The Eaton and Palisades fires in January underscored the growing urgency for regional resilience in Southern California as the state faces evolving climate challenges. As communities confront the impacts of wildfires on homes, infrastructure and energy systems, CPA is committed to partnering with local organizations to provide the training programs and resources to advance fire-resistant and resilient building standards, enhance insurability, increase distributed energy and water systems, while working to build resilient, equitable communities.
To advance these efforts, CPA has collaborated with the U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC CA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainability in building design, construction and operation, to advance two key initiatives: the Wildfire Defense Certification Program and the Wildfire Defense Rebuilding Support and Recovery Resources website.
As part of this effort, CPA recently sponsored a wildfire rebuilding training program in Santa Monica which provided over 20 local contractors with the knowledge and skills to apply the latest developments in green building and sustainable development practices. Participants were also offered guidance, resources, best practices, materials, and other tools designed to support contractors, construction professionals, and landscapers during the rebuilding process.
The session taught participants how to identify the three primary wildfire ignition pathways and assess vulnerabilities in both residential and commercial properties. It also covered best approaches for creating defensible space, including thoughtful landscaping, hardscaping and plant selection. Attendees explored how to select and specify fire-resistant building materials for roofs, walls, vents and windows, and how to enhance structural protection. Additional topics covered designing for emergency access and water resiliency with proper driveway clearances, irrigation systems and backup water sources.
The training also included a segment focused on integrating renewable energy and storage systems to improve building performance and disaster readiness. This allowed participants to examine how wildfire-resilient strategies can align with green building standards, low-carbon design, and broader sustainability goals.
By investing in local community-based infrastructure, renewable energy projects and emergency preparedness programs, CPA is working to help strengthen Los Angeles and Ventura County communities’ collective ability to withstand and recover from natural disasters and other disruptions.
CPA has taken several additional actions to support our customers. This includes adding expert home hardening guidance to our Energy Team service and expanding the Sun Storage Rebate program to include a “Reliability+” incentive that provides an increased rebate to install battery storage systems in homes located in areas prone to public safety power shutoffs due to heightened wildfire risk.
Early next year, CPA will launch a wildfire resources webpage to provide customers with additional guidance and links to community resources to aid in wildfire preparation.
These initiatives create lasting value—supporting public safety, economic stability, and a more reliable clean energy future for everyone.
To learn more about these wildlife defense efforts, visit https://usgbc-ca.org/programs/wildfire-defense-education-and-tours/.
To view a video of LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and CPA CEO Ted Bardacke discussing Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery, click here.
