is in) or a targeted hire (affordable housing residents, women, BIPOC, justice-impacted, single parents, facing barriers to employment). SOMAH provides a wage floor of 1.4x the local minimum wage and provides career development resources and workshops for trainees.
Topic Areas: Renewable Energy & Storage, Workforce Development
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Best Practices, Learning Event
Keeping the Focus Local: A Conversation with SoCalREN Regional Partnerships
Join us for an exciting panel featuring SoCalREN’s regional partners, South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), High Sierra Energy Foundation (HSEF), San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) and San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization (SJVCEO). Our panel speakers will share how they are matching SoCalREN resources with the unique needs of their region, including disadvantaged and rural communities. Specifically, they will discuss the recent shift towards virtual services and how it may actually benefit these hard-to-reach communities.
The first Local Energy Resources Network (LERN) meeting was held on October 12th. This was an interactive exchange of local energy and climate knowledge, resources, and opportunities. It featured a discussion on State and local collaboration on climate action with guests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
At the tenth monthly Local Energy Resources Network (LERN) meeting, LERN was joined by Chris Walker from Grid Alternatives and Mai Fang from the Center For Sustainable Energy for a conversation on Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH).
At the eleventh monthly Local Energy Resources Network (LERN) meeting, LERN was joined by Michael Forrester, the Acting Principal Deputy Director for the Office of State and Community Energy Programs at the US Department of Energy.
At the twelfth monthly Local Energy Resources Network (LERN) meeting, LERN was joined by Leah Louis-Prescott, Manager with the Carbon-Free Buildings Team at the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). She provided an overview of the Equitable Home Electrification Toolkit. This toolkit was published by RMI and Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC) to help communities across the country take meaningful steps toward equitably electrifying their housing stock through a planning process designed to maximize engagement and co-ownership between local governments and frontline community groups.
LERN Meeting 13, Featuring Abby Edwards from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR)
For LERN’s thirteenth meeting, we were joined by Abby Edwards, Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program’s Adaptation Planning Grant Program Manager at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). Abby will discuss the new Adaptation Planning Grant, Regional Resilience Planning and Implementation Grant, and other programs that can help members of the CCEC network advance their energy resilience and local climate action goals. Join us to learn how you can prepare for and help inform these exciting programs.Show less
LERN Meeting 14, Featuring Steven Moss, Partner at M. Cubed and Roger Dickinson, Policy Director at CivicWell
LERN’s final meeting of 2022 featured a year-end roundup of relevant legislation and policy developments from Steven Moss, Partner at M. Cubed and regulatory consultant for the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition, as well as Roger Dickinson, Policy Director at CivicWell. This meeting also featured an opportunity highlight on the Building Initiative for Low-Emissions Development (BUILD) Program.
LERN Meeting 15, Featuring A Conversation with Caltrans & DOE
LERN’s first meeting of 2023 featured an Opportunity Spotlight on the Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants (STPG) from Odemi Ibrahim and Priscilla Martina-Velez from Caltrans. The majority of our call will feature a discussion on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program with Odette Mucha, State and Community Energy Programs Analyst with the Department of Energy (DOE).
LERN Meeting 16, Featuring A Conversation on the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program
In addition to providing an overview of timely local clean energy and climate opportunities, February’s LERN featured a discussion on the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program. Speakers joined us from Strategic Growth Council and County of San Diego, which shared its experience as a TCC Round 4 awardee. In addition, CCEC shared a “Need/Have Board”, an informal way to flag interest in partnership between jurisdictions, partner organizations, and service providers.
LERN Meeting 17, Featuring Opportunities and Resources from Across the State
In addition to providing an overview of timely local clean energy and climate opportunities, March’s LERN featured a discussion on the Statewide Reach Codes Program’s newly released templates designed to help municipalities develop local reach codes, an introduction to Access Clean CA by Grid Alternatives, and County of Contra Costa provided information on how to support SB 511, new legislation they’ve co-sponsored with CivicWell to address local GHG inventory needs. In addition, CCEC shared a “Need/Have Board”, an informal way to flag interest in partnership between jurisdictions, partner organizations, and service providers.
LERN Meeting 18, Featuring A Conversation with NREL & DOE
LERN’s April 2023 meeting held a featured presentation on the Solar Power in Your Community Guidebook (SPYC) from Emily Dalecki from the National Renewable Energy Lab, and an Opportunity Spotlight on the DOE’s BuildingsUp Prize from Kassandra Grimes from the DOE.
LERN Meeting 19, Featuring The CA Energy Design Assistance Program and US Environmental Protection Agency
LERN’s May 2023 meeting held a featured presentation on the California Energy Design Assistance (CEDA) Program with Tina Hendrix from Willdan, and an overview on available funding programs, tools, and guides available from by Andrea Denny at the US EPA.
At the second monthly Local Energy Resources Network (LERN) meeting, LERN was fortunate to be joined by U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal of CA’s 24th District, which includes the entirety of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, and a portion of Ventura County. Congressman Carbajal discussed the current direction of federal policy, and offered advice about where the biggest opportunities for CA communities currently lie.
Organization: California Climate & Energy Collaborative
LERN Meeting 20, Featuring the Strategic Growth Council’s Regional Climate Collaboratives Program
LERN’s July 2023 meeting held a featured presentation on the Regional Climate Collaboratives Program with Ena Lupine from SGC, and an overview on available funding programs, tools, and technical assistance available.
LERN Meeting 22, Featuring the California Energy Commission
LERN’s September 2023 meeting held a featured presentation with Carol Schmitt from the California Energy Commission, and a request for input on their upcoming Contractor Training program.
LERN Meeting 23, Featuring BayREN and BluePoint Planning
LERN’s October 2023 meeting held an opportunity spotlight from the Public Health Institute/RAMP, and a featured presentation on the Home Energy Score by BayREN/BluePoint Planning.
Organization: CCEC
Organization Type: State Government/Agency, Other Private Sector Business
LERN Meeting 24, Featuring Energy Solutions and Environmental Protection Network
LERN’s November 2023 meeting held an opportunity spotlight from Energy Solutions on their TECH Clean California program, and a featured presentation by the Environmental Protection Network.
Organization: CCEC
Organization Type: State Government/Agency, Other Private Sector Business
At the third monthly Local Energy Resources Network (LERN) meeting, LERN was fortunate to be joined by Sarah Risher of the Strategic Growth Council. Sarah is the Analyst for the Community Assistance for Climate Equity Program (CACE), which provides technical assistance and capacity building services to help communities access funding resources, implement high-impact projects, and advance their climate and equity priorities.
