Convening the Sierra – Fall 2026
September 25, 2026
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Join SBC at these Upcoming Events Across the Region
The City of Grass Valley (City) recently completed heat pump water heater (HPWH) retrofits at six of their facilities, replacing natural gas powered water heaters with new, highly efficient electric models (for more information on HPWHs, click here). Retrofits were completed at facilities including office buildings, the police station, water treatment plants, and even a community swimming pool. This project was funded through Willdan’s GK-12 Program, which provides low- or no-cost HPWH retrofits at public facilities in PG&E territory, and was implemented by The Energy Alliance Association (TEAA). GK-12 incentives were value-stacked with the CPUC’s Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), so the project was able to leverage enough incentives to deliver a no-cost solution to the City.
Through our Sierra Nevada Energy Watch (SNEW) program, SBC can help provide these incentives to your local public agency! The overall process is simple. If an agency is interested in pursuing low- or no-cost HPWH retrofits at any facilities, they can reach out to us at snew@sierrabusiness.org.
We will then set up a meeting with Willdan to cover program specifics and answer any questions. Once potential retrofit locations are identified in collaboration with Willdan, their staff will visit the facilities to conduct an audit of existing equipment to determine feasibility and confirm they meet the following eligibility requirements:
Once eligible retrofits are identified, Willdan will provide a proposal for implementation and outline overall cost savings. The agency must then sign the Public Participation Agreement form to receive project funding. Finally, Willdan’s subcontractor (in this example, TEAA) will provide turnkey services to implement the retrofits.
Below is a testimonial from the City of Grass Valley regarding their experience:
“Willdan and TEAA made the process very easy from start to finish. They explained the process clearly upfront and communicated clearly and promptly when there were delays or complications. While there was some staff time required to complete paperwork and provide logistics during the installs, Willdan and TEAA teams ensured that the processes were streamlined and efficient. The installs were completed with craftsmanship and professionalism. The City is excited to see the cost efficiency this project provides at our numerous sites where the program provided install of new HPWH units.”
Besides the potential for energy cost savings, there are multiple other reasons to consider HPWH retrofits:
If your agency is interested in pursuing this opportunity, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us to get started! You can either email us at snew@sierrabusiness.org or call 530-214-3836. We hope to hear from you soon!
Join SBC at these Upcoming Events Across the Region
Two SNEW services that are often requested by Sierra Nevada public agencies are energy benchmarking (sometimes including AB 802 reporting for buildings
California’s 2026-27 legislative session wrapped up September 1 after a turbulent final week of negotiations over wildfire policy, funding, and the state budget. While a last-minute proposal on wildfire liability ultimately stalled, the Legislature did restore and increase funding for climate resilience through Proposition 4 and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF)—a meaningful outcome for Sierra communities amid a challenging state budget year.
The final plan includes $329.5 million for wildfire and forest resilience through Prop 4 and $118 million for wildfire prevention through GGRF. While these investments are an improvement over the June budget, wildfire resilience funding remains near historic lows, with no clear plan for sustained investment in future years.
Read more about the final budget, Prop 4 and GGRF allocations, and what’s next for wildfire and climate resilience in the Sierra.