Cabazon — In the first of several ongoing regional convenings, the California Strategic Growth Council, in partnership with the California Climate and Energy Collaborative held the Regional Energy and Climate HUB (REACH) in the Inland Empire on Dec. 5 which is an extension of State/Local Energy Climate Coordination (SLECC) meetings. This gathering brought together representatives from Inland southern California’s local and regional governments, tribal governments, community-based organizations, philanthropy, and institutions of higher education alongside state agencies to coordinate on the region’s energy, land use, and climate barriers and solutions, including a focus on funding access. Hosted in Cabazon at the Morongo Conference Center, this event serves as a kick starter for faster and more organized communication, and a place for innovative ideas for state and regional stakeholders to work together more closely to elevate and start place-based energy, land use, and climate progress.
The convening was made possible with the sponsorships from Inland Regional Network (IREN), Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Tribal Energy & Climate Collaborative (TECC), State of California Energy Commission, and California Air Resource Board (CARB).
"We have a lot of different areas of focus and it's really exciting to see so many people coming together," said Casey Dailey, Director of Energy & Environmental Programs at the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG), which recently formed the Inland Regional Energy Network (IREN) and was a key sponsor of this event. "One of our opportunities is to better utilize some of our natural resources to help support the state's goals of transitioning to a zero emissions economy."
REACH highlighted the power of collective action in addressing issues centered on land use, climate change and energy challenges. By working together—across sectors and regional borders—we can drive meaningful progress toward a sustainable future.
The day began with a panel discussion focusing on characterizing the energy, land use, and climate landscape in the Inland region. Experts provided insights into the complexities and strategies for sustainable development. Following this, state-led knowledge exchange breakout sessions discussed critical topics. One session discussed aligning state and regional goals with housing and climate goal, led by speakers from the Governor’s Office of Land use and Climate Innovation (LCI), SGC and other state agencies.
Another session covered state climate assessment and resilience resources, with insights from LCI, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). Further discussions addressed climate action planning at both state and local levels, led by the California Air Resources Board, and the challenges of renewable energy deployment, highlighted by The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development and the California Public Utilities Commission.
In the afternoon, regional stakeholders shared their solutions on key topics during the region-led knowledge exchange breakouts. These sessions included discussions on clean transportation, featuring experts from the Center for Sustainable Energy and GRID Alternatives. Another session explored the real drivers of the energy affordability crisis with contributions from Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) and the Energy Coalition. Additional sessions focused on decarbonizing homes and buildings, presented by the City of Palm Springs and Southern California Regional Energy Network and community and energy resilience, discussed by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and WRCOG.
The event concluded with a pivotal discussion on streamlining and improving engagement, technical assistance across state funded grant programs, and funding to better support communities. This final session emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts and effective resource utilization in addressing issues centered on land use, climate change and energy challenges. By working together—across sectors and regional borders—we can drive meaningful progress toward a sustainable future.
For future convenings visit CCEC’s Events webpage.
About the California Strategic Growth Council
The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) is a 10-member council made up of seven state agencies and three public members with the mission to build healthy, thriving, and resilient communities for all. Funded through California’s Cap and Trade system and the California General Fund, SGC’s grant programs, strategic initiatives, and interagency coordination focus on multi-benefit and community-centric solutions at the nexus of climate and equity. Since 2008, SGC has invested more than $3.5 billion in projects strengthening communities and addressing climate change across California.
About the California Climate and Energy Collaborative (CCEC)
CCEC is a hub for energy efficiency and sustainability news, information, best practices, and resources relevant to California’s local governments.
CCEC offers the same services provided by Civicwell (formerly the Local Government Commission) and the Best Practices Coordinator as part of the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC), which sunsetted at the end of 2020 after 11 successful years.