SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Clean Power Alliance (CPA) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2023-2024 Community Benefits Grant Program. Now in its third year, the program, which is a partnership between CPA and Calpine Energy Solutions, has once again increased funding to support nonprofit organizations working to advance clean energy goals. Eligible nonprofits must be working in the 35 communities CPA serves throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The program’s application period opens today and runs through Sept. 15.
A total of $275,000 in funding is being made available this year, to an anticipated 12 recipients. In 2022, nearly $204,000 in funding was distributed to 10 organizations throughout both counties. In the program’s inaugural year, eight organizations were awarded $75,000 in grant funding.
“Clean Power Alliance is successful when we work at the local level with the communities we serve. Investing in community efforts to strengthen resiliency and sustainability reflects our commitment to their wellbeing,” said Ted Bardacke, CEO of Clean Power Alliance. “This program is creating strong partnerships with many local nonprofit organizations that support our clean energy mission. We greatly appreciate Calpine’s ongoing commitment to investing with us in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.”
The Community Benefits Grants are available to projects and organizations focused on advancing clean energy, sustainability, and resiliency through four pathways: 1) Research 2) Education 3) Environmental and Social Justice Communities 4) Workforce Development.
Grants ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 will be awarded in November, with award recipients being notified in October. Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply for this round of funding.
“Year after year, the Community Benefits Grant Program continues to develop long-term partnerships with community-based organizations doing amazing work in the CPA community,” said Josh Brock, Calpine Energy Solutions’ Vice President of the CCA Commercial Operations. “We’re honored to not only support our CCA partners but also the communities they serve by continuing to sponsor this program. Calpine Energy Solutions is pleased to create a funding opportunity that highlights the work of local community organizations while enhancing the impact of the Clean Power Alliance on its local communities.”
2022 grantees included Active San Gabriel Valley, Climate Action Santa Monica, Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas, Columbia Memorial Space Center, Community Environmental Council, Grid Alternatives LA, Merito Foundation, Nyeland Promise, Pando Populus, and Sustainable Claremont.
Some of the 2022 funding impacts thus far have included providing homeowners in the cities of Carson and Whittier with access to no-cost solar energy systems through Grid Alternatives LA, and expanded environmental awareness, educational programming on electric vehicles, and climate literacy through the Community Environmental Council in Ventura County.
The Columbia Memorial Space Center utilized the funding to support City of STEM, the largest program promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math in Los Angeles. Ventura County-based organization Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas used its funding to encourage local climate action plans, improve the accessibility and content of educational materials on its website, and expand the network of its Environmental Voices Academy.
In addition to the grants, CPA also invests in the communities it serves through numerous programs that provide customers with access to cost-savings as well as energy-saving opportunities that create healthier communities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating green jobs. Learn more about CleanPowerAlliance.org/programs.
Interested nonprofit organizations can learn more about the grant requirements and apply by visiting cleanpoweralliance.org/calpinegrant. CPA will also host a webinar that will further cover grant details on August 9, 2023, from 1 pm to 2 pm (PST).
About Clean Power Alliance — Founded in 2017, Clean Power Alliance is the locally operated not-for-profit electricity provider for 30 cities across Los Angeles County and Ventura County, as well as the unincorporated areas of both counties. CPA is the fourth largest electricity provider in California and leads the nation in serving the most customers with 100% renewable energy. CPA serves approximately three million residents and businesses via one million customer accounts, providing clean renewable energy at competitive rates. To view CPA’s 2022 Impact Report, click here. For complete information regarding CPA visit http://www.cleanpoweralliance.org.
About Calpine Energy Solutions — Calpine Energy Solutions is the premier provider of data management and customer contact center services for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Agencies. For over a decade, Calpine has been a trusted business and thought partner serving 21 operating CCAs and managing customer data and billing operations for over 5 million meters across the state. As part of a Fortune 500 company, Calpine Energy Solutions’ best-in-class back-office services help guide CCA partners from initial program launch through mass enrollment phases and continue to evolve alongside their CCA partners. Decades of utility and billing experience, electronic data interchange, customized implementation planning, and robust customer data management enable Calpine’s clients to achieve their missions and long-term operational success.