
Convening the Sierra – Fall 2026
Join SBC at these Upcoming Events Across the Region
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), in partnership with Willdan as the authorized implementor, offers government agencies and school districts cost-effective solutions to enhance energy efficiency through their Government K-12 (GK12) program. This initiative helps public institutions reduce energy consumption and lower ongoing operational and maintenance expenses. The Willdan GK12 team provides comprehensive support throughout the process, ensuring a seamless experience from enrollment to installation.
Eligibility Requirements:
Recently, Sierra Business Council’s Sierra Nevada Energy Watch (SNEW) team, in collaboration with Willdan, helped three school districts in the Sierra Nevada region upgrade 10 school facilities with high-efficiency tankless natural gas water heaters. This service is available to public agencies and schools looking to replace outdated water heaters with high-efficiency tankless natural gas or heat pump water heaters, often at little to no cost. Explore the case-study infographic below to see the energy and cost savings achieved through these installations:

If you represent a government agency or public educational institution, contact the SNEW team to learn more about the GK12 program and explore opportunities to enhance your facilities with cost-effective, energy-efficient upgrades!

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.