Innovation Fund (Clean Power Alliance)

Innovation Fund (Clean Power Alliance) is sponsored by Clean Power Alliance. The Innovation Fund is a competitive funding opportunity designed to accelerate local efforts in building a clean, resilient future within Clean Power Alliance's service territory.

Innovation Fund | Clean Power Alliance The Innovation Fund is a competitive funding opportunity designed to accelerate local efforts in building a clean, resilient future. This fund supports projects that advance decarbonization and enhance resilience through investments in grid reliability, fleet and building electrification, and local clean energy procurement.

By empowering Clean Power Alliance’s partner communities to implement forward-thinking, scalable solutions, the Innovation Fund aims to drive impactful change across CPA’s service territory . W e invite our partner communities ( agencies who have voted to be a CPA member ) to submit their best decarbonization project plans that promote energy equity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reach climate goals.

Innovation Fund Round 2 closed on October 8, 2025. Download the Round 2 application for reference here. You can download the presentation materials from the virtual workshop here , and submit any questions to: EnergizedCommunities@cleanpoweralliance.

org Download your application here. Innovation Fund Project Categories We encourage projects that extend beyond the Pathways to Electrification building electrification, fleet electrification, and community EV charging programs , and focus on one or more of CPA’s Board-approved program pillars.

While we’ve listed sample projects for guidance, your submissions are not limited to these examples—innovative ideas that align with Innovation Fund objectives to decarbonize our commun ities are highly encouraged. Resilience & Grid Management Local Clean Energy Procurement Leverage clean energy technologies to provide back-up power during grid emergencies, and/or reduce or shift energy use from periods of peak demand or high costs.

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) electric school bus fleet that charges batteries for facility or grid use. Rebates or incentive programs for energy management device s that te st a new technology , delivery strategy , or target hard to serve populations Electrification of buildings or transportation in CPA communities Electrification of landscaping equipment or alternative transportation such as e-bikes.

Clean transportation/mobility options: EV carshare, e-bike share with mobile solar and/or electric charging hub. Electric equipment demonstration and/or lending library for community members to experience appliances and devices. Projects that support community and customer adoption and installation of clean energy.

Mobile battery electric storage systems. Provide skills training and/or incentive funds to advance expertise needed in clean energy industry and support green jobs workforce to install electrification projects. Innovation Fund - Round 1 Projects Investing in local communities is one way CPA strengthens regional resilience and advances access to clean energy for our customers.

CPA allocated $2 million over two funding cycles for decarbonization projects through the Innovation Fund . Four partner communities are participating in Round 1 of the Innovation Fund. Download the Round 1 project summary here .

Renters’ Energy and Cooling/Heating (REACH) Program Portable Battery Fleet Program to Replace Gas Generators Equitable Building Performance Standards (EBPS) and Benchmarking Support EV Charging Wallet Pilot Program How does the Innovation Fund work? CPA Partner Communities are eligible to apply for up to $250,000 per agency . CPA’s Board of Directors will make the final selection of projects in late 2025.

Selected partner communities will approve a participation agreement with CPA, and participate in regular reporting on the status of the projects. Decarbonization project s successfully launch , and will bring cleaner, greener energy to our CPA Partner Communities! What should my agency keep in mind when applying?

Projects should focus on implementation and should be outside the scope of the Pathways to Electrification building electrification, fleet electrification, and community EV charging projects.

Projects should focus on addressing decarbonization challenges in their community in one or more project categories consistent with the Board-approved program pillars: Resilience & Grid Management Local Clean Energy Procurement Applications should demonstrate a reasonable ability to complete the proposed project within two years .

Applicants must consider any requirements to inform or receive approval from City Councils or Governing Boards prior to submitting project applications . Application responses should be streamlined and not exceed 5-pages in length . Project sites should be located in CPA’s service area.

Partner Communities cannot receive more than $250,000 in funding. If an agency was previously selected for an Innovation Fund project , the total budget request for the new and existing projects should not exceed $250,000.

Recipient Requirements: What to Expect Innovation Fund award recipients will: Approve a participation agreement with CPA detailing the project scope, budget, and expected outcomes Submit invoices and/or other documentation to show expenditure of funds on approved activities Attend check-ins every other month and a one-year post-award interview Provide status reports every six months and a project completion summary subject to CPA’s review Want to learn more about a program?

Ask our team for more details Download The Application. CPA’s power resiliency program provides participating cities and counties with a clean energy backup power system installation to support critical community or municipal functions during power outages. CPA assists partner communities in achieving sustainability goals through the program’s three Pathways to Electrification offerings and an Innovation Fund.

Pathways offer financial and technological support for adopting electric technologies, while the Innovation Fund incentivizes local customized sustainability projects. Siddharth “Sid” Mathew serves as Project Manager, Settlements at Clean Power Alliance, where he supports accurate and efficient wholesale market settlements through data validation, discrepancy resolution, and contract performance review.

He collaborates with internal teams and external partners to ensure settlement outcomes align with market activity and contractual requirements. Prior to joining Clean Power Alliance, Sid was a Senior Energy Analyst at Ascend Analytics, serving as lead analyst and primary client contact for modeling, valuation, and market analysis projects.

His work included validating CAISO, MISO, and SPP market data; analyzing DA/RT prices, forward curves, and generation performance; and supporting PPA revenue assessment, curtailment analysis, and risk modeling. Earlier in his career, Sid worked at NERA Economic Consulting, where he conducted valuation, forecasting, and quantitative analysis for energy and infrastructure clients.

Sid holds a master’s degree in economics from Sorbonne University in Paris and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and philosophy from Brown University. Anthony Boukarim serves as Resource Planner, Power Supply, supporting long-term resource planning, portfolio optimization, and procurement strategy to advance CPA’s clean energy, reliability, and affordability objectives.

He brings more than a decade of experience in the energy sector, spanning management consulting and advanced energy analytics, with deep expertise supporting utilities and community choice aggregators. Prior to joining CPA, Anthony spent six years at Ascend Analytics, where he led firm-wide renewable energy and storage procurement initiatives.

He holds a Master of Science in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut. Kim joins Clean Power Alliance as the Senior Analyst, Rates and Tariffs.

Kim is responsible for developing and maintaining CPA’s cost of service and rate models to evaluate the financial, competitiveness, and customer impacts of rate design and rate setting options. Kim held financial, strategy, and planning roles across utilities, consulting, and the energy sector, including roles with Black Hills Energy, Marathon Oil, and Noble Energy.

This cross-sector background gives her a broad view of how financial modeling, regulatory strategy, and capital planning intersect to support growth, reliability, and environmental responsibility. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Wyoming. Mark Hum serves as Senior Associate, Communications and Marketing at Clean Power Alliance.

He is a marketing and communications strategist with a background in medtech and life sciences, where he supported initiatives spanning multiple industries across both B2B and consumer-facing brands. His work is grounded in a copywriter’s mindset, starting with audience needs and translating complex ideas into clear, compelling stories that build trust and understanding.

Mark has led integrated communications across digital, social, email, web, and stakeholder channels, with an emphasis on accessibility, consistency, and measurable impact. He brings a strong appreciation for structure and narrative, ensuring that every message serves a purpose and connects with people in a meaningful way. Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).

Prapassara “Pom” Saengxuto serves as Finance and Accounting Analyst at CPA. She is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in accounting and finance. Throughout her career, she has worked across a wide range of industries, including public accounting, private corporations, entertainment, manufacturing, consulting and construction.

This diverse background allows her to bring a well-rounded and practical perspective to every engagement. Pom is known for her strong dedication, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy. She works effectively both independently and as part of a team, consistently supporting organizations in making informed, strategic financial decisions.

Her approach combines technical expertise with a deep sense of responsibility and professionalism.