Innovation Fund

Clean Power Alliance’s Innovation Fund is a competitive funding opportunity for CPA’s partner communities. It provides financial support for inventive projects that address high-priority local needs and support decarbonization, resilience, and equitable access to clean energy. By supporting CPA partner communities to pursue forward-thinking, scalable solutions, the Innovation Fund aims to drive impactful change across CPA’s service territory.

Round 3 of CPA’s Innovation Fund is themed “Energy Resilient Communities.” CPA anticipates awarding up to $1.5 million in this funding cycle with a maximum award amount of up to $250,000 per project.

Key dates for participation in Innovation Fund Round 3:

  1. November 2, 2026: Innovation Fund application period opens
  2. March 5, 2027: Applications must be submitted
  3. June 30, 2027: Awardees will be selected and notified

Download the Round 3 application here.

Download summary materials here.
Submit any questions to:
EnergizedCommunities@cleanpoweralliance.org


Download the Round 3 application here.

Download summary materials here.
Submit any questions to:
EnergizedCommunities
@cleanpoweralliance.org

What does “Energy Resilient Communities” mean?

Project proposals must help CPA partner communities maintain essential services or community refuge capacity during power outages and emergency events. While a focus on resilience is a core requirement, we encourage projects that align with CPA’s other board-approved program pillars that include building and transportation electrification, local clean energy procurement, and grid management.

While we’ve listed sample projects for guidance, submissions are not limited to these examples. Other innovative ideas that align with the “Energy Resilient Communities” theme are highly encouraged.

  • Portable/mobile battery fleet or dedicated battery backup for water/wastewater pumping, cold storage at a food bank, traffic signals, or other use cases
  • Installation of microgrid controls integrated with existing site solar and storage
  • Vehicle-to-Building pilot using passenger vehicles or buses to provide backup power
  • Portable/mobile battery fleet or dedicated battery backup for essential services such as cooling or air filtration at a community resilience hub
  • Portable/mobile battery fleet or dedicated battery backup for essential equipment such as medical devices or other electronic devices at a community resilience hub

How does the Innovation Fund work?

1

CPA partner communities are eligible to apply for up to $250,000 total in Innovation Fund Round 3.

2

CPA’s Board of Directors will make the final selection of projects.

3

Selected partner communities will approve a participation agreement with CPA detailing the project scope, budget, and expected outcomes.

4

Projects are implemented to bring cleaner, greener energy to CPA’s communities.

What should agencies keep in mind when applying?

Only one project per partner community may be submitted and awarded during this funding cycle, with a maximum award amount of $250,000. Partner communities that were awarded funding in Innovation Fund Round 1 or Round 2 are eligible to apply, but CPA will prioritize agencies that have not yet received funding.

To be eligible to receive an Innovation Fund award, projects should:

  • Help maintain essential services or community refuge capacity during power outages and emergency events. Ideally, projects will also provide benefits outside of emergency scenarios.
  • Be implemented within one of CPA’s partner communities.
  • Any project installations must be located at a site served by CPA and all electricity used – including by mobile equipment – must be provided through a CPA account.
  • Focus on implementation (not solely a plan, study, or training program).
  • Fall outside the scope of CPA’s existing program portfolio (e.g. Pathways to Electrification or Power Ready).
  • Demonstrate a reasonable ability to be completed within three years.
  • Receive any necessary approvals from city councils or governing boards prior to submitting project applications.

Innovation Fund recipients are expected to attend regular project check-ins, provide status reports every six months, and submit invoices and/or other documentation to show expenditure of funds on approved project activities.

Recipient Requirements: What to Expect

Innovation Fund award recipients will:

1

Approve a participation agreement with CPA detailing the project scope, budget, and expected outcomes

2

Submit invoices and/or other documentation to show expenditure of funds on approved activities

3

Attend check-ins every other month and a one-year post-award interview

4

Provide status reports every six months and a project completion summary subject to CPA’s review

Awarded Innovation Fund Projects

Investing in local communities is one way CPA strengthens regional resilience and advances access to clean energy for our customers. In Rounds 1 and 2 of the Innovation Fund, CPA selected 10 projects to receive a total of $2 million to implement creative projects.

Round 1

Four partner communities are participating in Round 1 of the Innovation Fund.

Partner CommunityProject OverviewCPA Funding
City of CarsonEV Charging Wallet Pilot Program
Objective: Provide up to $250 in reimbursements per individual for charging at the city’s EV charging stations to support residents with limited EV charging access.
$86,900
City of Culver CityPortable Battery Fleet Program
Objective: Lease and operate a fleet of batteries that are loaned to community vendors and event organizers to replace use of gas-powered generators.
$164,000
City of Santa MonicaRenter’s Energy and Cooling/Heating (REACH) Program
Objective: Develop an incentive program offering energy-efficient electric appliances (heat pumps, portable batteries, other equipment) to income-qualified renters.
$249,100
City of West HollywoodEquitable Building Performance Standards (EBPS) and Benchmarking Support
Objective: Meet energy performance targets and move the city’s building stock toward electrification through direct funding for energy audits and upgrades with prioritization for rent-stabilized and affordable housing buildings.
$250,000
Total Funding$750,000

Round 2

Six partner communities are participating in Round 2 of the Innovation Fund.

Partner CommunityProject OverviewCPA Funding
City of AlhambraEquity-Driven Green Electrification (EDGE) Pilot Program
Objective: Provide low-income renter households with electric appliances, including HEPA air purifiers, portable heat pump HVAC units, and smart plugs.
$168,450
City of CarsonResidential Lawn and Garden Equipment Rebate Program
Objective: Provide $250 rebates to 300 residents for lawn tool electrification with the goal of electrifying 500 pieces of equipment.
$163,100
Los Angeles CountyLA County Cool Homes
Objective: Install portable HVAC heat pumps in 300 renter households located in low-income and disadvantaged communities within unincorporated LA County.
$250,000
City of Thousand OaksResidential Induction Stove Rebate Program
Objective: Provide rebates to homeowners who install induction stoves. Incorporate targeted marketing and offer a tiered structure for CARE/FERA households to receive an additional incentive amount.
$168,450
Ventura CountySkilled and Trained Residential Heat Pump Workforce and Rebate Initiative
Objective: Provide 100 CPA customers with rebates up to $2,000 for qualifying heat pump HVAC systems. Partner with Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 104 to install systems and offer additional rebates through selected new heat pump installation businesses.
$250,000
City of WhittierWhittier Cruiser EV Program
Objective: Sustain and possibly expand the Whittier Cruiser: an electric, on-demand micro-transit program that provides free rides for an estimated 60,000 passengers annually.
$250,000
Total Funding$1,250,000

Want to learn more about a program? Ask our team for more details

More Programs

Power Ready

CPA’s power resiliency program provides participating cities and counties with a clean energy backup power system installation to support critical community or municipal functions during power outages.

Energized Communities

CPA assists partner communities in achieving sustainability goals through the program’s three Pathways to Electrification offerings and an Innovation Fund. Pathways offer financial and technological support for adopting electric technologies, while the Innovation Fund incentivizes local customized sustainability projects.