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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.
Through this ongoing partnership, CPA will award 9-12 grants worth a total of $280,000 to non-profit organizations working in CPA’s service area to advance clean energy, resiliency, green job training, environmental education and stewardship, and energy equity and diversity efforts within their respective communities.
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.
Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition – Funds supported the launch of the ChargerHelp workforce training program. ChargerHelp is an industry-leading workforce development initiative, offering one of the most comprehensive electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) technician training programs available. The program includes a three-week, in-person course held in Ventura County, where participants will gain hands-on experience with actual chargers and receive specialized training aimed at preparing them for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) EVSE certification exam.
Central Coast Minority Enterprise Resource Affiliates – Funds supported the Black Business, Green Sustainment initiative, which connects entrepreneurs in underserved communities and empowers them with the knowledge and resources needed to embrace a sustainable future. The initiative will offer hands-on training and demonstrations to promote the practical application of sustainable concepts. CCMERA has partnered with the Zero Emission Consortium, which will provide technical expertise in developing the science-based education delivered during the training and demonstration activities.
Community Nature Connection – Funds supported the Title I primary school program, Sensing Nature. The Sensing Nature program is an environmental education series designed for fourth through sixth-grade students, featuring various themes that emphasize nature, resilience, and wellness practices for youth. Through curiosity-driven activities, play, tactile experiences, and wellness practices, the program engages students with the natural world around them. This initiative focuses on elementary schools within the greater Los Angeles area.
Film2Future – Funds supported the Animation for a Clean Energy Future program, in which 16 to 20 students collaborated in teams to create short films promoting sustainable practices and clean energy. The program aimed to engage young and diverse communities with a new focus on clean energy advocacy. The films were produced over a 12-week period, featuring approximately 30 hours of structured programming, along with additional office hours to support the student filmmakers.
Food Exploration and Discovery (Food ED) – Funds were used to expand climate change and sustainability outreach within existing Title I middle and high school programs in Arcadia, Monrovia, and Temple City by introducing an Eco-Entrepreneur component. Food ED’s programs reimagine how communities can adopt practices such as gardening, native drought-tolerant landscaping, composting, and tree planting and care in innovative ways. Additionally, Food ED hired recent graduates and participants of AmeriCorps and Climate Change Action Corps programs, providing them with entry-level work experiences to apply their knowledge to educate and inspire the next generation.
Nyeland Promise – Funds supported the ongoing development of a multilingual educational outreach initiative in English, Spanish, and Mixteco. The project aims to promote energy equity and diversity by delivering messaging that is both linguistically and culturally relevant. A primary goal was to educate residents about the benefits and importance of reducing energy consumption during peak hours. Nyeland Promise’s volunteer corps lead outreach efforts tailored to the unique linguistic and cultural needs of Nyeland Acres residents, with a special focus on engaging families.
ONEgeneration – Funding supported the expansion of long-term safety net services to include the implementation of various energy and water conservation programs. These programs will provide residents with direct access to easy and affordable solutions for home electrification, water conservation, energy savings, and applying for energy efficiency rebates and utility assistance programs. Through its safety net services, ONEgeneration supports over 10,000 individuals annually and leverages these trusted relationships to connect residents with resources that empower them to adopt a more sustainable and efficient lifestyle.
People for Mobility Justice – Funding supported the operation of long-term electric bike lending programs in South LA and East LA. These e-bike libraries have established a model for providing clean energy active transportation options in Environmental Justice communities. Additionally, funds will be used to integrate a culturally relevant bike safety curriculum into the e-bike programs serving the LA County communities of East LA, Florence-Firestone, Willowbrook, and Rancho Dominguez. PMJ organized a series of bike safety education classes, conducted bike and pedestrian audits, distributed helmets and bike lights, and host community bike rides and walks with a focus on mobility justice.
Reel Guppy Outdoors – Funding supported the acquisition of a 20-foot, 12-passenger Duffy Electric Boat. The vessel has been used to educate participants about clean energy, including its relationship to climate change, its effects on ecosystems and the environment, the production and mechanics of electric-powered vehicles, and the principles of energy sustainability and resiliency. Additionally, the program will explore the economic and social impacts of clean energy. The vessel will also facilitate more intensive and interactive collaboration with community stakeholders.
Tree People – Funding supported the deployment of a composting program aimed at enhancing community climate resiliency. The organization implemented nature-based, on-site school tours focused on reducing food waste. This lowered greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change and encourage at-home adoption of conservation practices. The project helped underserved communities in the San Fernando Valley, South and Southeast Los Angeles, the South Bay, Gateway Cities, and the San Gabriel Valley.
Urban Teens Exploring Technology – Funding supported core programs such as the Summer Coding Leadership Academy (SCLA), which teaches young men of color valuable tech skills like coding, app development, and project management, along with soft skills such as leadership, public service, and discipline. Funding also supported the Hustle N’ Code Hackathon, an annual event that empowers students of all ages and genders from public housing developments to use technology to tackle pressing community issues. The hackathon brought well-known tech companies into historically marginalized tech deserts. Hundreds of volunteers from Silicon Valley, Silicon Beach, and participating academic institutions will dedicate their time to assist program participants.
Vision Y Compromiso – Funding supported the Promotoras Local Climate Stewards Project, a pilot initiative aimed at increasing environmental and social justice awareness regarding extreme heat and the health and economic impacts of climate change on low-wage workers. This includes farm workers, construction workers, warehouse workers, frontline workers, low-income individuals and families, and immigrant communities in Ventura County. Promotoras are primarily Latina women who serve as trusted leaders in low-income, immigrant, and communities of color. With decades of experience engaging vulnerable residents, they deliver personalized, culturally responsive information that connects community members to healthcare, education, and social services.
Wishtoyo Foundation – Funding supported the Environmental Stewards Internship program, a grassroots initiative designed to train, mentor, and empower Indigenous and politically or economically marginalized youth. The program aims to prepare participants for careers in environmental science, conservation, or grassroots advocacy, while providing tools to seek environmental justice in their communities. The Environmental Stewards Internship recruited college-aged youth from Indigenous or low-income communities in Ventura County for a year-long internship. Interns will work closely with Watershed Monitoring Scientists, participating in watershed monitoring, endangered species monitoring, and laboratory analysis. Funding also supported intern salaries and covered material needs, such as boots, packs, and field and monitoring equipment.
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