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Tribal Energy Upgrade San Diego

About

Tribal Energy Upgrade San Diego empowers Tribes through energy-related initiatives that advance Tribal energy sovereignty in San Diego County.

An offering from the San Diego Regional Energy Network (SDREN), Tribal Energy Upgrade provides tailored, comprehensive technical support and capacity building for the 17 federally recognized Tribes in San Diego County served by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). TECC delivers these services on behalf of SDREN, which is led by San Diego Community Power in partnership with the County of San Diego.

What You Get

Tribal Energy Upgrade benefits participating Tribes through energy savings and increased energy resilience.

Energy and resilience benefits

  • Energy savings
  • Reduced facility power outages
  • Opportunity to identify your Tribe’s energy priorities
  • Energy efficiency building audits

Direct program support

  • Incentives for building energy upgrades
  • No-cost, one-on-one technical assistance
  • Incentives for your time and engagement

Who It’s For

Tribal Energy Upgrade serves federally recognized Native American Tribes in San Diego County with buildings or facilities serviced by SDG&E. We work directly with Tribal leaders, staff and representatives to implement this program for eligible government, commercial and residential buildings and facilities.

The following Tribes are eligible to participate in Tribal Energy Upgrade:

17 Eligible Tribes

  1. Barona Band of Mission Indians
  2. Campo Band of Mission Indians
  3. Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians
  4. Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel
  5. Inaja Cosmit Band of Indians
  6. Jamul Indian Village
  7. La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians
  8. La Posta Band of Diegueño Mission Indians
  9. Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians
  10. Manzanita Band of Kumeyaay Nation
  11. Mesa Grande Band of Diegueño Mission Indians
  12. Pala Band of Mission Indians
  13. Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians
  14. Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians
  15. San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians
  16. Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation
  17. Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians
Map of federally recognized Tribes in San Diego County eligible for Tribal Energy UpgradeClick the map to enlarge
Federally recognized Tribes in San Diego County eligible to participate in Tribal Energy Upgrade San Diego.

Available services include, but may not be limited to:

  • Energy upgrades to Tribal government facilities
  • Energy upgrades to small-to-medium-sized commercial buildings
  • Energy upgrades to residential housing
  • Energy upgrades to educational facilities
  • Workforce education and training for adults and high school students

How It Works

Select each step to view its details.

Fill out an interest form.

  • Tribal Energy Upgrade will follow-up to meet with you one-on-one within (1) week to confirm eligibility. 
  • Then you submit an enrollment form online or by turning in a paper copy to a TECC staff member if in person. mailto:sdren 
  • Once enrolled, your Tribe is assigned a dedicated Tribal Energy Upgrade Project Manager (PM) as your primary point-of-contact. 

Your PM works with you to understand your Tribe’s energy landscape including facilities, existing systems, current challenges and long-term priorities. This may include:

  • Review of Tribal energy data, needs and priorities
  • Conversation with facilities staff and Tribal leaders
  • Options Analysis that outlines potential initiatives to consider, a summary of estimated costs, available funding sources and potential benefits, such as:
    • Energy efficiency upgrades
    • Solar
    • Battery storage
    • Microgrids
    • Demand response
    • Decarbonization measures
  • Site Visit and Energy Efficiency Audit conducted by a certified technical energy efficiency auditor at no cost.

The goal is to build a clear picture of what matters most to your Tribe and to create a Tribal Energy Needs Assessment that informs a final proposal for Council approval, if desired.

  • Tribal Energy Upgrade prepares a co-developed proposal that outlines your Tribe’s selected initiatives and includes a funding plan.
  • A draft proposal is shared with your Tribe for review and feedback.
  • Once your Tribe approves the proposal, it is submitted to SDREN for review and approval before implementation begins.

Tribal Energy Upgrade connects you with:

  • Contractors
  • Programs
  • Project partners
  • Support for navigating regulatory or procurement processes

Direct technical assistance to support proposal implementation is provided, including:

  • Monitoring relevant funding and input opportunities
  • Conducting grant funding reviews
  • Developing grant writing templates
  • Supporting the development of a grant proposal
  • Energy project feasibility studies and planning services
  • Procurement support
  • Business opportunity due diligence
  • Networking and partner connections
  • Strategic energy planning support
  • Light owner’s representation services

Tribal Energy Upgrade San Diego customer journey diagram
Customer Journey Diagram demonstrating how TECC will support eligible Tribes participating in Tribal Energy Upgrade.

How to Apply

Complete the interest form below, send an email to SDREN@SoCalTECC.org, or notify a TECC team member at a virtual or in-person meeting to learn more and get started.

Interest Form Enroll
Flyer Presentation Slides

TECC’s Role

SDREN’s Tribal Energy Upgrade provides tailored, comprehensive technical support and capacity building for the 17 federally recognized Tribes in San Diego County served by SDG&E. TECC delivers these services on behalf of the San Diego Regional Energy Network, which is led by San Diego Community Power in partnership with the County of San Diego, and funded by and for California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

TECC supports eligible Tribes through the following services:

Funding support
One-on-one technical assistance
Implementation support
Education and outreach

FAQs

Select a question to view the answer.

Depending on the building type and eligibility, Tribal Energy Upgrade can help Tribes explore energy-saving upgrades such as:

  • Efficient appliances and equipment such as clothes washers and dryers, heat pump dryers, room air conditioners, room air cleaners, vending machine controls and efficient cooking equipment
  • Water-saving devices such as low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and shower water-saving valves
  • Water heating upgrades such as heat pump water heaters, electric tankless water heaters, solar thermal water heating, hot water pipe insulation and water heater pipe wrap
  • Commercial refrigeration upgrades such as efficient reach-in refrigerators/freezers and refrigerated display cases
  • Building envelope and weatherization improvements such as attic/ceiling insulation, wall insulation, duct-related improvements, door sweeps and door sealing
  • Heating, cooling and ventilation upgrades such as duct sealing, smart thermostats, HVAC occupancy sensors, fan controls, economizer controls/repairs, high-efficiency heat pumps, ductless systems and related HVAC improvements
  • Outdoor lighting upgrades such as eligible LED wall, pole and outdoor fixture retrofits
  • Gas-to-electric upgrades such as heat pump water heaters, heat pump clothes dryers, efficient electric cooking equipment and heat pump heating/cooling systems

Eligibility depends on the facility, existing equipment, applicable SDREN program pathway and measure-specific program requirements.

We will work at your pace, but we aim to complete projects by Fall 2027.

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