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Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming CELC Events

CELC Webinar - From Utility Billing to Insights: Electricity Monitoring and Energy Conservation at Municipal Facilities

May 14 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

This session will walk through how the City of Frisco built an automated pipeline to track electricity consumption across municipal facilities and develop an internal reporting infrastructure.

We'll briefly touch on the reporting requirements that influenced these efforts, then dive into how the pipeline was designed, what the monitoring dashboard looks like as an end product, and how it opens the door to broader energy conservation opportunities for the City.

Speaker: Haris A.Y. Khan, Sustainability Analyst, Environmental Services, City of Frisco

Register here.

CELC Webinar: Illuminated Insights – A Lighting Provider Power Hour

May 21 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Join SPEER for a fast-paced, interactive Lighting Systems Provider Showcase designed to spark new ideas and connect you with industry leaders. The session kicks off with quick-fire, 5-minute presentations from 4–5 lighting experts—giving you the highlights you need, fast. After a brief transition, dive deeper in 20-minute breakout rooms where you can ask questions, explore solutions, and collaborate with peers. We’ll wrap with a short closing session to leave you energized and informed.

Presenter:

• Cory Payne, Bryte-Light
• More speakers to be announced soon!

Register here.

CELC Virtual Coffee Hour

CELC Webinar: Introduction to CELC Membership

June 11 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Are you interested in learning more about the great benefits of membership to the Community Efficiency Leadership Coalition? 

Join us for a membership demo with Shaun Auckland, SPEER’s Senior Manager of Government and Community Engagement. Shaun will share information on CELC programs – from coaching and guidance to community collaboration opportunities – and attendees will be invited to ask questions. This demo is targeted to folks who are not currently members of CELC and want to learn more. 

Register here.

Partnerships for Academic-Industry Career Training (PACT) Initiative

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office and Office of Indian Energy today announced up to $11.3 million in federal funding available to institutions of higher education, including up to $2.3 million exclusively for Tribal Colleges and Universities, to train the next generation of America’s energy workforce.

Submit applications by July 17th.

Get Ahead of the Energy Reporting Deadline 

Although the annual reporting deadline falls later in the year, May is an appropriate time for public higher education institutions to begin preparing their submissions to the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO).

Institutions are required to submit both an Energy and Water Management Plan and annual consumption data by Oct. 31, with consumption reporting completed through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Beginning this work early allows campuses to address data cleanup, confirm meter accuracy and coordinate across facilities and operations teams well in advance of the fall deadline. 

SPEER offers technical assistance and can help with any reporting or ENERGY STAR barriers and questions. Schedule a meeting now. 

Spotlight on CELC: Member Events and Updates

New Member Spotlight

Please join us in welcoming a new member to CELC:

• Travis County

Curious about CELC membership? Head here to learn more and see a list of current members!

HARC "Energy Crossroads" Podcast ft. Shaun Auckland

Did you catch SPEER's own Senior Manager of Government and Community Engagement Shaun Auckland on the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) podcast, "Energy Crossroads?"

Join Shaun and the HARC team for a discussion titled "Bridging The Energy Efficiency Gap," as they discuss bridging the gap between lofty energy efficiency goals and real-world implementation.

From local governments to community leaders, they explore how important it is for organizations and individuals to understand resources and take actionable steps – and realizing that you don’t need a huge budget to make a difference. This conversation looks at rethinking how we approach energy solutions, starting by understanding what’s possible.

Dive in here!

Community Outreach

SPEER joined Travis County’s Healthy People, Healthy Planet Earth Day event to share tips on energy efficiency—from decoding your utility bill to DIY weatherization—and connected with 96 community members.

Partner with SPEER to bring practical, cost-saving energy education to your next event or program. Reach out to SPEER to explore partnership opportunities.

Webinar: Better Air, Better Schools: Programs, Resources and Grants You Can Use Now

Wednesday, May 13 @ 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Join EPA's Healthy and Efficient School Environments Grantees to learn about programs, trainings, resources and funds available to K-12 public, charter, and tribal schools nationwide to improve indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Register here.

Funding and Resource Opportunities

State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) Energy-Efficiency Funding for Publicly Owned Community Centers

Invest in your facility’s future with a low-interest loan from SECO. The Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Program helps publicly owned community centers make infrastructure improvements to lower energy consumption and costs.

Who can apply:

• Recreation centers
• Public libraries
• Community centers
• Civic centers
• Senior activity centers

Open Enrollment runs through December 18, 2026. Review the program requirements and apply here.

USGBC Accelerators

USGBC invites all local government participants to consider joining a LEED for Cities Accelerator and/or Green Building Policy Accelerator this spring/summer. These programs are virtual and offer an opportunity to gain practical skills associated with LEED for Cities and local policy development. Click on either form to express interest and add your name and jurisdiction to the list.

Texas LoanSTAR (Saving Taxes and Resources) Revolving Loan Program 

The Texas LoanSTAR (Saving Taxes and Resources) Revolving Loan Program provides low-interest loans to assist Texas public institutions by financing their energy-related, cost-reduction retrofit projects.

Open enrollment runs through  August 31, 2026. 

Professional Development and Job Opportunities

Jobs

• Natural Resources Outreach Specialist - AACOG

Internships 

• Future Leaders Internship Program - Johnson Controls
• David B. Goldstein Fellowship - Institute for Market Transformation
• Alternative Fuels and Energy Program - NCTCOG

Conferences

• Greater & Greener Austin 2026 - City Parks Alliance
• 2026 Lone Star Sustainability Forum - Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects