Clean Power Alliance’s (CPA) Energized Communities program aims to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels while creating cleaner, more resilient communities across Southern California.
The program partners with local governments to turn sustainability goals into action, offering financial and technical support to expand electrification throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
The City of Camarillo utilized Energized Communities funding to support the addition of four new electric vehicles (EVs) to its municipal fleet. By transitioning municipal vehicles to more energy-efficient and sustainable electric models, the city is reducing fuel costs, lowering greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and demonstrating environmental leadership in its daily operations.
“CPA’s Energized Communities program provided critical funding to accelerate the city’s transition to electric fleet vehicles in our community,” said Greg Ramirez, Camarillo’s city manager. “With this funding, the city purchased four all-electric Ford F-150 Lightnings for use by the city’s Sanitary and Streets divisions for maintenance and administrative services. The city proudly unveiled these vehicles at a recent community event and showcased their capabilities by powering all event lighting exclusively with the vehicles.”
The city is expected to avoid 17,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year with the addition of these four EVs to the municipal fleet, which is equivalent to planting approximately 130 trees and growing them for 10 years. This initiative is part of a larger effort in alignment with the city’s Sustainability Master Plan for Municipal Operations (SMP) to electrify 33 city fleet vehicles by the end of 2026.
Launched in April 2024, Energized Communities is currently supporting 20 local communities in their sustainability efforts through the Pathways to Electrification program. The program offers three pathways for communities to participate: building electrification assistance, expanding community electric vehicle charging and transitioning municipal fleets to electric vehicles. Government agencies can receive up to $250,000 in CPA funding to bring a project to fruition.
Five communities are currently pursuing municipal building electrification, twelve (12) communities are electrifying their fleets, and three communities are installing EV charging stations for public use.
Ramirez emphasized that participation in Energized Communities has been instrumental in turning Camarillo’s sustainability goals into tangible action.
“The Energized Communities program aligns well with our Sustainability Master Plan for Municipal Operations and supported the expansion of our fleet with other new electric vehicles, including a fully electric Ford E‑Transit van,” said Ramirez. “The van will be used as a mobile outreach unit to support community events, programs and public engagement efforts, and will serve as a highly visible platform for clean transportation and sustainability. The partnership with CPA has allowed the city to accelerate the adoption of electric fleet vehicles, strengthening the city’s sustainability leadership, reducing its carbon footprint and creating a cleaner, healthier environment for the community, residents and visitors.”
Modernizing the fleet not only supports Camarillo’s long-term climate and air quality goals, but also sets a strong example for residents and local businesses by showing how practical, cost-effective clean transportation solutions can be integrated into essential public services.
Camarillo’s participation in Energized Communities illustrates how strategic partnerships and targeted investments can drive meaningful local climate action.
To learn more about Energized Communities, visit cleanpoweralliance.org/energized-communities/.
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