Orange County Power Authority Awards $100,000 In Bright Futures Grants

Five local organizations will advance renewable energy education, workforce development and community outreach

IRVINE, Calif. (October 20, 2026) – Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), a not-for-profit community clean energy provider, has announced five recipients of its annual Bright Futures Grant program. A total of $100,000 in funding will support local organizations working to expand renewable energy education, develop future clean energy leaders, and increase awareness of Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) and OCPA programs throughout Orange County.

“Building a cleaner energy future starts with giving our communities the knowledge and resources to take part in it,” said Susan Sonne, Board Chair of Orange County Power Authority and Buena Park City Councilmember. “This year’s Bright Futures Grant recipients are creating meaningful opportunities for students, families and community members to learn about clean energy, develop new skills and become advocates in their own communities. We’re proud to invest in organizations that are helping make clean energy education more accessible across Orange County.”

OCPA’s 2026 Bright Futures Grants will support:

• BRDG Bridge-To-Connect to implement its 20-week Innovation Challenge, a workforce development program preparing college students in Irvine and Fullerton for careers in clean energy and sustainability. Through industry mentorship, hands-on research and CCA curriculum, participants will develop workforce-ready skills while working on real-world projects focused on renewable energy, electrification, climate resilience and environmental innovation.
• Cool OC to expand its Youth Climate Leadership Program across OCPA member cities, providing students with education and leadership opportunities focused on climate change, renewable energy, energy efficiency and OCPA programs. Through leadership training, a youth council, community outreach challenges and an annual climate summit, students will develop skills to become clean energy advocates in their communities.
• Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County to implement the Orange County Sustainable Futures Initiative, a multilingual and multicultural education and community engagement program featuring seminars, webinars, STEM activities and the 2027 Go Green & Health Expo. The initiative will reach residents, students, entrepreneurs and small businesses while expanding renewable energy awareness and engagement among underserved communities.
• OC Goes Solar to launch its Clean Energy Ambassador Program, training college students from Irvine Valley College and UC Irvine to become trusted clean energy educators while preparing them for careers in the clean energy industry. Through hands-on training, multilingual outreach and community workshops, ambassadors will help residents better understand renewable energy, home electrification and available incentives.
• SoCalYEA to implement Green Generations: Multilingual Clean Energy Education Initiative, a 12-month community education program designed to expand access to clean energy information among culturally and linguistically diverse residents across OCPA member cities. Through multilingual workshops, community events and ambassador training, the initiative aims to reach at least 8,000 residents and train 100 clean energy ambassadors.

Each organization will receive a $20,000 grant. The 2026 Bright Futures Grant recipients were selected based on their approaches to educating diverse communities about renewable energy and community choice aggregation, with an emphasis on reaching underserved communities, providing multilingual education and fostering collaboration.

In alignment with its mission to create a clean, sustainable and healthy future, OCPA also invests in its member cities through various energy and money savings programs. Each program is designed to offer individuals, families and businesses the opportunity to help create a greener, more sustainable future. Learn more at ocpower.org/energy-programs.

About Orange County Power Authority

The Orange County Power Authority is a not-for-profit public agency that offers clean power at stable rates, significantly reducing energy-related greenhouse emissions and enabling reinvestment in local energy programs. To learn more, visit www.ocpower.org.