Agenda Item B.2
PRESENTATION
Meeting Date: March 3, 2026
TO: Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: Peter Imhof, Planning and Environmental Review Director CONTACT: Dana Murray, Sustainability Manager
Angeline Foshay, Sustainability Analyst
SUBJECT: Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) Annual Update RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a presentation from Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) on its energy programs, offerings, and Goleta's participation.
BACKGROUND:
3C-REN is a partnership between the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura established to deliver energy -saving programs and industry trainings that help reduce energy use, strengthen local job ma rkets, and support efforts to achieve climate goals. As with other Regional Energy Networks, 3C-REN uses funding from the California Public Utilities Commission, effectively bringing ratepayer dollars back to the community. 3C-REN actively supports the C ity of Goleta’s goals to protect the environment and enhance quality of life by supporting no - and low-cost energy saving projects, workforce development through training, technical assistance and outreach through events and partnerships. Staff and 3C-REN work collaboratively to provide resources to the Goleta community, promote available programs and rebates, and share opportunities for training and educational workshops.
DISCUSSION:
As an energy resource in the Central Coast region, 3C-REN engages many stakeholders, including local agencies, homeowners, multifamily and commercial property owners, building professionals, and agricultural landowners, through regular outreach, educational training, and program activities.
3C-REN will continue to strategically partner with the City of Goleta to raise awareness and deliver solutions that improve energy efficiency , encourage electrification, fuel - switching, building community resiliency, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, and creating economic and workforce development opportunities that increase social equity. 1 Meeting Date: March 3, 2026
GOLETA STRATEGIC PLAN:
City-Wide Strategy: 1. Support Environmental Vitality
Strategic Goals:
1.1 Promote renewable energy, energy conservation and local energy resiliency 1.3 Adopt best practices in sustainability
FISCAL IMPACTS:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
Legal Review By: Isaac Rosen, City Attorney
Approved By: Robert Nisbet, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 3C-REN 2024 Annual Report for Goleta
2. Goleta 3C-REN 2024 Achievements
3. Presentation
2 ATTACHMENT 1
3C-REN 2024 Annual Report for Goleta
3 MEMO
DATE: February 9, 2026
FROM: Garrett Wong
Sustainability Division Manager, County of Santa Barbara Co-Director, Tri-County Regional Energy Network (3C-REN) TO: Dana Murray, Sustainability Manager
RE: 3C-REN 2024 Annual Impact Report
On behalf of 3C-REN, I am pleased to share our 2024 Annual Impact Report and highlights for the City of Goleta.
3C-REN is a partnership between the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura established to deliver energy -saving programs and industry trainings that help reduce energy use, strengthen local job markets, and support efforts to achieve climat e goals. As with other Regional Energy Networks, 3C-REN uses funding from the California Public Utilities Commission, effectively bringing ratepayer dollars back to the community.
3C-REN supports the City of Goleta’s goals to protect the environment and enhance quality of life by supporting no - and low -cost energy saving projects , workforce development through trainings, technical assistance and outreach through events and partnerships.
For the City of Goleta, in 2024 3C-REN:
• Completed 12 projects serving 179 households and apartment units, reducing 22,630 therms of natural gas; and
• Held events that had 86 attendees, of which 58 were unique attendees.
This memo and flyer offer highlights from 3C-REN's 2024 Annual Impact Report.
3C-REN Current Programs
Home Energy Savings (HES)
The Single-Family HES Program serves to bring down the cost of energy efficiency and electrification upgrades for single family homeowners. The program pays incentives for any energy upgrades that have measurable (metered) energy savings. Incentives are highest for “hard -to-reach” single-family households, which include households on discounted utility rates, mobile and manufactured homes, 4
households that don’t speak English as their primary language, and households with a member of a California Native American Tribe.
There are over 50 contractors actively participating in the program, more than double from 2023. In 2024, the program served 516 homes across the tr i-county region, a 62% increase from last year, with projects ranging from heat pump water heaters to energy efficient pool pumps. In Santa Barbara County, 24 single -family projects were completed reducing natural gas use by 7,403 therms and carbon emissions by 18 tons of CO2e. (CO2e, or Carbon Dioxide Equivalent, is a unit of measurement used to compare the impact of greenhouse gases ( GHGs) on the environment. This unit of measurement is reflected in the County’s GHG inventory and Climate Action Plan.) The Multifamily HES Program offers no-cost site assessments, technical assistance, and rebates paid directly to property owners or property managers. The structure includes enhanced incentives for underserved properties and adders for high performance measures, such as heat pumps. In 2024 the program completed 13 projects across the tri-county region, serving 1,319 dwelling units with energy upgrades—a fivefold increase in units served from the previous year. There w ere 32 projects in the pipeline at the end of 2024.
In Santa Barbara County, projects at 4 multifamily properties with a cumulative 331 units reduced natural gas use by 21,880 therms and carbon emissions by 73 tons of CO2e.
Building Performance Training (BPT)
BPT is a workforce development program for current and prospective building professionals in the construction trades, design, real estate, and beyond. It offers technical and soft skill training and certifications focused on energy efficiency, high performance building, and electrification. It is a key resource for industry professionals on the Central Coast looking to upskill through convenient classes and by obtaining certifications. In 2024, the program hosted a total of 115 training events with 2,091 total attendees.
Energy Code Connect (ECC) Program
The ECC Program offers local governments and local building professionals access to the resources needed for enforcing and complying with the California Building Energy Efficiency Code (Title 24), including best practice guides, checklists, policy support, on -site support, and targeted training — hosting 25 energy code events in 2024. It also offers on-call expert assistance through a “Code Coach” service.
In 2024 the service fielded 142 inquiries, serving 64 organizations and 39% of tri-county jurisdictions, with 100% of jurisdictions receiving at least one marketing touch.
Commercial Energy Savings (CES)
The CES program has just begun to serve local businesses with discounted energy upgrades. The CES program will pay incentives for any project that saves energy, with the highest incentives paid for projects on “hard -to-reach” businesses. In this case, businesses in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) and small - and medium -sized businesses are located in a leased or rented facility. This program works in partnership with regional Green Business Programs.
Energy Assurance Services (EAS)
The EAS program offers tailored energy audits for critical facilities within the tri-county region. Critical facilities provide essential services to the community during emergencies or power outages and may include locations like community centers, libraries or churches. These facilities may perform a variety of critical services including acting as evacuation shelters, heating, cooling, or clean-air centers, food and supply distribution sites, or providing medical care. Energy audits conducted by the program are 5
customized to meet the specific needs of each facility, with a focus on resiliency, energy efficiency, and comprehensive load management. 3C-REN leveraged the groundwork laid by the County of Santa Barbara’s Energy Assurance program to grow interest in energy audits for critical facilities across the entire tri-county region.
Agriculture Energy Solutions
The AES program offers specialized support to agricultural operators with high energy consumption, such as those in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), by identifying opportunities for energy efficiency improvements and supporting their implementation. It offers free technical assistance in the form of utility bill analysis, facility assessment, and benchmarking, and largely targets small- to medium-sized
farms in rural, socially disadvantaged, and “ hard-to-reach” areas. Where available, farmers will also be provided with connections to complementary incentive programs that can help cover the costs of implementing the energy projects identified through these offerings. 6 ATTACHMENT 2
Goleta 3C-REN 2024 Achievements
7 8
9 ATTACHMENT 3
Presentation
10 3C-REN 2024
Annual Report
March 3, 2026
Presentation to City of Goleta
11 3C-REN
3CE?…or
3CE sources clean and renewable electricity
and of
fers energy programs, including rebates for
customers
3C-REN offers energy efficiency programs and
industry trainings funded via the CPUC, these
include incentives for
residents and businesses
3 12
Our free services are funded via
the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) and
Reduce energy use,
Strengthen local job markets,
Support efforts to achieve local
climate goals, and
Serve “hard-to-
reach” customers and
underserved communities
How it works
4 13
Goals & Structure
Each County participates in
Leadership
Each County leads distinct
programs that serve the tri-
county region
Ventura leads administration
3C-REN
Admin Lead
Ventura
County
Building
Performance
Training
Agriculture
Energy
Solutions
Leadership
Team
Santa Barbara
County
Single Family
Home Energy
Savings
Multifamily
Home Energy
Savings
San Luis Obispo
County
Energy Code
Connect
Commercial
Energy Savings
Energy
Assurance
Services
3C-REN is a collaboration between
the Counties of San Luis Obispo,
Santa Barbara, and Ventura
5 14
Timeline & Background
SB, VC and SLO
counties jointly
offer EE programs
CPUC Approves $155M
Business Plan, proving
funding through 2031
2013
2022
2023
County BOS
approves pursuing
participation in a
REN
2016
3C-REN
submits new
$155M Business
Plan
2019
3C-REN launches
RES, WET and
C&S programs
2024
3C-REN launches
CES, AES and EAS
programs
3C-REN
submits $50M
Business Plan
to CPUC
2016
2018
CPUC approves
$50M for 3C-REN
Business Plan
6 15
Our Services
TrainingIncentives Technical Assistance
3c-ren.org/for-residents
3c-ren.org/multifamily
3c-ren.org/commercial
3c-ren.org/events
3c-ren.org/building
3c-ren.org/code
3c-ren.org/agriculture
3c-ren.org/assurance
Contractors can enroll at
3c-ren.org/contractors
View past trainings at
3c-ren.org/on-demand
7 16
2024 Tri-County Achievements
Dwelling Units
Served with Energy-
Saving Projects
1,835
Projects Utilizing
Incentive Stacking
22%
Training Event
Attendees
2,438
Title 24/CalGreen
Inquiries Served
142
8 17
Home Energy Savings:
Single Family Incentive Program
Incentive program to benefit single family homeowners Pays incentives for energy saving projects of all types- including electrification
Incentives for "hard-to-reach" homes are highest
Homeowners work with enrolled contractors to access benefits Efficiency and Energy
Projects Completed:
11 Homes Served:
11 2024 Achievements in Goleta
9 Incentives Provided:
Over $50,048*
*Total potential incentives provided
dependent on performance
18 Home Energy Savings:
Multifamily Incentive Program
Two-thirds of projects completed in 2024 in the 3C-REN tri-county region had 90% or more of their project costs covered with 3C-REN rebates or by applying multiple rebates that stack
with 3C-REN’s.
2024 Achievements in Goleta
Units Served:
168
Efficiency and
Energy Projects Completed:
1 11
19 Commercial Energy Savings
“The program’s focus on sustainable solutions and its commitment to supporting local businesses aligns perfectly with our vision for a greener future.” – Enrolled Contractor, Ventura County
Launched in 2024
12 Incentive program for small to medium businesses in the tri-county region
Offers flexible solutions and funding for businesses to meet energy goals
20 Building Performance Training
Serves current and prospective building professionals in the construction trades, design, real estate, and beyond. Training and certifications focus on energy efficiency, high performance building, and electrification.
Training Events:
114*
*Includes virtual trainings provided
Tri-County wide
Event Attendees:
86 Goleta Achievements in 2024
13 21
Energy Code Connect
“3C-REN’s Code Coaches will break down how the code
would apply to a particular scenario and work with you to make sure your project is in compliance.”
– Mechanical Engineer in San Luis Obispo
Training Events:
24*
2024 Achievements in Goleta
Code Coach
Inquiries:
2 14
*Includes virtual trainings
22 Agriculture Energy Solutions
In 2024, the program team engaged with
PG&E, SCE, and SoCalGas incentive
program staff to align and coordinate efforts
across programs.
1. Utility Bill Analysis 2. Facility Assessment
Launched in 2024
3. Benchmarking
15 23
Thank you!
Questions?
More info: 3c-ren.org
Email updates: 3c-ren.org/newsletter
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