Streetsblog California put a spotlight on new UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation reports assessing the impact of California’s Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program, which helps local communities lead and plan projects that reduce emissions and bring economic, environmental and health benefits. In addition to describing individual projects funded by the program, the reports contain personal stories and testimony from participants. One case study demonstrated the trust that the program has built among initially skeptical residents. Phillip Martinez, a resident of Pacoima in the San Fernando Valley, was seeing his energy bills rise with the heat — but he did not initially believe an offer to install solar panels on his home at no charge, a benefit of the TCC program. Once Martinez was reassured, the panels were installed and his power bills immediately went down. In addition to the Pacoima program, the Center for Innovation is evaluating TCC investments in Fresno, Ontario, Stockton, South Los Angeles and Watts.
