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There is a lot of focus at the federal and state level on keeping school environments healthy for students, faculty, and staff. This August, SoCalREN Public Agency Programs have prepared a list of resources for school district agencies!

Use the list below to find funding opportunities (with complementary programs) to enhance project financing and online training resources to help you manage healthy, reliable, and efficient school buildings!

Funding Opportunities and Complementary Programs

2022 Clean School Bus Rebate The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering $500 million to schools pursuing zero-emission and low-emission school bus purchases over the next five years (FY 2022-2026).	Important dates:
	Application deadline: August 19, 2022 Selection process begins: September 2022 Selection status posted online: October 2022
	Complementary opportunity:
	Public agencies enrolled in SoCalREN's Public Agency Programs are eligible to apply for LA County's Public Power Up! This limited-time program offers free electric vehicle charger installation for cities, school districts, and other public agencies serving disadvantaged communities.
California Schools Healthy Air Plumbing and Efficiency Program (CalSHAPE) CalSHAPE is a funding source designed, administered, and implemented by the California Energy Commission (CEC) to assist highly-impacted schools in obtaining funding for their plumbing and ventilation projects.	Important dates:
	Funding Round Three* Priority Eligibility application: June 21, 2022 All site application: August 2, 2022 Application deadline: October 31, 2022 *Eligibility for Funding Round Three of the CalSHAPE programs has been expanded
	Complementary opportunity:
	Energy efficiency and HVAC projects funded by AB841 are eligible to utilize SoCalREN’s Metered Savings Program or Streamlined Savings Pathway Program incentives.
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) ESSER funds are a reserved CARES Act fund that provides local educational agencies (LEAs) with emergency relief funds for a broad range of activities listed in section 18003(d) of the CARES Act to address the impact of COVID-19.	Important dates:
	ESSER I spending deadline: September 30, 2022 ESSER II spending deadline: September 30, 2023 ESSER III spending deadline: September 30, 2024
	Complementary opportunities:
	Energy efficiency and HVAC projects funded by ESSER are also eligible to utilize SoCalREN’s Metered Savings Program or Streamlined Savings Pathway Program incentives. Under ESSER II and ESSER III, installing solar and storage with and without microgrid applications is an allowable expense.
Energy Conservation Assistance Act (ECAA) Through the California Energy Commission, ECAA offers a zero-interest loan program for school districts pursuing energy efficiency and energy generation projects.	Important dates:
	Zero-interest program application re-opens in late summer 2022.
	Comparable option:
	SoCalREN’s Revolving Savings Fund is a 0% interest rate loan program that can provide upfront construction financing for enrolled public agencies pursuing an energy efficiency project.

Additional Online Resources

New Buildings Institute (NBI) advocates for better buildings that achieve zero energy, and zero carbon through research, policy, guidance, and market transformation to protect people and the planet.

Efficient and Healthy Schools is a campaign by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to engage K-12 schools, especially those serving low-income and underserved student populations, to reduce energy costs, and improve energy performance and indoor air quality.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) highlights how school facility leaders can manage healthy school environments to improve student and educator attendance, concentration, and performance.

Are you interested in any of the abovementioned opportunities? Reach out to your SoCalREN Project Manager to get started!

Making a Difference

In 2019, the SoCalREN Workforce Education and Training Program enrolled 67 ACES in the Program, established 20 new partnerships leading to 29 paid internships to participants, and conducted over 300 hours of training.

By registering on socalren.org/agencies/register, public agencies can now gain access to an extensive library of information, tools, templates, and case studies while being introduced to exciting new program opportunities.

SoCalREN also offers financial services for public agencies to obtain the necessary incentives or financing to make projects a reality. Reducing energy use reduces costs for public agencies, freeing up scarce public resources for services like public safety, firefighting, and educational resources.

SoCalREN works collaboratively with engineering firms, contractors, Local Government Partnerships, Southern California Edison, and SoCalGas to ensure streamlined, “one-stop” services to customers.

13,740 tenant units improved, $7,161,042 improvement incentives paid to multifamily properties, and 180 construction jobs created all in the 2019 calendar year.

In 2019, 53 percent of the projects completed were performed in disadvantaged communities. These projects achieved 3,597,973 kWh gross (3,058,277 GWh net) and 194,514 therms gross (165,337 therms net).

The SoCalREN Multifamily Program helps customers identify and prioritize project opportunities to achieve a percentage savings above baseline usage, regardless of utility. This allows property owners to make informed facility improvement decisions that best meet their property’s needs.

The mission of SoCalREN is to harness the collective action of public agencies to save energy and lead their communities on the pathway to a safe, secure, resilient, affordable and sustainable energy future.

In 2019 SoCalREN achieved 17,692,420 kWh (39% DAC), 707 kW (47% DAC) and 15,203 (100% DAC) of energy savings, while supporting 260 construction jobs and paying out a total of $6.5 million in incentives.

In 2019, SoCalREN’s energy efficiency programs collectively achieved 6,920,487 kWh and 492,655 therms of energy savings.

SoCalREN works across 12 counties with one common goal: achieving unprecedented levels of energy savings throughout Southern California by delivering programs and information to the communities, businesses, and 20 million people who call the area home.

SoCalREN Workforce Education and Training Program serves as a response to high demand for skilled labor in the energy sector through targeted youth workforce education and training, small business training regarding current energy efficiency programs, and local public agency opportunities.

SoCalREN’s Workforce Education and Training Program continually pursues new ways to provide greater employment opportunity to under-represented individuals performing energy efficiency project work.

The Metered Savings Program, Pathway to Zero, and the Revolving Savings Fund aim to overcome significant market barriers and harness the collective actions of Southern California public agencies to save energy. These programs work together seamlessly as companion programs and have expanded services available to agencies to drive deeper energy efficiency savings and create more sustainable communities.

In Q4 2019, the Residential Community Coordinator (RCC) Program interacted with nearly 748 customers through participation in 13 community events and seminars. These outreach events targeted Hispanic and Chinese audiences and successfully increased program awareness in these communities. SoCalREN’s RCC Program will continue to provide in-language support to hard-to-reach customers and provide opportunities for these customers to save money and add value to their multifamily properties.

The Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Students Pathway Program provides education and career pathways for disadvantaged youth. The Program improves educational achievement and removes barriers to higher education by co-enrolling high school students in community college courses in science, technology, engineering, art, and math fields.

Professionalism of consultants and SoCalREN Public Agency Program staff has been high. The program is more hands on and personal than other programs we have used before.

— Alice Rod, Management Analyst, Administrative Services, City of Moreno Valley

SoCalREN has done a wonderful job and we both have learned a lot since we began working together. We are happy to be part of a collaborative partnership to save energy and the environment through the SoCalREN Public Agency Program.

— Dave Marshall, Facilities Services Director, Ventura Unified School District

With the SoCalREN Public Agency Program, we are able to do things that would not have been done otherwise. Technical expertise has been a huge help. It has been great working with everyone in the SoCalREN Public Agency Program!

— Benjamin Lucha, Sr. Administrative Analyst, City of Palmdale

I can truly say we would have not gotten this far this fast in such a cost-effective manner without SoCalREN’s guidance and technical assistance every step of the way. In short, the SoCalREN Public Agency Program is a fantastic program to assist local governments in energy efficiency that will pay dividends for years to come.

— Charles Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer for Culver City

Their level of expertise and professionalism has been unsurpassed. They have suggested things that we never thought of, and weren’t even on our radar. They have done significant amounts of work on our behalf that has resulted in substantial savings of both energy and money.

— Rick Freed, Energy Educator/Manager for Conejo Valley Unified School District

It’s a great project for Whittier. It’s green and it helps us save energy. We’re getting a lot of bang for our buck. It’s win-win-win all the way around.

— Joe Vinatieri, Mayor, City of Whittier

The SoCalREN Public Agency Program provided engineering services, project management, and the resources needed to streamline the Cucamonga Valley Water District’s energy efficiency projects from start to finish.

— Mike Maestas, Water Production Manager, CVWD

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