Corina Camacho, an analyst with the Inland Regional Energy Network, told the Western Riverside Council of Governments executive committee that the network received California Public Utilities Commission approval to expand technical support to solar panels, battery storage and electric vehicle chargers.

Camacho said the CPUC decision allows IREN to provide energy analysis for those technologies immediately and that staff are preparing an "IDSM strategy" and workshops for public agencies.

The expansion follows IREN's ongoing cash-for-kilowatts program, which offers incentives for comprehensive energy-efficiency projects. Camacho said the program recently funded LED and lighting upgrades at Jo Baca Middle School; IREN's incentive check for that project is expected to top $220,000 and to cover about 80% of the project's cost. IREN staff told the committee the program is on track to distribute nearly $5 million in cash incentives that IREN estimates will produce roughly $19 million in lifetime energy-bill savings for participating public agencies.

Camacho described the IREN Energy Fellowship as a core workforce strategy. She said IREN pays stipends for fellows hosted by agencies; for the 2025-26 cycle IREN planned to place 24 fellows and has invested more than $1.6 million to support host agencies. She highlighted one success story: a fellow placed at the city of Norco helped secure about $38,000 in incentives and about $12,000 in projected energy savings, and was later hired by the city.

On workforce development, Camacho said IREN obtained $3 million in funding for county workforce boards (about $1.5 million per county) to prepare over 100 unemployed or under-skilled participants for clean-energy jobs through training and certification supports.

Camacho also reviewed IRENcodes-and-standards trainings, noting they are offered monthly, available online and simulcast in Spanish, and that recordings and an "ask an energy code question" feature are hosted at irin.gov.

Finally she summarized IREN's role in a California Energy Commissionequitable-decarbonization award to Southern California. Camacho said the region received $322 million overall and that IREN secured $1.35 million specifically for outreach in San Bernardino and Riverside counties; she and another committee member clarified the $1.35 million is for outreach and marketing, not the full installation funding in the larger $322 million allocation.

Camacho concluded by encouraging member agencies to engage with IREN for incentives, fellow placements and technical assistance.