Assistance Coordination - California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Barrier 7: Assistance Coordination

Barrier Statement

Lack of coordinated systems, compounded by fragmented programs, language barriers, and community mistrust, prevents households from accessing or trusting home decarbonization assistance.

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How communities are experiencing this barrier

View the details on what communities have shared with SLECC from across the state.

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles, San Diego

Past bad actors in solar and retrofit markets have created deep community mistrust, discouraging participation in new decarbonization programs. Stakeholders noted that early solar scams and misleading contractors left a lasting “trust deficit” in communities such as Pacoima, where residents continue to receive deceptive flyers, robocalls, and door-to-door pitches that blur the line between legitimate and fraudulent programs. This widespread skepticism undermines adoption and frustrates reputable installers and advocates working to rebuild credibility in the clean energy sector.

Key challenge discussed in - Inland Deserts, San Diego

Households and small businesses face confusion and barriers due to siloed and overlapping incentive programs for energy efficiency, electrification, water conservation, and resilience. With each program operating separately and offering different eligibility rules, timelines, and application processes, participants struggle to access the full stack of available benefits. Without dedicated guidance or technical assistance, many eligible residents and businesses miss out on incentives or abandon upgrades due to program complexity.

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Consumer awareness gap—low understanding of retrofit benefits and available incentives: Many residents do not know incentives exist at all; awareness often only arises at “intervention points” like home resale, appliance failure, or limited-time rebates. Residents also struggle to understand stacked incentives, with siloed program designs that make it nearly impossible for a homeowner to navigate without expert support

Key challenge discussed in - Los Angeles

Language access and outreach challenges: Cities like Alhambra emphasized the importance of safe, accessible venues (e.g., libraries) where residents can learn about programs in their language, but they lack resources to scale this outreach. Participants noted that government jargon and technical language alienate residents, making programs feel inaccessible or untrustworthy. In-person events with interpretation and culturally tailored engagement are critical, but capacity and funding shortfalls limit consistency.

Key challenge discussed in - San Diego

Local governments noted that state agencies and utilities rarely coordinate program delivery with city departments, leaving households to navigate a patchwork system

Local Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by local leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

Local Solution

Integrate and simplify access to water, energy, and resilience incentives through user-friendly tools and “concierge” technical assistance (TA) services. Agencies and local governments should coordinate and stack funding sources behind the scenes so residents and small businesses can access a single, streamlined rebate or direct-install service. Expanding local incentive integration efforts—such as bundled programs or AI-driven platforms that match applicants with the full range of benefits—can reduce complexity, lower administrative barriers, and make multi-benefit upgrades more accessible and equitable.

Existing Examples of Progress:

1. South Coast Air Quality Management District is focusing on reducing ozone emissions and particulate matter by controlling NOx emissions, working on regulations to require zero emission space and water heating technologies, and will launch a Go Zero program in early 2025 to help bridge the cost barrier for zero emission transitions. The program will target overburdened communities with rebates, stack incentives, and assistance on finding funding. 2. Basset Avocado Advanced Energy Community Pilot – Provides comprehensive homeowner navigation for retrofit incentives and code compliance; participants recommended replication across the region.3. Silicon Valley Clean Energy has a one-on-one “concierge service” model to navigate incentives and retrofits.

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles, Inland Deserts, San Diego

Local Solution

Partner with trusted local entities—such as community-based organizations, Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), and city sustainability departments—that already have credibility with residents. These partners can serve as resource hubs and navigators to guide households through retrofit, electrification, and resilience programs, ensuring higher participation and equitable access.

Existing Examples of Progress:

GRID Alternatives is conducting solar clinics, town halls, and community engagement events. They are focused on rebuilding trust after bad faith actors, showcasing savings, and engaging community members through local visits and outreach. Pacoima Beautiful is using community engagement to rebuild trust for solar initiatives in historically underserved neighborhoods. They use door-to-door canvassing, community events, and promotional videos to foster trust and awareness.

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles, Inland Deserts

Local Solution

Increase enrollment in rebate and energy programs.

Existing Examples of Progress:

The City of Alhambra is enhancing language access and in-person enrollment programs at libraries for rebates and energy programs.

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

State Solution Opportunities

SLECC stakeholders have brainstormed the following solution opportunities that can be taken by state leaders. Existing examples of progress or pathways to make further progress are highlighted if known.

State Solution

Empower community-based organizations (CBOs), tribes, and local entities to lead retrofit outreach and assistance programs. State funding should support these trusted partners to scale engagement, build trust, and deliver culturally relevant, community-led services that increase equitable participation in incentive programs.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles, San Diego

State Solution

Integrate and streamline state incentive programs by coordinating across agencies such as the CEC, CPUC, and CARB to enable stacking and aggregation of funding behind the scenes. State policy should ensure residents receive a single, streamlined rebate or payment rather than navigating multiple disconnected programs, reducing administrative burden and improving participation in energy and climate upgrades.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Inland Deserts, San Diego

State Solution

Address misinformation and scam issues to protect consumers and strengthen trust in solar and energy efficiency programs.

Existing Examples of Progress:

Further Progress Pathways

Region(s): Los Angeles

Solution Spotlight

CEC funded Bassett & Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community (BAAEC) stacks capital across programs

The Bassett & Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community (BAAEC) is a groundbreaking five-year demonstration project that addresses environmental justice through community-scale clean energy deployment in two disadvantaged unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Serving approximately 28,000 residents across 4.7 square miles, the project is funded by a California Energy Commission EPIC Challenge grant and has already provided free solar installations to 34 homeowners while offering 20% average monthly electricity bill savings through its Community Solar program. Advancedenergycommunity Advancedenergycommunity These predominantly Latino communities have been disproportionately burdened by pollution from three nearby freeways, the Quemetco battery recycling center, and a nearby landfill, resulting in chronic health issues including asthma and lung cancer, with neighborhoods predicted to experience over 40 additional extreme heat days per year by 2050. Boom California Homes

BAAEC employs an integrated approach featuring four main components: Advanced Homes providing up to $50,000 in free energy equipment including solar panels and battery storage managed as a virtual power plant; Community Solar offering 100% local renewable electricity at 20% discounts; a Microgrid Resiliency Hub with 4-5 hours of backup power capacity; and Clean Transportation including EV charging infrastructure and zero-emissions mobility services expected to reduce annual emissions by 30.5 MTCO2e. Basset/Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community (BAAEC) The project also demonstrates innovative technologies like blockchain-enabled carbon credit trading and real-time vehicle emissions monitoring while prioritizing community engagement through youth advocacy programs and leadership academies that train residents to become energy champions.

Led by The Energy Coalition in partnership with organizations including ActiveSGV, UCLA’s California Center for Sustainable Communities, and GRID Alternatives, BAAEC serves as a replicable model for just energy transitions that simultaneously address climate goals and environmental justice. Advancedenergycommunity Advancedenergycommunity The project’s success stems from breaking down structural barriers common in disadvantaged communities—including high levels of renters, lower-income and limited-English-speaking residents—through comprehensive community engagement, cultural competency, and elimination of upfront costs. By centering authentic community partnership while deploying cutting-edge clean energy technology, BAAEC demonstrates how ambitious climate goals and community empowerment can be achieved together, providing valuable lessons for scaling similar initiatives across California and beyond.

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