Resource Library

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 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;
  • 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.
Reports

2023 CCEC Annual Report

The purpose of the California Climate and Energy Collaborative (CCEC) is to support local governments to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerate climate action by building knowledge and networks amongst local government practitioners. This 2023 CCEC annual report summarizes and reviews the progress we’ve made in doing so over the last year.

Organization: CivicWell
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: 2023
Published in 2024
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Nonprofit
Learning Event

A Call to Invest in Community Power: Lessons Learned From California Climate Investments and the Community Solar Pilot

Since 2013, California Climate Investments (CCI) have implemented over $11B for projects ranging from clean energy and electric vehicles, to affordable housing and alternative fuel production. What have been the outcomes of these investments and what lessons can be learned? We will share findings from equity analysis of CCI co-produced by the Greenlining Institute and the USC Equity Research Institute. The session will spotlight one case study in particular, on the Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) Community Solar Pilot, which produced the first publicly-funded community solar project on Tribal lands in California. Through a partnership between the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians, Anza Electric Cooperative, and GRID Alternatives, the project created a 994-kilowatt system that is providing energy and benefits to ~200 households. The session will share lessons learned on effective partnerships and centering community participation, particularly as funding for projects in low-income, rural, and tribal communities continue to be implemented.

  • Lisa Castilone | Director of Tribal Programs, Grid Alternatives, Inland Empire
  • Steven Estrada | Tribal Chairman, Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians
  • Austin Mendoza | Data Analyst, USC Equity Research Institute
  • Kevin Short | General Manager, Anza Electric Cooperative
  • Moderator: Lolly Lim | Program Manager of Climate Investments, Greenlining Institute
Region: Inland Empire
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding, Renewable Energy & Storage
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
Learning Event

A Learning Continuum – Engaging students in energy education from fourth grade to post high school

Name: Savi Bassa
Title: Program Manager
Organization: ICF
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Workforce Development
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
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
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Statewide
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
Learning Event

Access to Solar Brings Power: Centering Community in the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Program

Name: Marisa Villarreal
Title: Senior Program Manager
Organization: SOMAH
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Residential
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
  • Steven Moss, M. Cubed, Partner
  • Arlis Reynolds, City of Costa Mesa, Councilmember
  • Lorenzo Kristov, PhD, Independent Consultant
Name: Marc Costa
Title: Director of Policy and Planning
Organization: The Energy Coalition
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: 06/14/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Distributed Energy Resources, Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event

Addressing Barriers to EVI Deployment in Disadvantaged Communities

While some of the approaches to deploying EVI in rural and DAC communities compare to other regions (e.g., increase awareness, increase affordability, reduce range anxiety, provide funding opportunities, streamline permitting), there are also unique approaches that are beneficial to communities where: air quality improvement is a priority; Residents are multi-cultural and speak numerous languages; Significant residents do not have access to home charging (e.g., MUDs); Daily commutes to work are above average; Corridor travel is significant; and existing rebate programs have not been fully utilized.

In this session, we will explore the barriers that are common to all and unique to these communities. We will ask for audience participation to prioritize deployment strategies, share results of work conducted, and provide toolkits for decision-makers to utilize in their own community.

Speakers:

  • Kevin Wood, Center for Sustainable Energy
  • Linda Urata, County of Kern
  • Christine Viterelli, City of Arvin
  • Jack Axelrod, Envoy
Name: Kevin Wood
Organization: Center for Sustainable Energy
Organization Type: City or County, Governmental Association, Other Private Sector Business, Nonprofit Organization
Region: Inland Empire, San Joaquin Valley, Statewide
Date: 06/26/2019
Published in 2019
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility, Environmental Justice
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Additional notes of interest: 2019 SEEC 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
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Date: April 2018
Published in 2018
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources
Case Study

Advanced Energy Rebuild Napa 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.

Organization: Marin County Energy
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Learning Event

Advancing Resource Accessibility & Energy Resilience: The Energy Education & Resource Hub

Organization: SDRCC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Diego
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Poster
Case Study

Agency Buys PPA with help from TerraVerde

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.

Name: CEO
Title: TerraVerde Energy
Organization: TerraVerde Energy
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

Architecture Construction Engineering Students (ACES) Pathway Program

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.

Name: Wendy Angel
Title: Program Director
Organization: SoCalREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Workforce Development
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Technical Assistance Provider

Association of Bay Area Governments – BayREN

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
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Partnerships
Technical Assistance Provider

Association of Monterey Bay Area Government

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
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility, Energy Efficiency
Case Study

Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments’ Regional Greenhouse Gas Inventory Collaborative

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
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency, Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Nonprofit
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
Case Study

Atlanta Georgia Leverages Financing for Urban Redevelopment Program

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.

Organization: City of Atlanta
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Out of State
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Internal Funding Best Practices
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

Attorney General office and ARB Step Up for South Central Fresno

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
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: San Joaquin Valley
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Case Study

Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancements Program

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.

Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study

Bay Area SunShares

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
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study

Bayern Home+ Program offers Energy Advisors for Free!

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.

Name: Jeffery Liang
Title: Single Family Project Manager
Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Technical Assistance Provider

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: 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
Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Case Study

BayREN Multifamily Case Studies: Lincoln Apartments in Napa

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.

Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study

BayREN Multifamily Case Studies: Noble Tower in Oakland

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.

Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Residential
Case Study

BayREN Multifamily Case Studies: Spruce Apartments in Sunnyvale

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.

Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study

BayREN Multifamily Case Studies: Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation Case Study

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.

Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Case Study

BayREN’s Single Family Home +

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

Name: Jennifer Berg
Title: Energy Programs Manager
Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Financing/Funding
Case Study

Berkeley’s Building Energy Savings Ordinance (BESO) and the U.S. DOE Home Energy Score

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.

Organization: StopWaste
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: March 29, 2016
Published in 2016
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

Berkeley’s Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology

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.

Name: Angel Hernandez
Title: Associate Planner
Organization: City of El Centro
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Statewide
Topic Areas: Outreach and Engagement
Learning Event

Best Practices from Advanced Energy Communities

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.

Name: Cary Garcia
Title: Best Practices Coordinator
Organization: SEEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: March 2018
Published in 2018
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources
Tool

Better Buildings Initiative: Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Project Profiles Database

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
Guide, Case Study

Better Buildings Initiative: How Distributed Energy Resources Can Improve Resilience in Public Buildings, Three Case Studies and a Step-by-Step Guide

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

Bizwerx: Revolutionizing Urban Access to Clean Mobility Options for All

Name: Eric Spikes
Title: Bizwerx Mobility Director
Organization: Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce
Region: San Joaquin Valley
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
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.

Organization: SEEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: October 2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Best Practices

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
Region: Statewide
Date: 08/12/2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2021 CCEC Forum Resources
Best Practices, Learning Event

Breaking Ground on Equitable Climate Action: An Interview with the City of Oakland

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

Name: Shayna Hirshfield-Gold
Title: Climate Coordinator
Organization: City of Oakland
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: June 2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Environmental Justice
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Additional notes of interest: Interview
Learning Event

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
Learning Event

Bringing the Heat: A Year of Heat Pump Water Heaters

This session will take participants on a behind-the-scenes journey of a 2023 heat pump water heater (HPWH) initiative designed to help agencies through HPWH procurement and installation assistance and rebates for either 80% or 100% of eligible project costs. We will highlight the teamwork and coordination as we identified the need for HPWH technology, conducted community outreach, supported procurement and installation, identified complementary funding support through TECH Clean California, and completed program reporting. The presentation will conclude with program successes, lessons learned, and sharing what is next for the HPWH initiative. Attendees will leave the session with a blueprint for collaborating with partners on program design and will have a deeper understanding of the benefits of HPWHs. The HPWH initiative is an offering of Southern California Regional Energy Network’s (SoCalREN) incentive program. The incentive program (launched in 2022) helps public agencies achieve long-term energy savings and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Code Bruder | Senior Technical Program Manager, The Energy Coalition
  • Fernanda Craig | Regulatory, Policy and Reporting Lead, Los Angeles County
  • Victor Ferrer | General Manager/Principal Analyst, City of Pico Rivera
  • Moderator: Alina Bonto | Project Manager, SoCalREN (The Energy Coalition)
Name: Alina Bonto
Title: Project Manager
Organization: The Energy Coalition
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
Best Practices

Budgeting for the High Road Just Transition

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
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Workforce Development
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Best Practices, Guide

Building and Home Energy Resource Hub

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

Building Capacity Through Contractor Development Programs

Contractor Development Programs (CDPs) have been designed to increase the capabilities and capacity of small, local, diverse, and disadvantaged contractors through the various services they provide. When barriers are removed, contractors are given the opportunity to participate in meaningful public construction projects. It has been proven that contractors can be highly successful when provided with the right tools, support, and guidance. In addition, when public agencies require the utilization of small, local, diverse, and disadvantaged firms on their projects, it can be a win-win for all. As businesses grow their capacity, they transition into a position to hire from their communities, becoming a catalyst for workforce development. In this interactive workshop, we will use real-life challenges and barriers contractors face and together we will create solutions for a comprehensive Contractor Development Program Plan in which participants can take back to their respective marketplaces and implement with support from local implementors.

  • Shanette Anderson | Senior Program Manager, Emerald Cities Collaborative
  • Anabel Barragan | Construction and Labor Relations Specialist, Touchstone Project Solutions
  • Maria Quiroz | Program Manager, City of San Diego
  • Kevin Ramsey | President, Alameda Construction Services, Inc.
  • Veronica Soto | Senior Advisor for Workforce Development and Economic Impacts, Los Angeles World Airports
  • Moderator: Traci Watson | Vice President, Alameda Construction Services, Inc.
Name: Shanette Anderson
Title: Senior Program Manager
Organization: Emerald Cities Collaborative
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Greater Los Angeles, San Diego
Date: June 26, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Workforce Development
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
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
Region: Statewide
Date: 09/01/2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Residential
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
Region: San Francisco Bay Area, Statewide
Date: 08/12/2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2020 CCEC Forum Resources
Best Practices

Building Electrification 101

An overview of building electrification technologies and common barriers and opportunities for scaling up implementation.

Name: Jenna Tatum
Title: Director
Organization: BEI
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Learning Event

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
Region: Statewide
Date: September 21, 2022
Published in 2022
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.

Name: Kajsa Hendrickson
Title: Project Manager
Organization: SOMAH
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: 08/11/2021
Published in 2021
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
Name: Jenny Berg
Title: Energy Section Director
Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 06/13/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Energy Resilience
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.

Region: Statewide
Date: November 2017
Published in 2017
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Workforce Development
Best Practices

Building Owner Energy Efficiency Resources

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
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Best Practices

Building Performance Training

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.

Name: Ian Logan
Title: Sustainability Program Specialist
Organization: 3C-REN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Central Coast
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Outreach and Engagement
Learning Event

Building Resilience – Efficiency’s Role in Decarbonization at Home

Name: Dori Estrella
Title: Department Analyst
Organization: County of Sonoma
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 6/13/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event

Building, Connecting, and Unifying Towards Sustainable Healthcare Practices

Organization: Willdan
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Public Health
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
Tool

CalEnviroScreen 3.0

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
Tool

CalEnviroScreen Draft 4.0 by Cities and Counties Dataset

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
Best Practices

California City 0% On-Bill Financing

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

Name: Mary Guider-Shaw
Title: Marketing Specialist
Organization: Willdan
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 6/13/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Technical Assistance Provider

California Green Business Network

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.

Name: Josephine Fleming
Title: Executive Director
Organization: California Green Business Network
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Partnerships
Learning Event

California Public Agency Fleet Electrification Funding and Challenges

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

Speakers

  • Ilse Villacorta-Alatriste, ProspectSV, Senior Project Associate
  • Toto Vu-Duc, City of Watsonville, Senior Environmental Projects Analyst
  • Hilary Ego, City of La Mesa, Environmental Program Manager
Name: Ilse Villacorta-Alatriste
Title: Senior Project Associate
Organization: ProspectSV
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Central Coast, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 06/14/2023
Published in 2023
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.

Name: Ali Chehrehsaz
Title: CEO
Organization: TerraVerde Energy
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
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.

Speakers

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

CARB Building Decarbonization Tools

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
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Reports

CARB’s Current California GHG Emission Inventory Data

California Greenhouse Gas Emissions from 2000 to 2021: Trends of Emissions and Other Indicators summarizes and highlights the major annual changes and notable longer-term trends of each year’s GHG inventory. It provides easy-to-read graphs and explanations to illuminate California’s progress in its commitment to reduce climate-changing emissions.

Organization: California Air Resources Board
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Date: 2023
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, GHG Reduction
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Tribal Governments
Case Study

Case Study: Valley Innovative Energy Watch (VIEW)’s Benchmarking Successes – and Best Practices

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

Catalyzing Decarbonization and Market Transportation through Procurement

Many local government agencies are following California’s ambitious energy and climate goals. However, bandwidth, expertise, information availability, system and process deficiencies, and incumbent policies, behaviors and contracts make it difficult to overcome structural inertia that limits innovation. Recognizing these challenges, the California Energy Commission is launching a procurement assistance program that addresses widespread barriers and that is available for everyone. This panel will: (1) review technical potential for different end uses, (2) engage the audience in a facilitated discussion to highlight opportunities to innovate procurement systems, processes and policies, and (3) share how SEEC members can participate in the program.

Speakers:

  • Brian Barnacle, Energy Solutions
  • Kathleen Egan, Ecomedes
Name: Brian Barnacle
Organization: Energy Solutions
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Date: 06/26/2019
Published in 2019
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding, GHG Reduction
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2019 SEEC Forum Resources
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
Organization: County of Los Angeles
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Date: 06/13/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Workforce Development
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event

Championing Cross-cutting Programs: Effective Equity and Climate Resilience Partnerships

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
Region: Greater Los Angeles, Statewide
Date: 08/04/2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Nonprofit
Additional notes of interest: 2021 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event

Charging Forward: Collaborating Towards and Equitable Clean Energy Transition

An Investor-Owned Utility, a faith-based community development corporation empowering Black communities, an energy-focused nonprofit in rural Central California, and other community-minded organizations gather. Southern California Edison has convened diverse community-based organizations for the Clean Energy Access Working Group. Environmental, faith-based, and vulnerable population leaders participate, ensuring comprehensive dialogue and consideration of community concerns for future energy policies. The group exchanges best practices and prioritizes outreach to diverse populations. Their community improvement efforts extend beyond volunteerism, focusing on tangible project development and implementation. A web-based platform offers educational resources, fostering connection and inspiring action. This panel showcases practical examples of multi-sector collaboration, demonstrating how it enhances community well-being.

  • Anuj Desai | Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison
  • Frank Jackson | Chairman & CEO, Village Solutions Foundation
  • Courtney Blore Kalashian | Executive Director, San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization
  • Moderator: Pam Close Bold | Executive Director, High Sierra Energy Foundation
Name: Pam Close Bold
Title: Executive Director
Organization: High Sierra Energy Foundation
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Joaquin Valley
Date: June 26, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Partnerships
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
Learning Event

Chasing the Twin Goals of Carbon Reduction and Racial Equity

San Francisco’s “Zero Cities” project is a comprehensive, data-driven effort that articulates specific mechanisms to catalyze net zero emissions in the building sector by 2050. Learn about:

  • Analysis using publicly available information to gain understanding of building emissions by sector, size and other attributes, key intervention points and policy options to drive emissions reductions.
  • Partnerships to deploy data analytics to identify residential building retrofit opportunities that have a strong financial case and reduce the most emissions.
  • Effective community engagement with to empower stakeholders to partner with the City on building sector policy and program development and implementation.

Speakers:

  • Rich Chien, Department of Environment, City and County of San Francisco
  • Ammon Reagan, Department of Environment, City and County of San Francisco
  • Chris Selig, PODER
  • Leah Obias, Race Forward
Name: Rich Chien
Organization: Department of the Environment, City and County of San Francisco
Organization Type: City or County, Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area, Statewide
Date: 06/26/2019
Published in 2019
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency, Environmental Justice, Outreach and Engagement
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2019 SEEC Forum Resources
Best Practices

CHP for Resiliency in Critical Infrastructure

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)
Organization Type: Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Resilience
Case Study

Chula Vista’s Free Resource and Energy Business Evaluations

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
Organization: SEEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Diego
Published in 2010
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

Chula Vista’s Sustainable Communities Program: Reach Codes, Permitting, Planning Tools, and More

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.

Read more in this SEEC fact sheet on Chula Vista’s program here.

Organization: SEEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Diego
Published in 2012
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City and County of San Francisco LEED Gold Certification

City and County of San Francisco requires LEED Gold certification for all municipal building construction, both existing and new construction.

Organization: City and County of San Francisco
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Albany Measure DD

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.

Organization: City of Albany
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Internal Funding Best Practices
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study

City of Albuquerque Bond Mandate

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.

Organization: City of Albuquerque
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Out of State
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Internal Funding Best Practices
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Berkeley Electrification

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
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Distributed Energy Resources, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Berkeley Measure HH

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.

Name: Sarah Moore
Title: Sustainability Program Manager
Organization: City of Berkeley
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Case Study

City of Brisbane is Innovative through the Brisbane Building Efficiency Program

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
Organization: City of Brisbane
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study

City of Burlingame EV Action Plan

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.

Name: Sigalle Michael
Title: Sustainability Coordinator
Organization: City of Burlingame
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

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.

Name: Mike Grim
Title: Sr. Programs Manager
Organization: City of Carlsbad
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Diego
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Resilience
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Culver City On-Bill Financing

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.

Organization: City of Culver City
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Cupertino Local Reach Code Outreach Effort

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
Case Study

City of Goleta Uses Energy Data in Process to Develop Neighborhood Development Floating Zone for Green Community Development

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 GonzalesOurEnergy 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.

Organization: LGSEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Central Coast
Date: May 2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Hayward Zero Net Energy Resolution

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
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Irvine Strategic Energy Plan

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.

Name: David Freedman
Title: Member
Organization: Palm Springs Sustainability Commission
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Greater Los Angeles, Inland Empire
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Piedmont Energy 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.

Name: Ronaldo Fierro
Title: Councilmember
Organization: The City of Riverside
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of San Luis Obispo Greenhouse Gas in-lieu Fee

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.

Name: Alelia Parenteau
Title: Energy and Climate Manager
Organization: City of Santa Barbara
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Energy Resilience
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Santa Clarita Energy Efficiency Upgrades

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

Organization: SoCalREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

City of Watsonville Carbon Fund Ordinance

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.

Name: Kim Kigongo
Title: Innovation Analyst
Organization: City of West Hollywood
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility, Public Health
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Tool

CivicSpark

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
Tool

Clean Building Compass

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.

Name: Amy Rider
Title: Consultant
Organization: Building Decarbonization Coalition
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

Climate Action Planning Tools: Empowering Equitable Transitions for CA Communities

The CoolClimate Network at UC Berkeley is developing a new set of tools for local government climate action. Participants in this workshop session will learn about the project, which aims to develop GHG inventories for every California local government along with planning tools that take into account equity and other non-GHG benefits that are critical for informed policymaking. Through a moderated discussion focusing on local government needs, participants will be invited to provide input to shape the tools that will be publicly available in 2025. The workshop speakers will share their reflections on the state of climate action planning based on their progress to date on this project, and welcome participants to also share their observations and insights about the future of the practice.

  • Twilight Greenaway, Climate Writer/Editor, UC Berkeley School of Journalism
  • Kim Springer, Transportation Systems Coordinator, County of San Mateo
  • Amaury Berteaud, Sustainability Program Manager, Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
  • Moderator: Christopher Jones, Director, CoolClimate Network
Name: Christopher Jones
Title: Director
Organization: CoolClimate Network
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: June 26, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Climate Planning
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
Tool

Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool

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
Tool

Climate Change & Health Vulnerability Indicators for California

CCHVIz is the interactive data visualization platform for the Climate Change & Health Vulnerability Indicators for California (CCHVIs).

Organization: California Department of Public Health
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Public Health
Guide

Climate Mayors and C40 Cities Provide U.S. Cities with Guidebook to Implement Historic Inflation Reduction Act

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 Planning Perspectives from the Original Stewards of the Land

During this panel, three Tribes in the San Diego region will discuss their unique experiences as they each developed priority and comprehensive climate action plans funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. The Tribes are the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and the Jamul Indian Village. Their climate action plans will help improve Tribal quality of life and create a healthy environment for future generations. This session will highlight barriers and challenges faced by each Tribe, community engagement activities, implementation projects the Tribes plan to move forward with, the estimated community and climate impacts of these activities, and best practices and lessons learned. Session attendees will also learn about the potential for partnerships as the Tribes plan for the implementation of the projects identified in their priority climate action plans.

  • Syndi Smallwood | Environmental Director, Jamul Indian Village of California
  • Moderator: Lauri Walker | Director, Equity Engagement, Center for Sustainable Energy
Name: Lauri Walker
Title: Director, Equity Engagement
Organization: Center for Sustainable Energy
Region: San Diego
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Climate Planning
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
Learning Event

Climate Related Tools for Equitable Change

Name: Mireille Vargas
Title: Program Specialist
Organization: County of Ventura
Organization Type: City or County
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Climate Planning
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
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.

Name: Howard Choy
Region: Statewide
Date: May 2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: Interview
Learning Event

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
  • Grace Peralta Beasley (she/her), MCE, Senior Customer Programs Manager
  • NJ Mvondo, National Association for Climate Resilience Planners (NACRP), Member
  • Christian A. Torres (He/him), Comite Civico del Valle, Special Projects Manager
Organization: California Climate and Energy Collaborative
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Environmental Justice
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
Learning Event

Closing Plenary: The Lasting Legacy of Local Government Partnerships

Gather around the campfire and listen closely, as masterful Local Government Partnership storytellers from around the state share perspectives about how the LGP program model has made a lasting impact in their region. Walk back in time to the origins of Local Government Partnerships, initiated as a single city-utility collaboration, and through the evolution into the statewide program offered by every Investor Owned Utility. By celebrating the countless accomplishments of LGPs, this presentation will serve as a celebration of this public sector program as we know it today while addressing the continued need to deliver support into the future.

Speakers:

  • Laurel Rothschild, The Energy Coalition
  • Lou Jacobson, Redwood Coast Energy Authority
  • Courtney Kalashian, San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization
  • Alejandra Tellez, Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance
  • Renée Yarmy, Port of San Diego
Name: Laurel Rothschild
Title: Vice President
Organization: The Energy Coalition
Organization Type: Other Local Government, Electric Utility or CCA, Nonprofit Organization
Region: Central Coast, North Coast, San Diego, San Joaquin Valley, Statewide
Date: 06/27/2019
Published in 2019
Topic Areas: Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2019 SEEC Forum Resources
Reports

Closing the California Clean Energy Divide: Reducing Electric Bills in Affordable Multifamily Rental Housing with Solar+Storage

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
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: September 21, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Environmental Justice, Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
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.

Organization: SGVCOG
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Date: December 2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

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
Name: Elise Hanson
Title: Management Fellow
Organization: County of San Diego
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Diego
Date: September 21, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
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
Organization Type: Federal Government/Agency
Region: Statewide, Out of State
Date: April 2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Environmental Justice
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
Region: Statewide
Date: 06/30/2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Outreach and Engagement
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
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
Region: Statewide
Date: 06/10/2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Energy Resilience
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
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”.

Name: Denaya Shorter
Title: Community Engagement
Organization: The Ecology Center
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Outreach and Engagement
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Learning Event

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

Name: Elaina Lee
Title: Project Manager
Organization: The Energy Coalition
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Greater Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Sierra Nevada, San Joaquin Valley
Date: 6/13/2013
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Outreach and Engagement
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event

Connecting Federal Funders, Developers, and Communities through Virtual Power Plants

In April 2024, the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) entered an agreement with King Energy to leverage federal funding through the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office to implement Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) as Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) at sites and facilities supported by SGC-member programs. Through this effort, SGC seeks to enhance site- and grid-level energy resilience while extending benefits such as reduced energy costs and rental income to participating entities and their communities. In this session, the SGC and its implementing partners will provide an applied overview of its effort to connect communities to federal funding opportunities through virtual power plants. An opening presentation will focus on specific strategies SGC and its partners have employed to access and utilize federal funding opportunities for community benefit. In the breakout discussion, participants will share project proposals and engage in cross-sectoral dialog to identify funding and project deployment opportunities.

  • Yakov Feygin | Director of Public Finance, Center for Public Enterprise
  • Jared Genova| Senior Planner, Civix
  • Jared Snelson | Enterprise Account Executive, King Energy
  • Moderator: Sean Kennedy | Deputy Director of Energy Investments, Strategic Growth Council
Name: Sean Kennedy
Title: Deputy Director of Energy Investments
Organization: Strategic Growth Council
Region: Statewide
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
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
Date: 06/14/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Nonprofit
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
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Residential
Reports

Coping with Crises (Part 1) – Maintaining Sustainability Staff Report

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
Region: Statewide
Date: March 2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: CCEC Original Article
Reports

Coping with Crises (Part 2) – Transitioning to Tomorrow’s Buildings

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
Region: Statewide
Date: June 2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Additional notes of interest: CCEC Original Article
Tool

Cost Effectiveness Explorer Tool

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.

A link to the tool can be found here.

Name: Eric Engelman
Title: Principal Policy Consultant
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
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
Organization: County of Marin
Organization Type: City or County
Phone: (415) 473-4381
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Case Study

County of San Luis Obispo Revolving Loan Fund

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.

Name: Annie Secrest
Title: Energy & Water Coordinator, Public Works
Organization: County of San Luis Obispo
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Internal Funding Best Practices
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Case Study

County of San Mateo LEED Certification

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
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

County of Santa Barbara One Climate Initiative

Name: Garrett Wong
Title: Climate Program Manager
Organization: County of Santa Barbara
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Central Coast
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Environmental Justice
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Poster
Case Study

County of Santa Clara has adopted a Sustainability Master Plan

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.

Name: Tonya Veitch
Title: Senior Sustainability Analyst
Organization: County of Santa Clara
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Learning Event

Cultivating Collaboration for Equitable Climate Adaptation

To close out the forum, we focused on the theme “Cultivating Collaboration for Equitable Climate Action.” Effective climate action must prioritize the needs of the communities most affected by climate change, requiring new means of collaboration for greater impact. Partnerships across industries, sectors, and communities are essential for accessing state and federal funding and driving impactful climate efforts. In the closing plenary, speakers from the private sector, non-profit organizations, state agencies, and local governments discussed their collaborative efforts to achieve climate and energy goals.

  • Donnel Baird | CEO, BlocPower
  • Courtney Blore Kalashian| Executive Director, San Joaquin Valley Clean Energy Organization
  • Lujuana Medina | Environmental Initiatives Division Manager, County of Los Angeles
  • Moderator: Emi Wang| Director for Capacity Building, The Greenlining Institute
Region: Statewide
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Energy Efficiency
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Plenary
Case Study

DC Water Finances Clean River’s Project with Green Bond

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

Decarb Healthcare: THE Living Guidebook Decarbonizing Healthcare and Beyond!

Name: Austin Barolin
Title: Senior Energy and Decarbonization Analyst
Organization: Mazzetti
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Public Health
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
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.

Name: Sean Armstrong
Organization: Redwood Energy
Organization Type: Electric Utility or CCA
Region: North Coast
Date: May 2018
Published in 2018
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
Name: Chiara Arellano
Title: High Road Initiatives Manager
Organization: Rising Sun Center for Opportunity
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 06/13/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Workforce Development
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Tool

Decide if CHP is Feasible for your Building

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
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Tool

DER-CAM Microgrid Tool

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
Date: 06/14/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Best Practices

Developing a Zero Net Energy Roadmap

Steps to success: Benchmark/audit, Prioritize, Track Progress

Name: Alelia Parenteau
Title: Energy & Climate Manager
Organization: City of Santa Barbara
Organization Type: City or County
Phone: 805-564-5474
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2021
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.

Name: David Burdick
Title: Executive Vice President
Organization: TerraVerde
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Resilience
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Learning Event

Driving the Future: Collaborative Strategies for Equitable EV Infrastructure & Workforce Empowerment

In the face of climate change and the urgent need for sustainable transportation solutions, expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is a pivotal challenge. This panel discussion will explore a holistic approach to building a nationwide model for EV charging infrastructure, emphasizing equity, workforce development, and innovative financing. By sharing insights from our collaborative efforts starting in California involving public and private entities, we aim to shed light on high-level strategies that address infrastructure development’s technical and financial aspects and ensure inclusivity and accessibility. Our discussion will provide a roadmap for other regions and stakeholders interested in fostering similar partnerships, highlighting the potential for creating resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities through shared visions and goals.

  • Donnel Baird | CEO, BlocPower
  • Lujuana Medina| Energy Initiatives Division Manager, County of Los Angeles
  • Ben Stapleton | Executive Dictor, USGBC California
  • Moderator: Ariel Fan | Founder and CEO, GreenWealth Energy
Name: Ariel Fan
Title: Founder and CEO
Organization: GreenWealth Energy
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
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
Organization: East Bay Community Energy
Organization Type: Electric Utility or CCA
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Guide

Electric Vehicle Charger Selection Guide – 2017

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.

Organization: California Energy Commission
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2017
Topic Areas: Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

Electrification and Permitting: It’s Complicated!

Name: Emily Alvarez
Title: StopWaste
Organization: Program Manager
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 6/13/2023
Published in 2023
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
Name: Misti Bruceri
Title: Principal
Organization: Misti Bruceri and Associates, LLC
Organization Type: Other
Region: Statewide
Date: 06/14/2023
Published in 2023
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
Technical Assistance Provider

Empower Procurement

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.

Name: Taylor Grossman
Title: Project Associate
Organization: Empower Procurement
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources, Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Best Practices

Empower Procurement: E-Building Procurement Initiative

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.

Name: Renee Lafrenz
Title: Senior Manager
Organization: Empower Procurement
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Best Practices

Empower Procurement: E-Fleet Accelerator

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.

Organization: Prospect Silicon Valley
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Electric Vehicles and Clean Mobility
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Best Practices

Empower Procurement: Products Procurement Initiative

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.

Organization: Prospect Silicon Valley
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Climate Planning, Energy Resilience, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

Empowering Local Governments to Tackle Decarbonization with Escalating Energy Rates

In 2022, building decarbonization saw progress with record-high solar installations and supportive policies like the Inflation Reduction Act. Yet, challenges arose with soaring electricity rates, plummeting solar installations, and widespread unemployment among solar contractors. Despite these hurdles, decarbonization remains vital amidst rising gas costs and environmental concerns. This session aims to empower participants to address electricity affordability in their communities. We’ll explore reasons for price hikes, strategies for affording electrification, and actions to mitigate customer energy costs. Additionally, we’ll have a group discussion on how collective power can be harnessed to drive change, hearing insights from entities like the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition, RENs as well as local governments on advocacy options and program design to tackle rising costs. Participants will engage in group discussions on affording electrification, curbing energy costs and collective advocacy. Join us as we navigate the complexities of energy affordability.

  • Marc Costa | Director of Policy & Planning, The Energy Coalition
  • Jane Elias | Director, Energy Programs, BayREN
  • Lucia Pohlman | Sustainability Analyst, City of San Luis Obispo
  • Annie Secrest | Energy and Water Coordinator, County of San Luis Obispo
  • Moderator: Steven Moss | Partner, M.Cubed
Organization: Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: June 26, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Energy Resilience
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
Learning Event

Empowering Residents to take Climate Action on a Community Scale

Name: Patrick Jurney
Title: Program Manager
Organization: Community Climate Solutions
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Outreach and Engagement
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Poster
Case Study

Encinitas Green Building Incentive Program

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
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

Energize! A Municipal Residential Energy Efficiency Competition

Energize! is a municipal behavioral energy efficiency competition for high school districts (or other geographies) to compete against each other to deploy home energy retrofits. The Energize! program provides an innovative and effective tool for local governments to improve existing residential building energy efficiency, a sector in which cities typically have little programmatic authority. This session provides participants with cutting-edge big data tools, behavioral social science strategies, and program resources to implement new municipal EE programs.

Speakers:

  • Hal Nelson, Portland State University
  • Alex Polamero, Culture Cube Marketing
  • Harrison Kingery, Res-Intel
Name: Hal Nelson
Organization: Portland State University
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business, Academia and/or Research
Region: Statewide, Out of State
Date: 06/26/2019
Published in 2019
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2019 SEEC Forum Resources
Case Study

Energy Code Connect

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.

Name: Jordan Garbayo
Title: Program Manager
Organization: 3C-REN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Outreach and Engagement
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Local Governments, Residential
Guide

Energy Efficiency and Health

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
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Residential
Case Study

Energy Efficiency Workforce on the Central Coast

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
Phone: 707-477-1768
Region: Greater Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Guide

Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Guidance

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)

Name: Angie Hacker
Title: Best Practices Coordinator
Organization: CCEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Additional notes of interest: TA Response
Best Practices, Learning Event

Energy Workforce Infrastructure Showcase – Green Energy

In March of 2024, Angela Hacker, the CCEC Statewide Best Practices Coordinator, presented alongside Marilyn De La Cruz, City of Rancho Cucamonga, at the 2024 Energy & Infrastructure Sector Showcase, hosting a discussion on regional energy policy/priorities/resources, and other insights to help connect the dots with regional energy policy and resources as they pertain to the need for growth within the green workforce sector.

Name: Angela Hacker
Title: Statewide Best Practices Coordinator
Organization: CivicWell
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: March 20, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Policy, Workforce Development
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Best Practices

Engaging Key Stakeholders

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.

Name: Elena Olmedo
Title: Climate Advisor
Organization: City of San Jose
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: October 2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Tool

EPA AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool (AVERT)

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
Tool

EPA Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit

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
Tool

EPA CO-Benefits Risk Assessment Health Impacts Screening and Mapping Tool (COBRA)

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
Tool

EPA Energy Savings and Impacts Scenario Tool (ESIST)

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
Tool

EPA Health Benefits per kWh Values (BpK)

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
Tool

EPA State, Local and Tribal GHG Inventory Tools

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.

State and Tribal Greenhouse Gas Data and Resources 
EPA publishes annual state and tribal-level GHG data and resources

Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Climate Planning
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
Name: Marisa Villarreal
Title: SOMAH Program Manager
Organization: GRID Alternatives
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 06/13/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Residential
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event

Equity and Community Engagement Considerations for Gas Decommissioning

Join Gridworks, Ava Community Energy, and the City of Albany to learn how local governments can support electrification to prepare neighborhoods for gas decommissioning. Gridworks and Ava Community Energy will share the results of their California Energy Commission (CEC) funded research exploring how targeted building electrification paired with tactical gas decommissioning can provide net gas system savings while promoting equity and meeting the needs of local communities. The research daylights the priorities and concerns of residents regarding electrification and offers recommendations for project implementation. The City of Albany received funding from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program for their pilot to electrify all buildings on a city block. The City is prioritizing community education and engagement to overcome implementation barriers identified in the CEC research project. The City will share their goals for the pilot, results thus far, and any lessons learned along the way.

  • Allison Lopez | Sr. Energy Efficiency Analyst, Ava Community Energy
  • Michelle Plouse | Community Development Analyst, City of Albany
  • Moderator: Neha Bazaj | Director, California & Hawaii, Gridworks
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
Learning Event

Equity Guardrails for an Emerging California Hydrogen Market

Implementing a full-fledged hydrogen system in California will take considerable investments that could fall back on ratepayers, perpetuate pollution in environmental justice communities, and coopt necessary energy and water resources from Californians. These are top-of-mind concerns for communities who have experienced these impacts before and are calling for the state not to repeat the energy system’s history of profit over people and planet. Hydrogen should only be produced and deployed where it is an affordable climate solution with environmental and equity guardrails that ensure the financial and emissions burden does not land on those who can least afford it. Join our session to hear from environmental justice, equity, and community-based organizations about the impacts and guardrails needed for the emerging hydrogen industry in California. It is time for communities to lead the way on hydrogen for California’s just transition to clean energy.

  • Nile Malloy | Climate Justice Director, California Environmental Justice Alliance
  • Jay Parepally | Federal Climate Justice Legal Fellow, Communities for a Better Environment
  • Michael Rincon | Research and Policy Manager, Physicians for Social Responsibility – Los Angeles
  • Moderator: Fatima Abdul-Khabir | Senior Program Manager of Energy Equity, The Greenlining Institute
Name: Fatima Abdul-Khabir
Title: Senior Program Manager of Energy Equity
Organization: The Greenlining Institute
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: June 26, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Environmental Justice, Renewable Energy & Storage
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Breakout
Tool

EV Fleet Tools

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
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 07/07/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Nonprofit
Reports

Exploring Compliance Enforcement Opportunities at the Local Government Level: BayREN’s PROP Report

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.

Name: Susan Mazur-Stommen
Title: Founder and Principal
Organization: INDICIA Consulting
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Sacramento Valley
Date: 07/08/2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Environmental Justice
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2020 CCEC Forum Resources
Best Practices

Federal stimulus-funded local and regional energy programs

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.

Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

Found in Translation: How Partner-Led Facility Inventories Became Energy-Saving Opportunities

Name: Leah Myhre
Title: Project Manager
Organization: The Energy Coalition
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Partnerships
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
Tool

Fremont Green Challenge

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.

Organization: City of Freemont
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Residential
Case Study

Fremont’s Smart City Action Plan

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
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

Fresno County Employees’ Retirement Association Pension Funds

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
Learning Event

From Fossil to Fluid: Transforming Communities with Thermal Energy

Name: Claire de Vroede
Title: CivicSpark Fellow
Organization: Building Decarbonization Coalition
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
Learning Event

Fueling Energy Conservation and Efficiency through Gamification

This panel will showcase proven ways to engage employees in energy conservation and efficiency through gamification. The Port of San Diego, along with The Energy Coalition and Center for Sustainable Energy, will break down two recent engagement campaigns. Panelists will highlight lessons learned from each of the campaigns, while providing panel attendees with best practices to implement an educational campaign at their organization. You will even have a chance to participate in a game and slay energy vampires. Get inspired to test out similar behavior change campaigns with your employees to help reach your sustainability goals!

Speakers:

  • Rachel Stern, Port of San Diego
  • Amy Whitehouse, The Energy Coalition
  • Michael Arvizu, Center for Sustainable Energy
  • Rita de la Fuente, San Diego Convention Center Corporation
Name: Rachel Stern
Organization: Port of San Diego
Organization Type: City or County, Other Local Government, Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Diego, Statewide
Date: 06/26/2019
Published in 2015
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Local Governments, Nonprofit
Additional notes of interest: 2019 SEEC Forum Resources
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.

Name: Lindsey Hawes
Title: Municipal Energy Program Manager
Organization: City of San Diego
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Diego
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

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
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: September 21, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Energy Efficiency, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Residential
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
Organization Type: State Government/Agency
Region: Statewide
Date: May 2018
Published in 2018
Topic Areas: Policy
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Guide

Geothermal Guide: Best Practices for Calfornia

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
Name: MIsti Bruceri
Title: Coordinator and Technical Lead
Organization: Statewide Reach Codes Program
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Codes and Standards, Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Session
Case Study

Goleta Load Pocket Community Microgrid

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.

Name: Craig Lewis
Title: Executive Director
Organization: The Clean Coalition
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Central Coast
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Resilience
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Tool

Google Environmental Insights Explorer

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.

Name: Nicole Lombardo
Title: Business Strategy & Partnerships
Organization: Google
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Data Requests and Analysis
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Learning Event

Google Nest Smart Thermostat: An Accessible and Equitable Energy Solution

Name: Chad Ihrig
Title: Partner Manager
Organization: Google Nest
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Date: September 22, 2022
Published in 2022
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Additional notes of interest: 2022 CCEC Forum Poster
Learning Event

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

Name: Tor Allen
Title: Executive Director
Organization: The Rahus Institute
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Date: 6/13/2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Outreach and Engagement
Sectors Targeted: Nonprofit
Additional notes of interest: 2023 CCEC Forum Resources
Case Study

Greater Richmond Interfaith Project

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.

Organization: Greater Richmond Interfaith Project
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Partnerships
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities
Best Practices

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative

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

Name: David Burdick
Title: Executive Vice President
Organization: TerraVerde
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Energy Resilience, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Commercial, Local Governments, Residential
Case Study

Green Hayward PAYS® program

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.

Organization: City of Hayward
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Case Study

Green House Call Service – Free Energy & Water Efficiency Kits

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
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Residential
Tool

Green Infrastructure: Lower Building Energy Demands

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.

Name: Jennifer Berg
Title: Energy Programs Manager
Organization: BayREN
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Residential
Tool

Green Region Initiative

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: Global Insights & Local Solutions

This event was hosted by the California Climate & Energy Collaborative (CCEC), in conjunction with the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition (LGSEC), on November 29 from 3:00-4:30 pm PST. This webinar features a series of speakers from around the globe discussing common challenges and potential solutions as governments worldwide seek to transform their electric grids for a decarbonized future. Covered topics include the complex dynamics of grid transformation, the capacity of the grid to handle electrification, the role of microgrids in a decarbonized grid, and the potential of public-private partnerships to help streamline the energy transition. With a diverse array of speakers and topics, this webinar has something to offer for anyone interested in the future of our energy system!

Moderator:

  • Marc Costa, Board Co-Chair, Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition

Speakers:

  • Mark Paterson, Managing Director/Lead Systems Architect, Energy Catalyst Pty Ltd
  • Barry Hooper, Senior Green Building Coordinator, San Francisco Department of the Environment
  • Melanie D. Johnson, Electrical Engineering Researcher, Energy Branch, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Construction Engineering Research Laboratory
  • Stephen Honikman, Vice President of Business Development, Electriq Power

Organization: CCEC/LGSEC
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Statewide
Date: November 29, 2023
Published in 2023
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Partnerships, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: CCEC/LGSEC Joint Webinar
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

Name: Rick Brown
Title: President
Organization: TerraVerde Energy
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Date: February 2018
Published in 2018
Topic Areas: Renewable Energy & Storage
Learning Event

Grid Modernization: Part 2

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.

Name: Rick Brown
Title: President and Founder
Organization: TerraVerde Energy
Organization Type: Other Private Sector Business
Region: Statewide
Date: March 2018
Published in 2018
Topic Areas: Building Decarbonization, Distributed Energy Resources, Energy Efficiency
Guide

Guide to California Climate Zones

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.

Name: Tonya Veitch
Title: Senior Sustainability Analyst
Organization: County of Santa Clara
Organization Type: City or County
Region: Statewide
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Learning Event

Harnessing Time: Using an Hourly Method to Estimate the GHG Impacts of Policies in the Electricity Sector

Name: Xiaodan Chen
Title: Energy and Climate Technical Policy Analyst
Organization: UC San Diego School of Law
Organization Type: Academia and/or Research
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Data Requests and Analysis, GHG Reduction
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
Case Study

Hayward Unified School District Bonds

Hayward Unified School District issued $20M in bonds for renewable energy and sustainability projects.

Organization: Hayward Unified School District
Organization Type: Other Local Government
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Internal Funding Best Practices, Renewable Energy & Storage
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments
Case Study

Hayward’s New Municipal Building Zero Net Energy Policy

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.”

The City Council report and resulting formal resolution are available on Hayward’s Meeting and Agenda Center here.

Looking for more on ZNE? Click here.

Organization: City of Hayward
Organization Type: City or County
Region: San Francisco Bay Area
Published in 2016
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
Region: Statewide
Date: 08/19/2021
Published in 2021
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Sectors Targeted: Local Governments, Nonprofit
Additional notes of interest: 2021 CCEC Forum Resources
Learning Event

Home Energy Makeover: Transforming Spaces in San Gabriel Valley

Name: Mallory Schaefer
Title: Project Manager
Organization: The Energy Coalition
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organization
Region: Greater Los Angeles
Date: June 25, 2024
Published in 2024
Topic Areas: Energy Efficiency
Additional notes of interest: 2024 CCEC Forum Resources, 2024 Forum Poster
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
Region: Greater Los Angeles, Statewide
Date: 10/21/2020
Published in 2020
Topic Areas: Environmental Justice, Financing/Funding
Sectors Targeted: Disadvantaged Communities, Local Governments
Additional notes of interest: 2020 CCEC Forum Resources
Best Practices

How do I keep track of energy efficiency program and policy changes relevant to local governments?

Energy efficiency in California is a hot topic, and constantly evolving. Some things local governments may want to keep track of include: