This was the 57th meeting of the Local Energy Resources Network (LERN) hosted by the California Climate and Energy Collaborative, featuring multiple spotlights and a featured discussion on transformative climate communities. Angie Hacker, the Statewide Best Practices Coordinator, led the meeting and presented a comprehensive Opportunity Roundtable covering funding opportunities including the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project, NEVI electric vehicle infrastructure program, and upcoming California Energy Commission programs. Andrew from CARB presented information about the new Cal Fleet Advisor program and an upcoming Drive Forward event in Fresno, while Jillian from Lawyers for Good Government shared updates on successful court rulings that reinstated the $7 billion Solar for All program after it was unlawfully terminated by EPA. Catherine Foster from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation discussed the recently released Extreme Heat Action Plan, which provides a coordinated statewide roadmap across 60 agencies to prepare for and reduce heat risk through four main pillars: public awareness, community response, built environment solutions, and nature-based solutions. The featured discussion with Juliana Joss from 3C-REN focused on how the County of Santa Barbara successfully used a Transformative Climate Communities Grant to implement rural resilience in Cuyama Valley, highlighting their Kuyama Home Energy Retrofit Program (CHIRP) that leveraged $50,000 in grant funding into over $500,000 in total project value through various incentives and partnerships.

The Local Energy Resources Network held its 55th meeting, focusing on energy and climate opportunities for local governments. Angie Hacker, the Statewide Best Practices Coordinator for the California Climate and Energy Collaborative, led the meeting and provided updates on funding opportunities. The meeting featured a spotlight presentation from Adam Jue of Prospect SV, a short panel with Emily Alvarez and Amaury Bertrand sharing key takeaways from the ACEEE Summer Study, and a short presentation by Emily Searl from UC Davis introducing the Empower Procurement Product Evaluation Hub.

The Local Energy Resources Network held its 54th meeting, focusing on energy and climate opportunities for local governments. Angie Hacker, the Statewide Best Practices Coordinator for the California Climate and Energy Collaborative, led the meeting and provided updates on funding opportunities. The meeting featured presentations from California Energy Commission representatives on key initiatives: Gabriel Taylor discussed the California Building Energy Performance Strategy Report. Jacqueline Jones presented on the non-energy impacts informational proceeding. The meeting also covered the Distributed Electricity Backup Assets Program and concluded with Kelsey provided a wrap-up on the recent CCEC forum, noting over 500 attendees representing 243 organizations from 134 California cities.