State & Local Energy & Climate Coordination (SLECC) Presents

REACH Inland Empire

REACH’s long term mission is to leverage the collective power of state, federal and regional capacity and resources to advance place-based energy, climate, and land use priorities through lasting regional hubs. It is community-driven (local gov, tribal gov, academic institutions, philanthropy, CBO/NGOs) and partners and engages with State and federal agencies.

In the effort to continue engagement in the Inland Empire (San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial Counties) REACH is intended as an ongoing series. To that end we have created the opportunities below to stay engage and begin to plan future events.

REACH Resources

CCEC and SGC will continuously work to build on what we are learning from the inland empire to build a landscape analysis and assistance guide for the region. These materials are intended to support community and state leaders as they seek to understand and serve the region and will evolve over time as we continue to engage. Like we said, Regional Energy and Climate Hubs (REACH) are intended to be more than just a convening!

Regional Assistance Guide

The Regional Assistance guide is a constantly updated guide showcasing organizations in the inland empire that provide FREE funding, incentives, or technical assistance to local, tribal, CBOs, NGOs, or schools in the Inland Empire.

Landscape Analysis

CCEC is actively working to compile and analyze what we learned at the first REACH IE convening in December 2025 to build an initial landscape. Check back soon for more information!

Previous Events

View the Resources

Characterizing Energy, Land Use, and Climate Landscape in the Inland Region

The opening panel discussion at REACH IE featured:

  • Angela Hacker, Statewide Best Practices Coordinator, CCEC
  • Sean Kennedy, Deputy Director of Energy Investments, CA Strategic Growth Council
  • Karen Woodard, Realty/Planning Administrator, Morongo Band of Mission Indians
  • Casey Dailey, Director of Energy and Environmental Programs, Western Riverside Council of Governments
Aligning State & Regional Goals at the Nexus of Housing & Climate

On July 31, 2024, Governor Newsom issued a new executive order (N-2-24) to accelerate and streamline infill development projects to transform undeveloped and underutilized properties statewide into livable and affordable housing for Californians. This session seeks to gather input from Tribes, local and regional governments, and advocacy organizations on processes, permits, and other administrative actions that can be adjusted to create flexibility and lower the per-unit cost of infill housing.

  • Sean Kennedy, Deputy Director of Energy Investments, CA Strategic Growth Council
  • Clay Kerchof, Climate & Transportation Section Chief, CA Department of Housing & Community Development
  • Tawny Macedo, Housing Policy Manager, CA Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
  • Aaron Savage, Associate Planner, Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
State Climate Assessment and Resilience Resources

This session will provide an overview of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program climate resilience research portfolio and tools, and funding programs including future opportunities through the 2024 Climate Bond. Presentations will include updates on California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment research portfolio, featuring the Tribal Research Program and examples from the Inland Desert Regional Synthesis Report Author Team; an overview of climate services tools and data resources to support planning and decision-making; and a presentation on SGC’s Community Resilience Centers and Transformative Climate Communities Programs. The teams welcome open discussion and Q&A

  • Elea Becker Lowe, Ben McMahan and Bryce Lewis-Smith, Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
  • Sarah Newsham and Jessica Cervantes, CA Strategic Growth Council
Regional Challenges to Renewable Energy Deployment

Go-Biz survey and toolkit & incentive program. CPUC high DEI. LCI Judicial streamlining

  • Rohimah Moly, Go-Biz
  • Chris Moore and Hope Christiansen, California Public Utilities Commission
  • Natalie Kuffel, Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
Climate Action Planning at the State and Local Level

This session will briefly present two state-level climate planning efforts and seeks local input that will help inform each. First, the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), formerly the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR), is beginning its periodic update of the General Plan Guidelines (Guidelines). The Guidelines serve as the “how to” document for cities and counties drafting or updating their general plans. One of LCI’s central goals in this newest update is to incorporate climate throughout, from land use to circulation. Second, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is seeking initial input at the onset of the State’s Comprehensive Climate Action Plan under the U.S Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program. Both agencies would like to hear from representatives from the Inland Empire about their climate impact concerns, climate mitigation priorities, how climate planning is being or might be integrated into general plans, and any region-specific barriers or opportunities that have arisen in planning or other processes.

  • Sarah Jo Szambelan, CA Air Resources Board
  • Nils Jepson, CA Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation
Clean Transportation

This region-led knowledge exchange breakout at REACH IE featured:

  • Kara Crohn, Director, Transparency & Insights, Center for Sustainable Energy
  • Norah Kyassa, Clean Mobility Program Specialist, GRID Alternatives
  • Lindsey-Paige McCloy, Director, City of Palm Springs, Office of Sustainability
The Real Drivers of the Energy Affordability Crisis

This region-led knowledge exchange breakout at REACH IE featured:

  • Casey Dailey, Director of Energy & Environmental Program, WRCOG
  • Patrick Welch, Senior Legislative Manager, San Diego Community Power
  • Marc Costa, Director of Policy and Planning, The Energy Coalition
  • Jessica Sutorus, Environmental Conservation Supervisor, City of Colton
Decarbonizing Homes and Buildings

This region-led knowledge exchange breakout at REACH IE featured:

  • Frederick Chung, Program Manager, ISD, County of Los Angeles
  • Heather Farr, Planning and Rules Manager, South Coast AQMD
  • Ariel Tolefree Williams, Housing Services Administrator, City of Palm Springs
Community and Energy Resilience

This region-led knowledge exchange breakout at REACH IE featured:

  • Karen Woodard, Realty/Planning Administrator, Morongo Band of Mission Indians
  • Daniel Soltero, Program Manager, Energy, WRCOG
  • Alejandro Espinosa, Chief of Community Engagement, Desert Healthcare District

Who was there?

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People Attended
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Community-Serving Organizations
Organization Types
Thank you to the following organizations as well as other state agencies for their support on this event:

Special thanks to our other planning partners, including from the Coachella Valley Association of Governments and the Southern California Association of Governments.

REACH is presented by:

Are you interested in partnering with us on this or future events?
Contact us at eecoordinator@civicwell.org.