Community Grant Program
San Diego Community Power (SDCP) launched its first community grant program in March 2023, called Community Clean Energy Innovation Grants. By providing grants to community-based organizations and nonprofits, SDCP is helping to support local clean energy projects and programs that provide economic, environmental, health and community benefits.
Timeline
The Fiscal Year 2022-23 program application is currently closed. Stay tuned for future details about the Fiscal Year 2023-24 program.
Grant Overview and Eligibility
The inaugural Fiscal Year 2022-23 program was launched on March 27, 2023 and remained open until April 21, 2023. Organizations could apply for grants up to $45,000 per project for work to be completed within one year.
The Fiscal Year 2022-23 program applications were required to meet the following eligibility criteria:
• Applicants must be led by a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status
• Applicants must have proven experience serving community members through projects or programs
• Proposed project must serve SDCP customers*
• Proposed project must advance one or more of the following focus areas
• Increased overall energy literacy of SDCP customers
• Energy behaviors and/or education that reduce energy consumption and/or costs
• Improvements in indoor and/or outdoor air quality related to greenhouse gas emissions
• Workforce development opportunities that support careers in the clean energy industry
• Energy resilience to ensure communities can avoid, prepare for, minimize, adapt to and recover from energy disruptions
• Increased access to the benefits of clean energy technologies with a focus on Communities of Concern
Grant Recipients
For the Fiscal Year 2022-23 program, SDCP, in partnership with San Diego Foundation, awarded the following grants:
Casa Familiar – $44,998.35 to support Casa Verde, a workforce development program that provides extensive training on environmental justice principles, community organizing and climate change impacts in the South County border region.
Climate Action Campaign – $30,500 to organize workshops for San Diego residents and contractors on how to access available incentives from state and federal programs.
Community Housing Works – $34,500 to promote energy awareness and reduce costs by installing smart light switches in affordable housing properties through a partnership with Flick.
Environmental Health Coalition – $40,500 to support its Holistic Healthy & Climate Resilient Homes program that promotes home energy improvements and indoor air quality.
GRID Alternatives – $45,000 to support the installation of solar panels and storage in Communities of Concern. Each installation site serves as an opportunity for hands-on learning for San Diego’s next generation of clean energy workforce.
Hammond Climate Solutions Foundation – $25,000 to increase community energy resilience in Barrio Logan through solar and storage installation.
La Mesa Park & Recreation Foundation – $34,500 to support an electric tool lending library and green community events in the City of La Mesa.
MAAC Project – $45,000 to support MAAC’s Electric Vehicle Access Program to reduce carbon emissions and increase electric vehicle adoption in Communities of Concern.
San Diego Green Building Council – $45,000 to expand its Electric Home Cooktop Program that allows San Diego residents to borrow energy-efficient induction cooktop kits at no charge.
United Women of East Africa – $45,000 to promote sustainable energy behaviors and reduce energy consumption and costs in San Diego’s East African communities.