Dream Of Clean Energy Alive And Well In California

California Dreamin’. 

Welcome back to The Sunstone Way. 

We’ve been doing some California dreaming for the last couple of weeks. Not necessarily the type of dreaming described in the 1965 classic song by the Mamas and the Papas – that was a bit depressing if you listen to the lyrics – but instead the California dream so similar to the American Dream. 

Running for Community

A couple of weeks ago, the Irvine community was joined by runners from around the region in our second annual Irvine Dream Run. Sunstone Management and American Lending Center were the title sponsors, and there were a whopping 31 companies adding their sponsorship. 

I had the pleasure of participating – and it was nice that the rain didn’t start at Great Park Live until everyone had finished their runs. But I was really amazed by the different communities represented amongst the 500 or so runners. 

There were start-up founders, investors, company owners, and more. There were youngsters and those with years of wisdom. There were Irvine residents and runners from all over the Southland. 

We were there to build community. We were there to build the dream. 

Into the Future

Having a dream means working toward that dream – working for a better future. California is leading the country, maybe the world, in that regard. The state is making historic, multi-billion-dollar investments in energy – particularly clean and renewable energy. 

As of 2024, the state has invested $41 billion to help build a 100% clean electric grid, boost water resiliency and modernize transportation systems. Continuing that commitment, the state legislature passed the California Climate Commitment Act in 2023 promising $48 billion in future clean energy technology. 

Californians as a whole feel the same as the legislature when it comes to a California Dream of a clean energy future. In the 2024 election, voters approved a $10 billion (that’s billion with a B) bond issue to be spent specifically on climate change-related issues. The initiative passed with a margin of more than 20% – something hard to do in this day and age. 

That’s on top of other state spending already committed, like $4.3 billion for energy efficiency programs and $1.9 billion over four years for electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure. And the California Energy Commission has committed about $130 million a year for electric system research and development through the Electric Program Investment Charge.

Call It Leverage

Private companies and investors work hard to use this government investment as a means to add impact to their own investments. From lithium-ion battery plants to solar installations, California government grants can be the bridge between a California dream and a reality. 

Here are three state grant programs operated by the California Energy Commission (CEC) aimed specifically at entrepreneurs and research companies creating the next generation of clean energy technology. 

• CalSEED Initiative – The California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development. It provides grant for concept development, prototyping and commercialization. 

• Clean Transportation Program. Funds projects related to zero-emission vehicles, hydrogen and electric vehicle infrastructure, and innovative transportation technology. 

• Emerging Technology and Manufacturing Grants. The CEC often solicits proposals for technology demonstration, deployment and manufacturing scale-up in clean energy sectors. 

Put It Together

There are a number of other state government sources for assistance to small business owners with a new idea, particularly in areas of technology, and local governments upgrading their infrastructure. To date, there also are state-distributed grants and guaranteed loans from the federal government for small businesses. 

But neither government money nor private investment alone is going to be sufficient to make our California Dream reality. There has to be a synergy, a partnership between the government and the business world. We call it P3, or Public-Private Partnership. 

I was fortunate to experience the power of P3 during my career as a public servant in Long Beach. Those partnerships helped to transform many segments of the city – Space Beach, the Civic Center, the waterfront and more. 

I believe it can help us make our California Dream a reality. We can energize our community together. 

Because that’s the Sunstone Way. 

And remember, always be a Sunstone!