December 2020
Save Water, Energy, Money, & the Environment
LADWP, CARB, and California Electric Utilities Offer Savings on New Electric Cars

California electric utilities, including the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), are teaming up with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to offer the California Clean Fuel Reward (CCFR), a point-of-sale price reduction of up to $1,500 for the purchase or lease of any eligible new battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle from a participating automotive retailer. As of November 17, consumers were able to purchase an eligible vehicle from an enrolled retailer and receive an instant reduction in the purchase price. 

“The goal of the program is to accelerate the number of electric vehicles on California’s roads and highways,” said CARB Vice-Chair Sandy Berg. “The instant point-of-sale price reduction of up to $1,500, along with other programs like Clean Cars 4 All, will help make these ultra-clean cars more affordable, especially for low-income families or those living in disadvantaged communities.” 

For consumers, taking advantage of the reward is easy. When making an EV purchase at an enrolled retailer in California, the retailer will simply include the reward in the transaction at the point of sale. There is no need for the customer to do any paperwork after the sale to receive the reward. The CCFR is one of the most straightforward and inclusive rewards in the market, as it is available to everyone in California.

The lists of enrolled retailers and eligible vehicles are available at www.cleanfuelreward.com and will be continually updated as the new retailers and EV models are added.

Southern California Edison is administering the program on behalf of, and in collaboration with, all participating utilities. The CCFR is available to all California residents, regardless of utility provider and participation.

“Californians, and Angelenos in particular, are increasingly interested in switching to EVs. LADWP is excited to partner with CARB and utilities across the state to debut this accessible new incentive,” said Nancy Sutley, LADWP Senior Assistant General Manager of External and Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer. “The Department is planning for the adoption of 500,000 EVs or more in the city by 2028; the addition of CCFR alongside LADWP’s EV charger and used EV rebates ensures our customers have multiple options to finance their EV adoption journey.”
Click the graphic above to discover Metropolitan Water District’s portal for water-saving rebates and grants, landscape classes, water-wise garden inspiration, and tons of helpful tips.
Sanitation Districts Turn Food Waste Into Fuel
As part of its mission to convert waste into resources, the Los Angeles County Sanitation
Districts (Sanitation Districts) recently started up a biogas purification system to recycle food waste into
renewable vehicle fuel. Food waste includes dinner scraps, spoiled fruit and vegetables from grocery stores and restaurants. “We’ve been converting food waste into electricity for over six years. With this
new biogas purification system, we now also produce renewable natural gas that is used to fuel vehicles like cars, buses and trucks. We know that many cities are grappling with how to meet state requirements for recycling food waste and are pleased to offer a complete and cost-effective solution,” said Robert C. Ferrante, Chief Engineer and General Manager for the Sanitation Districts.
Metro Addresses Face Covering Enforcement
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, one question that Metro has regularly received from riders is this: why aren’t bus and train operators enforcing Metro’s requirement to wear face coverings while on its system? The answer: Metro has asked its bus and rail operators to focus solely on safely operating their buses and trains. Metro believes those jobs command the full attention of operators. Navigating multi-ton buses and trains safely – especially through L.A. traffic – is no easy task and Metro wants 100 percent of its operators’ attention devoted to getting everyone to their destinations.

Also, learn about other Metro programs such as Vanpool and ExpressLanes.
SoCalGas Recognized as SCMSDC's 2020 Corporation of the Year

SoCalGas has been named Corporation of the Year by Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council (SCMSDC) at the 36th Annual Leadership Excellence Awards. The award is bestowed on a company that consistently achieves exceptional performance in its supplier diversity and inclusion initiatives by modeling and executing bold new strategies that lead to contract opportunities for diverse businesses that drive economic growth and job creation in the communities they serve.
SoCalREN Helps Agencies Slash Energy Costs

SoCalREN empowers agencies to make informed decisions about energy management through energy analysis services, including a Comparative Energy Analysis Report, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® assistance, and Green Button Datapowered insights. These tools compare agency-owned assets such as buildings and streetlights to identify opportunities for cost-saving energy efficiency projects. 

This SoCalREN-exclusive report identifies high energy consumers to prioritize further investigation and energy efficiency retrofit
work.
  • Delivers an agency-wide summary of building, pumping, streetlight, and other exterior lighting annual energy consumption and costs
  • Helps determine opportunities for energy efficiency projects and energy audits by highlighting high energy consumers
  • Appraises the potential financial and energy impact of retrofit projects
SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park Put Recycled Water to Use
The West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) announced its first delivery of recycled water to SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, in the city of Inglewood, California. West Basin will produce and distribute recycled water for landscape irrigation, maintenance, and aesthetic purposes at the landmark sports and entertainment destination, including Lake Park and the greenscapes surrounding the stadium. Combined with several recycled water connections nearby, the West Basin project will provide 26 million gallons of recycled water per year, saving an equal amount of drinking water for the region.
Schedule a Virtual Field Trip of WRD's Albert Robles Center (ARC)
Students can take a live-hosted virtual field trip of ARC and experience a unique state-of-the-art water education center. Field trips are available to schools and youth organizations.
Sanitation Districts and LA County Offer Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Help

The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronic Waste Collection Program (HHW) gives Los Angeles County residents a legal and cost-free way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals that cannot be disposed of in the regular trash.

Upcoming events in the South Bay:
S.A.F.E. (Solvents / Automotive / Flammables / Electronics) Center locations and days/hours of operation in Los Angeles can be found here
Coronavirus Resources from the City of Torrance

Get up-to-date information for status of business activities, housing, tax relief, public service announcements, bus schedules, and more via the City's COVID-19 Dashboard. Additionally, learn more about outdoor dining, takeout options, and local grocers that accommodate vulnerable groups.
On the Go
News for Southern California Commuters: November / December 2020
Learn about opportunities for ridesharing, public transportation, and the benefits that an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) can offer your workplace. This monthly newsletter addresses the broad audience of commuters that rely on transportation agencies from Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside & San Bernardino Counties, and Ventura County.
California Green Business Network (CAGBN)
Small Business Resiliency: Helping Small Businesses Adapt to Uncertainty
The California Green Business
Network quickly switched to virtual
assistance for small businesses and
is helping them adapt during this
challenging economic time. We will
be critical in helping SMBs increase
efficiency, bring in customers, and
cut costs so they can bounce back.
Businesses in Torrance & Hawthorne can join the CAGBN by contacting Martha Segovia: (310) 371-7222 martha@southbaycities.org
SBCCOG General Assembly Sponsors
SBCCOG’s General Assembly is an annual public forum that engages elected officials, private and public organizations, general public, and other South Bay stakeholders during a program composed of exhibitors and guest speakers, speaking individually and in panels, presenting content unified under a central theme. 
SAVE THE DATE:
Thursday, March 18, 2021
for our upcoming virtual
General Assembly!
We want to thank the following organizations for their sponsorship:

Sponsors
Learn more about South Bay sub-region & its member cities/areas here
Interested in becoming a volunteer at SBESC? Fill out an application here
 Links to Partner Resources En Español: