Peninsula Clean Energy has awarded 12 grants to San Mateo County organizations, including Casa Circulo Cultural and Thrive Alliance as part of an outreach program to assist low-income and other disadvantaged communities on bill savings and other benefits of clean energy programs, the organization announced this week.
Casa Circulo Cultural was awarded a $40,000 grant, which will allow it to work on webinars, videos and other outreach in Spanish and on energy bill discounts, as well as Peninsula Clean Energy’s income-qualified programs, according to a news release. Casa Circulo Cultural's mission "is to provide creative, educational, and recreational opportunities for Latinx families, encourage Hispanic art, culture, language and traditions," according to its website.
Thrive Alliance, which works with other nonprofits and community leaders, was awarded a $30,000 grant to increase engagement, including hosting a summit on environmental justice.
According to a Peninsula Clean Energy spokesperson, many of the other grantees serve residents in Redwood City, but Casa Circulo Cultural and Thrive Alliance are the only ones who have physical offices in this community.
The grants totaling $310,000, will support outreach in San Mateo County including Spanish-speaking, Chinese-speaking, elderly and other customers regarding energy bill discounts. Peninsula Clean Energy’s income-qualified programs; as well as efforts to expand education among consumers on building electrification and purchasing electric vehicles, are also supported by the grants.
“These organizations are absolutely vital to letting our most underserved communities know about the many benefits Peninsula Clean Energy offers,” said City of East Palo Alto Councilmember Carlos Romero, who serves on Peninsula Clean Energy’s board of directors. “These grants also ensure we are effectively communicating in a way that reflects our incredibly vibrant and diverse county populated with residents representing cultures from around the world.”
“Seniors are among the most in need of a robust set of tools to make sure they are aware and making use of home energy and other assistance particularly critical along the coastline,” said Half Moon Bay City Councilman Harvey Rarback, who also serves on Peninsula Clean Energy’s board of directors. “These grants enable long-standing partners such as Senior Coastsiders to continue and expand upon their great work.”
Grants were also awarded to Acterra, Climate Resilient Communities, El Concilio, Nuestra Casa, Rise South City, Senior Coastsiders, Sound of Hope, Support Life Foundation and Sustainable San Mateo County.
These follow 11 community outreach grants Peninsula Clean Energy awarded in 2021.
