The Yolo Energy Partnership (YEP) is a suite of FREE home energy efficiency programs. Through YEP, eligible residents can receive a free Home Energy Score assessment, weatherization kit, guidance on electrification rebates through the Electric Advisors program and the Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program, providing home repair assistance. The program is currently available to unincorporated Yolo County residents, except for the Electric Advisors Program, which is open to all Valley Clean Energy (VCE) customers. The county-run Home Energy Score Pilot Program and the Weatherization Kit Program currently prioritize low-income households, farmworkers, seniors (65+), households with children, and individuals with disabilities.

Four months after the launch of the Yolo Energy Partnership (YEP), and 11 months into my time as the Building & Electrification Fellow at Yolo County Sustainability, it’s time to reflect. 

During my time as a Fellow, I have experienced first-hand the cycle of program management, including administration, and execution. Initially joining the team, I started in the development and planning phase. Prior to launch I developed a bilingual (English and Spanish) Weatherization Kit guide, tested items, ordered materials, created talking points, and an outreach guide. Next, I learned that running an energy efficiency program requires maintaining collaborative relationships with community partners to ensure on-the-ground insights are implemented. The Yolo Energy Partnership’s roll-out would not be possible without our dedicated Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) partners, the De Colores Resource Center and Cool Davis. 

While Yolo County has been working to build trust with our rural unincorporated communities, our CBO partnerships have been critical in making steps forward. Local CBOs already have strong connections, trust, and community perspective. These characteristics are assets that strengthen our programs and build on our efforts to move forward on regional climate action. 

Out of our four-program offerings, the Weatherization Kits are the most popular. With outreach led by De Colores, in just four months, we have already distributed more than half of the 100 kits allocated for this first roll-out year. This is a big milestone for us. One that arrives at the time when we’re preparing for program evaluation. During my time as a fellow, I also had the opportunity of researching, developing, and drafting initial materials for program evaluation! All within the 11 months! 

In the next months, the work remains consistent and aligns with the challenges expressed at this year’s 2025 CCEC Forum. In order for YEP to succeed into the future, we need to identify a sustainable funding mechanism, strengthen trust with community members, continue to establish and maintain connections with local partners, and uplift and inform priority populations with culturally relevant outreach. When we uplift community members who have historically been left behind, we contribute to the creation of a healthy social fabric. 

As I conclude, I am grateful to have had the honor to co-lead the Yolo Energy Partnership rollout with my colleague, the ever resilient and fantastic Yuridiana Pantoja. 

Thank you to Yolo County for creating a welcoming space where I was able to hop right into meaningful, impactful work. Briefly forming part of a local government lighting the way with an ambitious 2030 goal, leading with strategic planning, empathy, and collaboration, has been a true highlight of my early professional career. I particularly enjoyed working with the supportive Yolo County Climate Action Commission and learning about the mechanisms necessary to drive climate action even when times may seem bleak. 

Looking forward, as I bring my work back to the San Diego region, I hope to continue serving communities by emulating the strategic planning, empathic, and collaborative lens I’ve gathered from my time at Yolo County. Thank you for being a part of the fight towards energy and environmental justice!