Clean Power Alliance (CPA) and Calpine Community Energy will launch the 2025-2026 Community Benefits Grant program next month, with $289,000 in funding available to local nonprofit organizations operating in CPA’s service area across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The grant application period will be open from Sept. 2 – Sept. 30, with selected recipients being notified by the end of the year.
Grant funds help advance impactful community-based initiatives that further clean energy adoption, create pathways to clean energy industry job opportunities, expand environmental education, and promote environmental stewardship. Funding will be awarded to between nine and 12 organizations, with grants ranging from $15,000 to $30,000.
Launched in 2021, the Community Benefits Grant program is focused on the goal of ensuring that all communities, particularly those that have been historically underserved, can participate in and benefit from the transition to a clean energy future.
Five years later, the program continues to support a wide range of nonprofits, enabling them to launch and bring many impactful initiatives to life. By supporting local community-based organizations, CPA is helping to drive long-term environmental and economic benefits throughout its service area.
Sydney Rouse, Co-Director of the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5) operating in Santa Barbara and serving Ventura County communities, explained how impactful the grant funding has been to developing local partnerships that advance workforce development efforts.
“The Community Benefits Grant empowered the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition to partner with the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance, Tri-County Regional Energy Network, and Oxnard College to sponsor a three-week, in-person Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Technician Training Program at no cost to participants,” said Rouse. “This hands-on workforce development initiative equipped eight local residents with the skills, knowledge, and specialized training needed for high-demand careers in the clean energy sector, strengthening the region’s green economy and growing the electric vehicle charging network.”
The Community Benefits Grant program is an innovative partnership between CPA and Calpine, CPA’s customer support and billing services provider, with three percent of the value of CPA’s contract with Calpine reinvested into community-focused programs.
“Support from the Clean Power Alliance Community Benefits Grant has strengthened our ability to provide in-depth technical and leadership training to youth through our Summer Coding Leadership Academy,” said Oscar Menjivar, the CEO and founder of Urban TXT: Teens Exploring Technology. “The funding has helped us advance environmental and social justice by equipping young people with the skills to identify and solve real problems in their communities’ technology. It’s also supported our efforts to build pathways to education and workforce development in underserved neighborhoods through our apprenticeship program.”
Previous award recipients have utilized funds for the purchase of electric vehicles to support local community events, sustainability workshops and education opportunities for students, research on potential local energy projects, and the Los Angeles annual City of STEM Science Festival Innovation Challenge.
Each recipient demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing local sustainability, promoting inclusive energy practices, or providing residents equitable access to clean energy technologies and opportunities.
“Thanks to the Community Benefits Grant, ONEgeneration has been able to bring energy conservation education to older adults in Agoura Hills, Calabasas, West Hollywood, and Westlake Village,” said Jenna Hauss, MSW president & chief executive officer of ONEgeneration. “This support allows us to connect seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes with valuable resources, including utility discounts, energy-saving rebates, and practical tips to lower their energy use. We’re grateful for the opportunity to empower our older adult community with tools that help reduce costs and promote sustainability.”
This year, a total of $339,000 was funded to support local community organizations – $50,000 of this total was previously distributed to four local organizations that provided immediate relief to communities in the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires.
Local community-based organizations that are interested in applying for the 2025-2026 Community Benefits Grant can download an application here.
Completed applications and all relevant attachments can be submitted to communitybenefits@calpinesolutions.com no later than 5 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2025.
To learn more about past grant recipients and projects, click here.
