Central Coast Community Energy Contributes $200,000 to New All-Electric, Affordable Housing Development for Farmworker Families
November 18, 2022
The New Construction Electrification Program incentivizes local housing developers interested in building all-electric, healthier housing for those most vulnerable to pollution and climate change
WATSONVILLE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2022 – Central Coast Community Energy (CCCE) joined MidPen Housing, the County of Santa Cruz, and other supporting agencies for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the early stages of construction at Pippin Phase II, a new all-electric affordable housing development. The future 80-unit apartment complex will provide homes for farmworker families and residents with supportive housing needs.
CCCE’s New Construction Electrification Program will contribute $200,000 to Pippin Phase II to build more energy-efficient and healthier housing for local income-qualified residents. CCCE’s program helps local housing developers make the transition from traditional mixed-fuel building design to all-electric buildings. The Pippin development, located in Watsonville at 78 Atkinson Lane, will include electric water heating, space heating, and cooking appliances.
“The Pippin Phase II development is one of the largest all-electric affordable housing projects that CCCE has supported through its New Construction Electrification Program,” said CCCE Energy Programs Director, Jon Griesser. “All-electric housing provides cleaner indoor air quality for residents and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating natural gas use. CCCE is proud to support housing developers on these projects that ultimately provide greater safety, health, and comfort for residents.”
According to the California Energy Commission, California’s buildings produce a quarter of the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, making homes and businesses a major factor in climate change. Along the Central Coast, buildings are primarily heated and supported by natural gas followed by propane. Close to 1 million metric tons of greenhouse gases are emitted from the Central Coast’s built environment each year.
The total amount granted by CCCE’s New Construction Electrification Program for Fiscal Year 22/23 is $1.5 million. The program runs on a first-come, first-served basis. Qualified housing projects must be built to all-electric standards for energy utility needs including water heating, space heating, and cooking appliances. Incentives are determined according to the number of housing units constructed and provided to developers and homeowners upon successful project completion. Projects must be enrolled in CCCE electrical service, which today exceeds state Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements with more than 50% of its energy coming from solar, wind, and geothermal sources, and which is expected to attain 100% RPS by 2030, fifteen years ahead of the state goal.
Incentive levels are as follows:
• Affordable Housing multi-family developments – $2,500/unit, up to $240,000 per project
• Farmworker Housing – $2,500/unit, up to $240,000 per project
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) – $5,000/unit, up to $10,000 per project
Since its initial launch in 2020, CCCE’s New Construction Electrification Program has funded the electrification of more than 1,500 local affordable housing units. Pippin Phase II is expected to remove 30.4 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
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About Central Coast Community Energy
Central Coast Community Energy is a public agency that sources competitively priced electricity from clean and renewable energy resources. CCCE is locally controlled and governed by board members who represent each community served by the agency. Revenue generated by CCCE stays local and helps keep electricity rates affordable for customers, while also funding innovative energy programs designed to lower greenhouse gas emissions and stimulate economic development. CCCE serves 436,000 customers throughout the Central Coast, including residential, commercial, and agricultural customers in communities located within Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties. Learn more at 3CEnergy.org and on social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For more information:
Central Coast Community Energy
Lena Wallace
Communications Specialist
831-641-7206
lwallace@3ce.org