Clean Power Alliance 2024 Community Benefits Grant Applications Now Being Accepted
Clean Power Alliance (CPA) announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Community Benefits Grant. The grant program, a partnership between CPA and Calpine Community Energy, has once again increased funding to support local nonprofit organizations working to advance clean energy goals within CPA’s service area. This year, $325,000 in funding will be made available to 12 to 15 organizations – the largest amount since the grant was launched in 2021. Last year, $288,000 was distributed to 12 organizations throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
“CPA is focused on efforts to help make Southern California resilient and more sustainable through our diverse customer programs, clean energy options, or community investments,” said Ted Bardacke, CEO of Clean Power Alliance. “We continue to work closely with nonprofit organizations as they have insight into what is most needed to successfully advance local sustainability efforts. This grant provides a direct way to support the wellbeing of the communities we serve.”
The Community Benefits Grant is open to organizations and projects focused on advancing clean energy, sustainability, and resiliency through four pathways: 1) Research 2) Education 3) Environmental and Social Justice Communities 4) Workforce Development.
The grant application period is open from Aug. 6 through Sept. 13, 2024. Grants ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 will be awarded. Eligible nonprofits must be working within at least one of the 35 communities CPA serves throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
“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, Vice President of Commercial Operations for Calpine Community Energy. “We’re honored to not only support our CCA partners but also the communities they serve by continuing to sponsor this program. Calpine Community Energy is pleased to create a funding opportunity that highlights the work of local community organizations while enhancing the positive impact Clean Power Alliance has on its local communities.”
Last year’s grant recipients included Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG), Columbia Memorial Space Center, Friends of the Los Angeles River, Grid Alternatives LA, LA Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability (LARC), Merito Foundation, Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Pando Populus, Santa Monica Mountains Foundation, Tree People, U.S. Green Business Council (USGBC), and the Ventura County Community Foundation.
Organizations have utilized their grants to fund diverse projects. For example, USGBC developed a certificate program 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.
LARC is creating a Clean Energy Education Campaign to better educate the public in the greater Los Angeles region about the benefits of clean energy and promote more sustainable energy usage.
The Merito Foundation is advancing energy literacy and green workforce development opportunities for Ventura Unified School District students.
CFROG’s grant is funding workforce development efforts to increase career exploration and community awareness of opportunities within the green industry.
“The workforce development efforts funded by this community benefits grant have helped our Ventura County residents, especially young people and communities disproportionately impacted by fossil fuel operations, begin pathways in emerging competitive green industry jobs,” said Haley Ehlers, CFROG’s Executive Director.
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