Orange County Power Authority Announces Applications Are Now Being Accepted for New Community Benefit Grant Program

Grants of up to $30,000 will be awarded to nonprofit organizations to advance clean energy goals in OCPA member cities

IRVINE, Calif. (October 14, 2024) – Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) – a community energy provider – is now accepting applications for its first Community Benefits Grant. In partnership with Calpine Community Energy, this funding opportunity supports local nonprofits with plans to advance clean energy usage and generation, green job training, environmental education and stewardship, and energy equity efforts in the Buena Park, Fullerton, and Irvine communities.  

Grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 will be awarded. The deadline to submit applications is November 15, 2024, with recipients being notified by January 2025.

“As a not-for-profit community energy provider, Orange County Power Authority is ensuring that our local communities have the resources and programs needed to proactively increase our climate resiliency and lower our dependence on fossil fuels,” said OCPA Board Chair Fred Jung. “We are excited to partner with Calpine Community Energy to bring additional funding to our communities for programs that promote clean energy, create jobs, and help advocate for energy equity and diversity.”

The Community Benefits Grant is open to organizations and projects focused on advancing clean energy, sustainability, and resiliency through four pathways: 1) Research, 2) Education, 3) Environmental and Social Justice Communities, and 4) Workforce Development. The program is managed by both organizations: Calpine Community Energy awards the program funding, while OCPA determines the grant guidelines and project criteria. Both entities will work together to assess grant applications.

“Year after year, the Community Benefits Grant program continues to develop long-term partnerships with community-based organizations doing amazing work,” said Josh Brock, Vice President of Commercial Operations for Calpine Community Energy. “We’re honored to not only support our CCA partners but also the communities they serve by sponsoring this program.”            

Interested nonprofit organizations can learn more about the grant requirements and apply by visiting www.ocpower.org/energy-programs/community-benefits-grants. OCPA will host an informational webinar on Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (PST), to further share grant details. Those interested in attending the webinar can find information on the grant webpage. OCPA also invests in the communities it serves through numerous programs that provide customers with access to cost-savings as well as energy-saving opportunities that create healthier communities by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating green jobs. Learn more at ocpower.org/energy-program

About Calpine Community Energy

Calpine Community Energy is the premier provider of data management and customer contact center services for Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) agencies. For over a decade, Calpine has been a trusted business and thought partner serving 21 operating CCAs and managing customer data and billing operations for over 5.5 million meters across the state.

About Orange County Power Authority

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