underserved communities – Page 3 – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

EE Funding to Low-Income Increased by $250 Million to Alleviate Blackout Risks

May 7, 2016

best practices, energy efficiency, environmental justice, funding, residential, resiliency, SCE, SCG, southern california, underserved communities, weekly updates

As covered by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the CPUC has approved $250 million in funding in Decision 16-04-040 to augment the budget of the Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program in the Los Angeles region. Per NRDC: As a result of the commission’s action, Southern California Gas and Southern California Edison can now use…

California Releases Draft California Sustainable Freight Action Plan (Comments Requested by July 6th)

May 3, 2016

Sarina Soor

air quality, alternative fuel vehicles, ARB, CEC, electric vehicles, environmental justice, health, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, transportation, underserved communities, weekly updates, zero net energy (ZNE)

The state has released a Draft California Sustainable Freight Action Plan in response to Governor Brown’s B-32-15 Executive Order, with comments requested on the Draft Plan by July 6th. (more…)

5/10 Public Meeting: Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) and Development of the 2030 Scoping Plan

April 29, 2016

Sarina Soor

ab 32, environmental justice, events, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, underserved communities, weekly updates, workshops

As shared by the Air Resources Board: the AB 32 Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) will be meeting on May 10, 2016 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (PDT) in (more…)

EDF and ACEEE: the Latest Best Practices for Programs to Reach Low-Income Communities and Lower the Energy Burden

April 27, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, community leaders, EE programs, energy efficiency, environmental justice, Local Governments in Action, multi-family, residential, solar, underserved communities

There’s been lots of news lately highlighting the opportunity (and the need) for pairing energy efficiency investments with low-income and underserved communities. More was (more…)

Energy Efficiency and Social Justice: How Energy Efficiency Can Serve Underserved Communities

April 20, 2016

Sarina Soor

ACEEE, best practices, cap-and-trade, EE community programs, EE programs, energy efficiency, environmental justice, funding, GGRF, local government partnership, Local Governments in Action, publications, SB 535, solar, strategic planning, underserved communities

A report came out from ACEEE today finding that energy costs take up a greater percent of income in African-American, Latino, low-income, and low-income multi-family and renter households. The report looks at 48 cities across the United States – including Los Angeles, (more…)

6/6 Training for Resiliency-Focused Local Government Staff: Engaging Communities in Effective Problem Solving, by Resilient Communities Initiative (RCI)

April 14, 2016

Sarina Soor

bay area, best practices, climate change, community leaders, energy efficiency, environmental justice, events, health, northern california, resiliency, stakeholder engagement, training, underserved communities, workshops

The Resilient Communities Initiative (RCI) is holding a special training for local governments June 6th, in Oakland, CA: read more below. Climate change is a daunting topic, especially for agencies tasked with (more…)

ARB’s 4/4 Low Carbon Transportation, Fuels Investments, and Air Quality Improvement Program Funding Plan Presentation

April 10, 2016

Sarina Soor

alternative fuel vehicles, electric vehicles, environmental justice, funding, transportation, underserved communities

The presentation from the California Air Resources Board (ARB)’s public workshop to review its low carbon transportation, fuels investments, and air quality improvement (more…)

$1.5M in Funding for Healthy Cities

April 8, 2016

Sarina Soor

air quality, climate change, energy efficiency, environmental justice, funding, health, underserved communities, weekly updates

More than $1.5 million is available to small/medium cities, counties and tribes: click here for more information on the Healthy Cities and Counties Challenge. For more EE, energy and sustainability-related funding opportunities, click here.

Consumer Impacts of California’s Low Carbon Transportation Policies

April 5, 2016

Sarina Soor

air quality, best practices, cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, environmental justice, health, transportation, underserved communities

A new study prepared for the Consumers Union by ICF International on California’s Low Carbon Transportation policies finds that households will save between $1,210–1,530 annually by 2030 (after accounting for the impacts of California’s transportation (more…)

Report: How Climate Change Affects Health in the United States

April 4, 2016

Sarina Soor

air quality, climate change, environmental justice, evaluation, health, measurement & verification, publications, resiliency, underserved communities, water energy nexus

A new report by the U.S. Global Change Research Program provides a scientific assessment of how climate change is already affecting human health. The report focuses in on temperature-related death and illness, air quality impacts, extreme events, vector- (more…)

Upcoming Federal Webinars for State and Local Governments

April 4, 2016

Sarina Soor

AB 802, benchmarking, best practices, EE community programs, EE municipal programs, EE programs, energy data, energy efficiency, environmental justice, funding, health, HVAC, renewables/DERs, schools, solar, underserved communities, weekly updates

Check out the below federal webinars advertised through EPA’s State and Local Climate newsletter! It’s looking like AB 802’s benchmarking and energy disclosure implementation is going to leverage EPA Portfolio Manager, and the (more…)

UCLA Study Quantifies Value of Cap and Trade Program to Low-Income Californians

April 4, 2016

Sarina Soor

cap-and-trade, compliance, cost-effectiveness, environmental justice, publications, residential, underserved communities, weekly updates

A new study by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, Protecting the Most Vulnerable: A Financial Analysis of Cap and Trade’s Impact on Households in Disadvantaged Communities Across California shows the value of cap and (more…)

Looking for Funding? More than $569 million available to local governments for climate and energy initiatives from federal agencies

March 25, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, climate action plans, climate change, energy data, energy efficiency, environmental justice, funding, strategic planning, transportation, underserved communities

Ten different federal funding opportunities, totaling more than $569 million shared through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s State and Local Climate and Energy newsletter are shared below. To sign up for EPA’s newsletter, or learn more, visit the EPA State and Local Climate and Energy Program site. 1) DOE State Energy Program 2016 Competitive Awards – $5 million Applications…

Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Energy Efficient Housing Development

March 25, 2016

Sarina Soor

ARB, best practices, cap-and-trade, energy efficiency, environmental justice, funding, GGRF, multi-family, residential, SB 535, stakeholder engagement, transportation, underserved communities, weekly updates

Hundreds of millions of dollars are being made available through cap and trade auction proceed allocation to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program, which funds land-use, housing, transportation, and land preservation projects that support infill and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. (More background here). These funds represent a huge opportunity for local governments – particularly…

2016 State Policy Landscape: What it Means for the Sierra

The Government Affairs Director of the Sierra Business Council shares a high-level update on state legislative climate policy that are important to the Sierra. Key components include the Governor’s Proposed Budget’s allocation of $3.1 billion in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) dollars, implications of SB 350, and the Under 2 MOU proposal associated with the December…