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Clean Power Alliance details rebates, storage and EV programs supporting Oxnard climate plan
Summary
At the INCO general membership meeting April 9, City of Oxnard sustainability staff and Clean Power Alliance outlined local programs — from battery rebates to discounted renewable energy rates — that residents and the city can use to meet the 2022 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan goals.
At the INCO general membership meeting on April 9, 2025, Ashley Barton, the City of Oxnard sustainability analyst, and Joseph (Joe) Cabral, external affairs manager for Clean Power Alliance (CPA), described a set of CPA programs and local partnerships the city is using to advance its 2022 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.
Barton said the city’s climate action and adaptation plan, adopted by the City of Oxnard in 2022, sets a community-wide goal of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions 40% below 2010 levels by 2030 and lists strategies including procuring clean energy, transitioning to greener buildings, expanding electric-vehicle adoption, encouraging transit-oriented development, water conservation and nature-based solutions. “I’m really happy to be here with you tonight to discuss Oxnard sustainability initiatives, and the ways that you, the community and residents can really support the CAP’s climate goals,” Barton said.
Cabral described CPA as a local, not-for-profit joint powers authority that supplies electricity service and runs incentive programs. He said CPA serves more than 3 million customers across member communities in Ventura and Los Angeles counties and that the City of Oxnard has nearly 56,000 CPA accounts; he added that about 95% of those accounts receive a renewable energy product under CPA. “We’re a local not for profit organization and thus our revenues are invested back into purchasing the clean renewable energy for our customers and funding our many local programs,” Cabral said.
Cabral and Barton laid out specific programs available now or soon to Oxnard residents and municipal operations:
- Power Ready / solar-plus-storage for municipal facilities: CPA’s Power Ready program will help install a solar and battery system at the Oxnard service center “at no cost to the city,” Barton said.
- Electrification and workforce support: CPA’s Energy Team program helps homeowners and businesses evaluate electrification upgrades, apply for rebates and identify qualified local contractors. Regional energy networks (SoCalREN and other RENs) and Ventura County programs provide additional rebates and workforce training, Barton said.
- Storage and solar rebates: CPA’s Sun+Storage rebate offers $750 to residential customers who add battery storage to new or existing solar systems, plus an additional $250 for customers enrolled in CARE, FERA or medical baseline programs.
- Power Share and equity programs: CPA’s Power Share provides discounted renewable energy for income-qualified customers; Cabral said the program offers a 20% discount and that more than half of Ventura County’s Power Share customers live in Oxnard.
- EV charging and load management: CPA’s EV Smart Charge program gives incentives to shift electric-vehicle charging to lower-demand hours. CPA also described demand-response pathways that use smart thermostats, chargers or messaging to reduce peak usage.
- Tenant and rental programs: CPA plans a room air-conditioner rebate program for tenants and landlords and said it will launch free solar-plus-storage systems for low-income customers in disadvantaged communities in Ventura County, including parts of Oxnard.
On rates and sourcing, Cabral said CPA offers multiple product mixes. He described a 100% renewable product priced about 6% higher than the Southern California Edison (SCE) base rate, a 50% product about 1% higher than SCE’s base, and a 40% product priced at parity with SCE. “For an extra, if you have a hundred dollar bill for an extra $1 a month, you’re purchasing 50% clean energy as opposed to 38%,” Cabral said, adding that renewable power has been more expensive historically but projects indicate costs may decline as more solar, wind and storage come online.
During public comment and Q&A, Larry Stein, Lemonwood neighborhood chair, raised water-supply concerns and an older water bond. Stein urged the city to complete a recycled-water backbone tied to the advanced water-treatment facility (AWTF) financed by a 2010 bond and said the city has not built the wells needed to use that reclaimed water. “We’re paying debt service on this bond and not getting the water,” Stein said, urging the city to fund the urban water master plan so recycled water can reduce imported-water costs (Stein estimated $25,000,000 a year). Cabral clarified that CPA is the electricity provider and does not manage the city’s water projects.
The presentation concluded with instructions for residents to find more information: Barton displayed a QR code linking to the city’s CAP and sustainability web pages; Cabral directed attendees to CPA’s programs webpage and its customer service and business account contacts.
No formal actions, votes or policy adoptions related to the presentation were taken at the meeting. City staff and CPA representatives said the programs described are active or launching soon and available to qualifying residents or municipal facilities.
