One benefit of being a community energy provider is that we reinvest our revenue back into the communities we serve. OCPA provides various grant funding opportunities to support local non-profits, schools, educators, and organizations in their efforts to showcase and promote the benefits of renewable energy and Community Choice Aggregation.
2025 Bright Futures Grant Award Recipients
Boys & Girls Clubs of Fullerton – ($20,000) – Installation of a solar + battery storage system, a solar-powered irrigation system, and a renewable energy education station, providing STEM-focused learning through real-world renewable energy projects.
Climate Action Campaign – ($20,000) – Organizing a public forum and engagement program that develops local energy leadership and promotes community-driven clean energy strategies across Buena Park, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, and Irvine.
Fullerton Education Foundation – ($18,342.72) – Powering two tiny homes that serve the unhoused community, solar installation education for students, and curriculum on solar power installation and grid integration.
COR Community Development Corporation (COR CDC) – ($20,000) – Delivery of a bilingual, hands-on education program for underserved youth in Irvine, focused on renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and Community Choice Energy, while fostering S.T.E.A.M. leadership pathways.
Give for a Smile – ($20,000) – Launching a multilingual outreach and education program on renewable energy, training community leaders to host educational workshops across Buena Park, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, and Irvine.
2024 Calpine Community Benefits Grant Award Recipients
OC Goes Solar – ($20,000) – Launch of an Electrify Everything Accelerator Campaign, focusing on education and cost-saving home electrification assistance to low to moderate-income homes in Buena Park, Fullerton, and Irvine.
Cool OC – ($20,000) – A Cool Block Climate Leadership and Resilience Program in Fullerton and Buena Park that provides training on family emergency plans, emergency kit assembly, and resource identification for natural disasters and extreme heat events while providing education on climate resilience.
CSU Fullerton Philanthropic Association ($20,000) – Student scholarships to participate in the Climate Impact Assessment Internship that focuses on high-quality pollution monitoring inside CSU Fullerton’s Arboretum and the health impacts of the proximity of the 57 freeway.
One OC ($20,000) – Community garden materials for the Buena Park Collaborative as well as support for garden maintenance and education on composting, drought-tolerant growing, and climate controls.
Orange County United Way ($20,000) – Support for the Summer Career & Life Academy, which supports students staying in school and pursuing a career or degree after high school. The grant will go toward education on clean energy usage and green jobs.
California Green Business Network ($20,000) – Energy efficiency rebates for Irvine businesses in the Green Business Program, and support outreach efforts to grow the Green Business Program.
The Dragon Kim Foundation ($10,000) – Training and development cost of workshops for the Dragon Kim Foundation Fellowship Program, focused on environmental and renewable energy projects from Irvine high school students.
2024 Bright Futures Grant Award Recipients
Girl Scouts of OC ($20,000) – a Renewable Energy-in-a-Box Program where Girl Scouts earn a patch branded with the OCPA logo, as well as Solar Oven Kits that teach girls about solar energy and the benefits of solar cooking.
The Dragon Kim Foundation ($10,000) – Training on renewable energy for high school students that raises community awareness about the benefits and importance of renewable energy sources.
Cool OC ($5,000) – Expansion of the North OC Cool Block Climate Leadership and Resilience program that provides leadership and resilience training for sustainability champions in disadvantaged communities.
OC Goes Solar ($5,000) – Support for community outreach to low-income households to make them aware of solar energy programs.
2023 Bright Futures Grant Award Recipients
Climate Action Campaign ($20,000) – Three events to OCPA member cities that provide education on the benefits of CCAs, renewable energy, and community energy programs.
OC Goes Solar ($20,000) – Expansion of the organization’s programs through educational and promotional events, targeting individuals in underserved communities.
Pretend City, the Children’s Museum of Orange County ($20,000) -Installation of a renewable energy explanation feature that highlights wind and solar energy, as well as learning opportunities and presentations for Title 1 school visitors.
Cool OC ($10,000) – Training for neighborhood teams on energy efficiency, carbon emission reduction, clean energy adoption, water stewardship, disaster resilience, waste and recycling, and community building.