$335,500 in Grants Awarded to Santa Clara County Community Energy Champions

18 Non-Profit and Municipal Agency Projects will Receive Environmental Outreach Funding

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The City of San Jose / Silicon Valley Energy Watch Program (CSJ/SVEW) announced today 18 awards totaling $335,500 for the Community Energy Champions Grant Program for non-profit organizations and local municipalities conducting innovative energy efficiency education, outreach, and targeted assistance.

"Grassroots education and outreach are the keys to helping our entire community become more energy efficient," Mayor Chuck Reed said. "I'd like to thank PG&E and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation for their partnership on this program to help San Jose achieve its Green Vision goals."

The projects selected for funding take an innovative approach to energy efficiency outreach. They reach targeted communities within Santa Clara County, and provide realistic approaches to increasing adoption of energy efficiency measures. The projects are diverse in their strategies, including student video production and public broadcasting; afterschool education in language-specific communities; teaching and assessing energy use within artist communities; using animation and social media to deliver energy efficiency messages to youth; energy-focused green business outreach and incentives; faith-based environmental outreach; and neighborhood energy reduction competitions.

A listing of the funded  organizations includes: Acterra, Alviso Neighborhood Group, Asian American Center of Santa Clara County, Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, Center for Training and Careers, City of Cupertino, San Jose Community Media Access Corporation (CreaTV), De Anza Community College, Enlighten Culture and Education Foundation, Green Energy Agents, Midpenninsula Community Media Center, Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, Sacred Heart Community Service, San Jose State University Research Foundation, SJB Child Development Center, and ZERO1: The Art & Technology Network. CSJ/SVEW received a total of 27 applications.

The Community Energy Champions Grant program was created by the City of San Jose and the Silicon Valley Energy Watch, a partnership between the City of San Jose and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) serving all of Santa Clara County.  The grant supports innovative projects that include energy efficiency as an integral component of targeted climate action and environmental education.  The projects are being fully funded through PG&E's Innovator Pilots program.  CSJ/SVEW will provide technical assistance to all grant recipients during the course of the program between June 2011 and November 2012.  Funds will be disseminated by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Community Energy Champions Grant fiscal administrator.

About San Jose's Green Vision

San Jose's Green Vision is a comprehensive strategy that addresses how environmental responsibility makes financial sense and stimulates economic opportunity. This vision includes 10 bold goals that will serve as a roadmap to reduce the carbon footprint of the 10th largest city in the nation, including cutting the community's overall energy use in half by the year 2022. For more information, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/greenvision/.

About the Silicon Valley Energy Watch Program

Administered by the City of San Jose, the Silicon Valley Energy Watch program delivers energy efficiency education, outreach, and related services to residents, businesses, and organizations in Santa Clara County. The program is funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. By the end of 2012, the program aims to reduce electricity demand by 4,300 Kilowatts (kW), save 28,410,000 Kilowatt hours (kWh) in electricity, and save 93,000 Therms in natural gas. For more information, visit www.svenergywatch.org.

Contact:
Steve Luckenbach, Marketing Manager
(408) 975-2615

SOURCE City of San Jose