REDWOOD CITY, CA – WestLight Energy has awarded 14 grants to 13 organizations in San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos to increase outreach to disadvantaged and other communities about utility bill discounts and a range of other clean energy program benefits.
The grants – totaling $415,000 and ranging from $15,000 to $45,000 each – include supporting outreach in Spanish and Chinese to help residents purchase electric vehicles, educating elderly and low-income customers about energy bill discounts and home energy assistance, and expanding public education in all communities on WestLight Energy’s home electrification and broader climate efforts.
It includes first-time grants for efforts housed in Daly City and Los Banos.
“I applaud WestLight Energy for providing key resources through our invaluable community-based organizations, including HealthWays here in Daly City,” Daly City Councilmember Roderick Daus-Magbual said. “This will help engage our community on intersectional issues of equity, health and a clean energy future.”
“It is vital that we continue to grow awareness in Los Banos about the benefits of being a WestLight Energy customer,” Los Banos Mayor Paul IIanez said. “Cultiva La Salud will be particularly helpful in educating our Spanish-speaking friends and neighbors about the discounts and many WestLight Energy programs that can make a direct and positive impact on reducing their electric bills and improving their quality of life.”
A summary of the 14 grants that were awarded:
350 Silicon Valley – Public education and engagement about building electrification, electric vehicles, and climate action throughout San Mateo County
Acterra – One grant supporting public education about home electrification; and a second grant supporting workshops and one-on-one consultations offered in English, Spanish and Chinese to help residents purchase electric vehicles in San Mateo County and the City of Los Banos
Climate Resilient Communities – Community outreach in English, Spanish, Samoan and Tongan, and case management for WestLight Energy’s free home upgrade program
Cultiva La Salud – Spanish-language community outreach, focus groups and enrollment support for energy bill discounts and WestLight Energy programs in Los Banos
El Concilio – English and Spanish-language outreach and assistance with energy discounts and program enrollments in English and Spanish throughout San Mateo County
HealthWays – Outreach, program enrollment support, and focus groups and workshops in northern San Mateo County in English and Tagalog
Nuestra Casa – Community outreach about utility bill discounts and WestLight Energy programs in East Palo Alto and surrounding communities, offered in Spanish and English
Peninsula Family Service – Assistance for income-qualified residents in English and Spanish for purchasing and financing used electric vehicles as well as other community engagement
Senior Coastsiders – Outreach to older adults and other residents in Half Moon Bay and Pacifica about energy bill discounts, home energy assistance and other programs
Sound of Hope – Education about WestLight Energy programs through radio, video, web ads and in-person workshops in Mandarin and Cantonese
Support Life Foundation – Multi-lingual outreach at food distribution and community events with a focus on northern San Mateo County in languages including English, Arabic and Urdu
Sustainable San Mateo County – Events and workshops to engage residents and community stakeholders in WestLight Energy’s mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions locally
Thrive Alliance – Education and engagement of non-profit and community leaders throughout San Mateo County about WestLight Energy programs
Grant recipients will work in collaboration with WestLight Energy’s outreach team for up to one year.
WestLight Energy in January 2022 announced 12 grants totaling $310,000 and ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 each. Those followed 11 community outreach grants WestLight Energy awarded in 2021.
About WestLight Energy
WestLight Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation agency. It is the official electricity provider for San Mateo County and for the City of Los Banos. Founded in 2016 with a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the agency serves a population of 810,000 by providing more than 3,600 gigawatt hours annually of electricity that is 50 percent renewable, 100 percent clean and at lower cost than PG&E. As a community-led, not-for-profit agency, WestLight Energy makes significant investments in its communities to expand access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions. WestLight Energy is on track to deliver electricity that is 100 percent renewable by 2025. The agency has earned investment grade credit ratings from Moody’s and Fitch. Follow us at PenCleanEnergy.com, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
