Fragmented, complex, and unstable incentive programs, with inconsistent messaging and rigid rules, make it difficult for homeowners, renters, and contractors to plan, stack benefits, or move projects forward, leading to missed opportunities and abandoned retrofits.

Competitive, fragmented grant systems overwhelm limited local capacity and disadvantage smaller jurisdictions and CBOs. Oversubscribed programs with complex requirements favor well-resourced applicants, divert scarce staff time from implementation, and reinforce inequities.

State-funded, regionally delivered technical assistance and staffing support—through LCI, SGC, COGs, RENs, and partners—that provides sustained training, templates, shared staff positions, and grant-embedded capacity funding to reduce reliance on consultants and enable implementation.

Streamline and modernize state grant applications through a common application, longer timelines, simplified requirements, and upgraded digital platforms. A unified, equity-centered grant system would reduce administrative burden, improve transparency, and expand access for under-resourced applicants.

Build sustained, community-centered engagement beyond project cycles. Local and regional agencies should move from one-off, grant-driven outreach to long-term partnerships with CBO networks and ongoing community advisory bodies. These structures enable continuous involvement, reduce engagement fatigue, and ensure underrepresented communities have lasting influence over climate and energy decisions.

Rising Electricity Rates Undermine the Household Electrification Value Proposition. High and rising electricity costs discourage households from switching from gas to electric systems, slowing a key pathway for emissions reductions. Despite available incentives, electricity rates remain high relative to gas, leading many households to delay electrification and limiting the value of energy efficiency measures that could otherwise reduce demand and bills.

Work through trusted community-based organizations (CBOs), CCAs, RENs, and other local intermediaries to deliver outreach for retrofit, electrification, and resilience programs. These navigators provide clear, consistent, and unified messaging that reduces confusion and helps rebuild trust in communities affected by past misinformation or bad actors. Effective navigator models include language access and equity supports—such as translation, interpretation, childcare, and food—to ensure engagement is accessible to low-income, rural, Tribal, and linguistically diverse communities. By meeting residents in trusted settings and cultural contexts, navigator-led outreach increases awareness, credibility, and readiness to participate in retrofit programs.

Offer concierge-style technical assistance to help households and small businesses move from interest to completion. Project-specific support includes explaining retrofit options, navigating requirements, stacking incentives, completing applications, and coordinating next steps. By highlighting available rebates and providing direct enrollment assistance, concierge services reduce drop-off from program complexity, increase participation, and improve equitable access to energy efficiency, electrification, and resilience upgrades.

Chronic Staff Capacity Constraints. Small, rural, and under-resourced jurisdictions often rely on one planner to manage CEQA, General Plan updates, grant applications, and GHG inventories and CAPs, leaving little capacity for sustained climate planning or implementation. Climate work is added onto existing roles, and complex, non-user-friendly state guidance further exacerbates inequities with better-resourced jurisdictions that have dedicated climate staff.