San Diego Community Power and partner organizations presented an update on the San Diego Regional Energy Academy to the Community Power board, reporting three cohorts and growing demand for its multi‑day, in‑person training for community leaders.

The program, created in partnership with the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative and the Energy Policy Initiative Center at the University of San Diego, has run three cohorts with roughly 90 graduates and, staff said, “a 100% of the participants would recommend the Energy Academy to a colleague.” Darby Barry, director of the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, told the board the program aims to “elevate the energy IQ of San Diego’s region’s diverse community leaders” by combining classroom instruction with field trips and hands‑on exercises.

Why it matters: Board members were told the academy is intended to expand local capacity to discuss and act on energy and climate issues across jurisdictions and sectors. Presenters said the program targets not only sustainability professionals but also housing and workforce organizations, public agencies and nonprofit leaders who increasingly need to navigate energy policy, decarbonization and equity issues.

Program details and outcomes
Darby Barry described the typical curriculum as four days that begin with energy fundamentals and include modules on equity, decarbonization and resilience. The academy pairs classroom lessons with field visits to regional infrastructure such as SDG&E facilities, University of California San Diego facilities and the airport authority. Barry said the third cohort was the first run as a four‑day program and that demand has increased: "we had over a 100 applications just for that cycle alone," she said.

Staff described preliminary evaluation results from early cohorts: an approximately 40% increase in self‑rated “energy IQ” among participants and positive responses on satisfaction. The program team also said they have started an alumni network to sustain engagement; the first alumni event drew more than 65 registrations from about 90 invited alumni.

Recruitment, equity and next steps
Board members asked how the program is recruiting participants from underserved communities and jurisdictions across the county. Barry said the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative’s network of 65 member agencies across the county and partner nonprofit outreach were primary recruitment channels, and that the alumni network has been a helpful path to broaden participation. She gave an example of outreach leading to participation by an executive director of a Vietnamese community organization.

The presenters said the academy is offered at no cost to participants and that staff will continue to refine recruitment and evaluation measures as cohorts continue. They told the board they intend to keep cohort sizes around 30–35 participants to preserve interaction.

Ending
The board received the update as an informational item; there was no formal vote on the program update. Presenters said more evaluation and recruitment planning will continue as the academy grows.