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This grant provides funding to organizations working to advance clean energy, green jobs, environmental education and stewardship, and energy equity and diversity.
The 2024–2025 application period begins on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Applications are due by 5 PM Friday, September 13, 2024.
Through this ongoing partnership, CPA will award 12-15 grants worth a total of $325,000 to non-profit organizations working in CPA’s service territory to advance clean energy, green job training, environmental education and stewardship, and energy equity and diversity efforts within their respective communities. Individual grants range between $15,000 to $30,000.
Investing in local communities is a key aspect of CPA’s mission to strengthen regional resilience and advance access to clean energy for all. Calpine Community Energy awards the funding, while CPA develops the grant guidelines and helps engage local non-profit organizations to apply for the funding. Both organizations work together to review the applications and choose awardees.
Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas ($25,000) – Funds went toward workforce development to increase career exploration and community awareness of green industry opportunities. Alongside local trade unions, the organization utilized virtual reality (VR) to provide an introduction to offshore wind production and turbine maintenance.
Columbia Memorial Space Center ($20,000) – Funds supported City of STEM, the largest program promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in Los Angeles. The program is committed to opening equitable access to STEM learning, especially to those members of the public from marginalized communities, as well as under-resourced neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles.
Friends of the Los Angeles River ($25,000) – Funds were used to support The LA River & Me Education Program and general operations. The LA River & Me Program provides an opportunity to connect 140 classes from 70 Title 1 schools to the natural world. The program brings students to the LA River on a field trip, where they participated in three interactive educational stations. The LA River watershed covers more than 800 square miles of the most densely populated, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse region in the United States. The program covers 21 of CPA’s member communities.
Grid Alternatives LA ($20,000) – Funds were used to provide homeowners within the gateway cities with service panel upgrades, and any other necessary professional services to access no-cost solar energy systems.
LA Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability (LARC) ($20,000) – Funds were used to create a Clean Energy Education Campaign to educate the public in the greater Los Angeles region about the benefits of clean energy and promote more sustainable energy usage. LARC will form a Community Advisory Group (CAG) to guide the campaign and will enlist two UCLA College Corps Fellows in the campaign.
Merito Foundation ($30,000) – Funds were used toward advancing energy literacy and green workforce development opportunities for Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) students. The project empowered about 1,200 multicultural and economically unprivileged VUSD students from grades 7-12 to innovate solutions that reduce the carbon footprint of their school campuses through six months of in-class energy literacy, culminating in a STEM competition.
Oxnard Performing Arts Center ($23,900) – Funds were used to incorporate solar energy art activities and education into a year-long initiative. The program goal was to reach 20,000 individuals, including teens, youth, and families within Ventura County. Activities included Solar Summer Camp, Family Art Night, and the launch of a solar art cart used at various events.
Pando Populus ($20,000) – Funding went toward Pando Days, a project-centered learning program for colleges and universities focused on implementing Los Angeles County’s sustainability goals. This year’s program supported 20 universities and community colleges throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Santa Monica Mountains Foundation ($25,000) – Funds supported the development of the Los Angeles region’s first native seed production farm. This project increased resiliency to climate change, mitigating the threat of extreme wildfires, offered employment opportunities and environmental education for diverse youth, and enhanced wildlife habitat and ecosystems.
Tree People ($25,000) – Funds supported the Tree People Eco Tours, where trained leaders lead K-6 students and teachers on guided trail hikes to experience the outdoors while learning about the concepts of climate change. This funding helped expand education to disadvantaged youth from both Los Angeles and Ventura counties, to experience STEM and ensure inclusive environmental education.Tre
U.S. Green Business Council (USGBC) ($30,000) – Funds were used to develop a certification for construction professionals to learn and adopt best practices around improvements and materials for buildings and landscapes to reduce the long-term extreme heat-related impacts of climate change. This training built upon the successful model developed and implemented by USGBC-LA to provide wildfire defense training and certifications for construction and landscaping professionals.
Ventura County Community Foundation ($25,000) – Funds were used for operational support to increase coordination and capacity building around the foundation’s environmental literacy programming, workforce development in green jobs, and resiliency for outdoor workers faced with extreme heat.
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