Clean Energy Access Grant Account
Information
Purpose:
The Clean Energy Access Grant Account will award grants to CBOs & Tribal organizations to help facilitate access to & the adoption of clean energy programs in their respective communities. The CEA Grant Account will provide funding to develop equity initiatives & clean energy access opportunities that complement other CPUC programs.
Description:
The Clean Energy Access (CEA) Grant Account will award grants to CBOs and Tribal organizations to help facilitate access to and the adoption of clean energy programs in their respective communities. Specifically, the CEA Grant Account will provide funding to develop equity initiatives and clean energy access opportunities that complement other CPUC programs, including:
• Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP)
• Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)
• Technology and Equipment for Clean Heating (TECH) Initiative
At the community level, the grant program is designed to bridge gaps and connect people to clean energy access programs. Eligible activities may include:
• Community engagement
• Marketing, outreach and enrollment support
• Resource mapping and needs development
• Project design and development
• Capacity building and workforce development training
• Coordination with Existing Program Administrators
• Application and Implementation Technical Assistance
For example, funding from the CEA Grant Account could be used to:
• Conduct community outreach to gather necessary information for a microgrid project through the MIP.
• Conduct community outreach on the availability of SGIP and TECH to increase enrollment in underutilized communities.
• Improve awareness of training and workforce development opportunities for the TECH Initiative and provide financial or ancillary support to access these opportunities.
• Develop pathways to use TECH to achieve building decarbonization in disadvantaged communities.
• Hire technical assistance to support procuring a developer for a clean energy project through MIP or SGIP.
This grant will not pay for infrastructure buildout, such as hardware or equipment, but rather help facilitate the planning of projects as well as outreach to increase participation by underrepresented communities. CEA Grant Account eligible projects must be in an area served by a CPUC-regulated investor-owned utility for MIP supporting projects but may be statewide for the SGIP and TECH supporting projects.
It is important to note that grants from this account do not cover infrastructure build-outs, such as hardware or equipment.
To be eligible for these grants, proposed activities must be associated with the following CPUC programs: Microgrid Incentive Program (MIP), Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), and Technology and Equipment for Clean Heating (TECH) Program.
The CEA Grant Account and a maximum award amount of $500,000 per application