Rep. Panetta Announces $2 Million Grant from Department of Energy for Central Coast Energy Services Electrify Monterey Bay Project

SALINAS, CA – Today, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) announced a $2 million federal grant to the Central Coast Energy Services from the Department of Energy's competitive Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Enhancement & Innovation (E&I) program for the Electrify Monterey Bay project. In partnership with the City of Watsonville, City of Santa Cruz, and Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG), Electrify Monterey Bay will provide whole-house electrification, health, and safety remediation, building envelope improvements, and energy efficiency retrofits for low-income households in the region. Electrify Monterey Bay will be the first equity-based building electrification and deep retrofit program of its kind in the region that is transformational, replicable, and can develop a clean energy workforce ready to expand electrification programming everywhere.

"With the current climate crisis, cities across the country need to start decarbonizing their communities, but in many cases, they don't have the funding or resources to do so equitably," said Rep. Panetta. "This project will pave the way for equity-based retrofit programs on the Central Coast that can develop a workforce able to expand electrification programming. I'm proud to work with our local stakeholders like Central Coast Energy Services to ensure that the federal government is doing its part to create a more safe, equitable, and sustainable grid."

"In California's drive towards electrification, this award is a chance to highlight and serve the needs of low-income households in our area. It's heartening to see that the federal government is giving this a priority," said Executive Director of Central Coast Energy Services, Dennis Osmer.

"Weatherization is a great way to save hundreds of dollars on energy bills, but unfortunately aging electrical systems and structural complications keep homes in disrepair locked out of this money saving benefit," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. "Today's funding from DOE doubles down on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's $3.5 billion investment in weatherization assistance by getting homes weatherization ready, helping thousands of Americans save money on their utility bills, and developing the next generation of a clean energy workforce."

Central Coast Energy Services and San Francisco Energy Services are joint nonprofit organizations that offer low-income Californians utility and water bill payment assistance, home weatherization, consumer education, and job training through both the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Together, our organizations serve the low-income communities of Monterey, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Benito, and Marin counties, and the City and County of San Francisco.

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