After what seemed like years of awaiting results, we now have a new president entering the White House in January, former Vice President Joe Biden. A few months ago, I covered Joe Biden’s Clean Energy Revolution, which was a set of plans and policies that would be enacted if he were to win the election. Now that he is the President-Elect, stakeholders across the county are taking a deeper look into what these policies will look like for their own communities.
Read MoreThe general consensus on solar is that it’s a no-brainer! Of course, in regions where sunlight is abundant, it makes perfect sense to harness all that energy and use it to fuel our communities. However, not all regions that have abundant sunlight are good candidates for solar. Why is that?
Read More“Why are we like this? I mean, this isn’t even our fight. Why can’t we ever just leave things alone?”
“If we leave it alone who’s going to make sure the program gets out to our communities if not us?”
The Rural Hard to Reach Working Group (RHTR), is many things—one of which is horribly named—but what makes it special is that the group thrives on the idea that we are really are better off together. Sure, we could all write public comments on our own, but why when as a group we have a small army of drafters and copy editors and finessers? We could run our programs in our own little fiefdoms and be just fine, but why when we can take the best pieces and parts of each other and do more for rural California, not just our own regions? Why fight for just the Valley when we can improve the whole?
Read MoreSouthern California Gas Company has some exciting announcements heading your way! See below for more information on their upcoming seminar AND the additional rebate on EE equipment for the remainder of 2020!
Read MoreOne of the biggest issues we face today is what to do with everything that gets discarded on a day-to-day basis. Only so much of it can be recycled. Since waste is so abundant, it makes sense to put effort into turning this waste into something that can be used. In most cases, that something is energy.
Read More“This level of transparency is a critical step in creating greater accountability and identifying those areas where we can have the most significant impact.”
Read MoreDid you know you can’t spell ‘queen’ without EE? Yeah, we’re insanely excited about it too.
Read MoreHydrogen and Fuel Cell Day was on October 8, 2020. Although we missed it by a few days, the exciting thing is we can still take this opportunity to learn about it and its potential impact on our daily lives.
Read MoreToday, October 7th, 2020, we are celebrating Energy Efficiency Day! What is the purpose of EE Day? The Energy Efficiency Day message is simple: “Save Money. Cut Pollution. Create Jobs.” At the SJVCEO, we will always continue to work towards equitable access to affordable energy for the communities that we serve. Our goals and objectives for every project we tackle are expressed in this year’s EE Day message. Saving money for our small rural communities, benefiting the environment, and (most importantly for Energizing the Workforce’s purpose) job creation
Read MoreYou may be wondering what Mechanical and Thermal Vapor Recompression is. It sounds extremely complicated, but the concept is actually very simple. It means to recapture thermal and vapor waste heat energy and reuse it. Simple enough, right?
Read MoreEducators and schools across California continue to need support as the months of “virtual school” continue. With COVID-19 regulations changing, teachers are adapting to a new normal and becoming experts on technological platforms used to execute distance learning. In addition, our rural schools face increased issues on top of the ones mentioned. “Due to their geographic locations and typically smaller sizes, rural schools face several energy efficiency and renewable energy challenges related to implementation, financing, and operations.” These difficulties highlight that our schools need extra assistance. Below you will find a variety of resources from classroom help from our utility partners to rural school energy efficiency resources from the U.S. DOE, take a look!
Read MoreFrom HVAC training, electrician programs, and construction certifications, there are countless trade paths that can lead to the energy industry. With the opportunity to expand our workforce, we must also recognize that the way we go about hiring and recruiting must also expand. In my own personal experience, there is an associated stigma around vocational/trade school and I am here to tell you why that is not only wrong but why it is so important for our industry to encourage these programs to better our workforce.
Read MoreOver this last weekend, as wildfires continue to blaze through the majority of California, our first responders are fighting tirelessly to save the communities that we love and cherish. Amongst this group of people, are inmates throughout counties in California.
Read MoreBefore we get going on this topic, let’s talk a bit about what a membrane is. It is a “thin layer of semi-permeable material that separates substances when a driving force is applied across the membrane.” Membrane filtration can be used for a number of different processes. Namely, for the removal of particles that are too fine for ordinary filtration techniques from liquids. These particles include proteins, bacteria, viruses, and dissolved salts.
Read MoreLet’s talk favorites. But not music. People. In the spirit of September being my birthday month, I wanted to use the playlist as a chance to appreciate mine.
Read MoreWith Q4 of 2020 quickly approaching, we know that many of our communities are still dealing with the lasting effects that COVID-19 has placed on us. Southern California Edison is here to help relieve those stresses and provide resources for their customers.
Read MoreIn any normal year, heading into the Labor Day weekend would have us thinking about barbecue, picnics, and all the delicious foods we consume in celebration of the 3-day weekend. If you are like me, you are still thinking about these things, albeit on a much smaller scale.
Read MoreAmid a global pandemic, California has been ignited by countless wildfires across the state, mostly in the northern region. Even walking out the front door of my home in the Central Valley, there is a layer of smoke that has settled in the skies enhancing the poor air quality that residents of the valley often face. As of Sunday afternoon, the fires have scorched up to 1,000,000 acres as a result of the triple-digit heatwave and up to 12,000 lighting strikes in California.
Read MoreCome gather 'round people, wherever you roam
Admit that the waters around you have grown
And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'
Time-of-Use rate plans are based on how much energy you use and when you use it. By shifting some electricity usage to times when costs are less and demand is down, you can lower your bill and support a healthier environment.
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