Press Releases

Today, Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) announced three new grants for energy efficiency upgrades at Central Coast businesses through the landmark climate law he helped create last year.

Awards totaling nearly $2,400,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program are funding projects in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. These awards and others in northern San Luis Obispo County are part of $145 million announced this week by USDA through funding made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed by Carbajal and his colleagues in August 2022.

“Last year, I helped get the largest-ever investment in combatting the climate crisis signed into law – and a key element of that landmark bill was helping communities upgrade their energy sources and efficiency to reduce our carbon pollution while helping our communities grow,” said Congressman Carbajal. “Now, we are seeing that law invest directly in the Central Coast, funding more than two million dollars in energy projects at businesses in our own backyards. These investments will mean we will get cleaner energy, at a lower cost, and generate new economic growth while we’re at it.”

The SEPV Cuyama Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic and Battery Energy Storage Facility is receiving a $1,800,000 loan guarantee funded by the Inflation Reduction Act to fund the purchase of solar generation machinery and equipment at the facility under construction in Cuyama.

“B2U (“Battery 2nd Use”) Storage Solutions is the leading provider of large-scale energy storage systems using second-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries.  The $1.8 mm loan provided through the USDA Rural Energy for America Program will enable B2U to build a Solar + Storage plant reusing 600 Honda EV batteries that will help modernize the grid and provide enough clean energy for 1,600 homes in Santa Barbara County,” said Freeman Hall, CEO of B2U Storage Solutions.  “B2U is grateful for Rep. Carbajal's support and for his leadership on environmental issues and key initiatives bringing clean energy to the Central Coast.”

Local Bounti in Carpinteria (NYSE: LOCL) is receiving $500,000 to cover roughly half the cost of upgrading lighting systems to energy efficient LEDS and replacing two outdated boilers, estimated to save enough electricity to power more than 400 homes.

“Sustainability is part of our ethos at Local Bounti and we are pleased to receive the support of the USDA through its REAP program for the energy-efficient upgrades we are making to our growing facilities in Santa Barbara County. These programs not only assist companies like ours to help save precious resources, but it also helps bring locally grown produce to more communities across the county,” Kathleen Valiasek, Chief Financial Officer for Local Bounti, commented. 

TVJ Sons TSLO, a San Luis Obispo auto dealership, is receiving $79,152 to help cover the cost of purchasing and installing an energy-efficient solar photovoltaic system.

More information on these grants can be found here.