Clean Power Alliance launches $10 million Energized Communities Program to advance sustainability efforts in Southern California
May 15 2024 - 2:01PM
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) has launched its Energized Communities
Program to help CPA’s partner communities reduce greenhouse gas
emissions (GHGs) by providing financial and technical support for
vehicle and building electrification. The program is designed to
promote sustainability in the 35 communities CPA serves.
CPA is making $10 million in funding available over a three-year
period to its partner communities to implement available pathways
in the program.
“Communities have been asking for ways to help reduce greenhouse
gases and Energized Communities is a program created to respond to
that need,” said CPA Board Chair Deborah Klein Lopez. “Providing
tangible pathways for cities to decarbonize is an important step
forward to reach sustainability goals and is another example of how
CPA partners with the communities it serves.”
The program includes two ways to participate: 1) Pathways to
Electrification, which streamlines implementation of
electrification measures at municipal facilities and 2) an
Innovation Grant, which will launch later this year, to support
creative decarbonization projects within CPA’s service area. Both
program offerings will provide up to $250,000 per project.
Pathways to Electrification will assist participating
communities in planning and funding building electrification, EV
charging infrastructure for community use, and the transition of
municipal fleets to electric vehicles. Communities can select one
of these three projects and will receive direct funding and
planning assistance to implement electrification measures. CPA is
starting this effort with support for fleet and building
electrification projects.
Pathways to Electrification aligns with the California Air
Resources Board’s 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon
Neutrality, which requires that fleets comply with emission
reductions for mobile vehicles and phase-in the use and
manufacturing of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2036. The plan
aims to reduce GHGs by 85 percent below 1990 levels no later than
2045.
To execute Energized Communities, CPA has contracted with energy
engineering firm Lincus Inc. and clean energy consulting firm
Optony Inc. for their expertise in decarbonization planning and
implementation.
Converting gas-powered transportation fleets will benefit
municipalities with a reduction in harmful GHG emissions and cost
savings on fuel and maintenance. According to Optony Inc. who will
lead the electric fleet transition project, small municipal fleets
of fewer than 100 vehicles that have gone through similar fleet
electrification efforts have the potential to reduce fuel
consumption by 50,000 gallons and avoid approximately 770,000
pounds of emissions each year.
Similarly, communities that participate in the building
electrification assistance project can experience a reduction in
GHG emissions by converting their gas-powered equipment to electric
alternatives and realize the added benefits of natural gas and
maintenance cost savings.
Based on electrification work completed by Lincus Inc., who will
lead the building electrification assistance project,
municipalities that have electrified their water heating systems
have seen a reduction of more than 8,000 pounds in emissions
annually. This environmental benefit is equivalent to planting 60
trees or driving 9,500 fewer car miles. Results will vary by
facility size and equipment selected for installation, and CPA
anticipates successful outcomes for the projects implemented
through the Energized Communities program.
“Clean Power Alliance is committed to the wellbeing of our
communities and providing opportunities that accelerate
sustainability efforts,” said CPA CEO Ted Bardacke. “Our strategic
investments in customer programs and initiatives that expand clean
energy infrastructure will create lasting benefits across Southern
California.”
To learn more about CPA’s Energized Communities Program, visit
cleanpoweralliance.org/energized-communities.
About Clean Power Alliance
Founded in 2017, Clean Power Alliance is the locally operated
not-for-profit electricity provider for 35 communities across Los
Angeles County and Ventura County. CPA is the fourth largest
electricity provider in California and leads the nation in serving
the most customers with 100% renewable energy. CPA serves
approximately three million residents and businesses providing
clean renewable energy at competitive rates. Learn more at:
CleanPowerAlliance.org
About Lincus, Inc.
Lincus is a CPUC clearinghouse-certified Women Business
Enterprise (“WBE") with offices in California, Arizona, and
Oklahoma. Established in 2003, Lincus specializes in providing
energy, carbon management, and information solutions to a client
base that spans the commercial, industrial, governmental, utility,
and design communities. Lincus specializes in building performance
modeling, energy engineering based mechanical construction projects
and management of electrification retrofit. Learn more at:
lincusenergy.com
About Optony, Inc.
Founded in 2007, Optony is an award-winning independent energy
advisory consulting firm that has assisted hundreds of clients
worldwide with clean energy planning and program development.
Optony’s expertise has been instrumental in renewable energy
developments through site evaluation, procurement, policy
development, planning, or a combination tasks. Since 2015, Optony
has provided vehicle electrification and charging infrastructure
consulting services for local governments, specializing in EV load
modeling, charging infrastructure needs assessments and distributed
energy resource integration to reduce charging costs and maximize
the financial and environmental benefits of vehicle
electrification. Learn more at: optonyusa.com
Joseph Cabral
Clean Power Alliance
2139100015
jcabral@cleanpoweralliance.org